noun
nocturnal animal
Refers to animals that are active at night. A straightforward compound of 夜行 (nocturnal) and 動物 (animal).
フクロウは代表的な夜行動物です。
Owls are a typical nocturnal animal.
夜行性 is an adjective meaning 'nocturnal' (as in 夜行性の動物), while 夜行動物 is a noun meaning 'nocturnal animal'.
Compound of 夜行 (やこう, 'nocturnal') and 動物 (どうぶつ, 'animal').