Nyctalus noctula [Schreber, 1774] (?)

Vespertilios noctula Schreber, 1774: 166, pl. 52; FRANCE (Collector unknown; Type unknown) [202].

Nyctalus noctula [8].

Common English name: Eurasian Noctule

Barcode Index Number: DNA barcodes recorded as N. noctula are associated with BIN, BOLD: AAC 7411, but there are no DNA barcodes from Peninsular Malaysia.

Remarks: Chasen [8] suggested that the species in Peninsular Malaysia may represents N. n. labiate = labiatus Hodgson, 1835 (type locality = Nepal) which also occurs in Pakistan and India [9]. N. n. labiatus is considered to be morphologically distinct from N. noctula and therefore, should be raised as a species [203]. The records of N. noctula from Peninsular Malaysia, if valid, may be referable to “labiatus” or “plancyi” [203].

IUCN status: Least Concern

Recorded at: There is only one record of N. noctula in this region which is an old skin dated 1838 purchased in Singapore [204] but its origin remains doubtful [23]. Based on the purchased skin, Dobson [204] included Peninsular Malaysia in the distribution range of N. noctula, which was followed by Corbet and Hill [9] and Medway [23]. We could not find recent records for the species although it is thought to occur in Peninsular Malaysia [1, 10]. We found two old records which reported two specimens of Nyctalus sp. in a National Park, Pahang [87] and Ulu Langat Forest Reserve, Selangor [88]. However, there are no specimens deposited in the DWNP collection.

N. noctula roosts in tree hollows and forages high above canopy [14, 23].