Towards the type of Nyctalus noctula princeps Ognev, 1923
The status of type series of the taxon Nyctalus noctula princeps, described by S.I. Ognev, is discussed. Description was based on large series collected by Ognev in Bobrov district of Voronezh region, but no exact type specimen was stated in the original description. Two exact specimens from type territory were mentioned in the later work of which one still exist in the collection of Zoological museum of Moscow University (ZMMU). This specimen is adult female, No S-94125, collected by Ognev in summer 1919; it was established by us as lectotype. In the collection of ZMMU there are another 51 common noctules, collected by Ognev in the type area in 1920-22. Though these specimens were not specified in the description, they undoubtedly belong to the type series and should be treated now as paralectotypes. Taxon princeps itself most probably should be regarded a junior synonym of the nominotypical form N. noctula noctula since we failed to find any morphological or genetic difference.