Three existent bat species feed exclusively on blood: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the hairy-legged vampire bat(Diphylla ecaudata), and also the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi).
All three species are native to the Americas, ranging from Mexico to Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Amazing facts about vampire Bat:-
- Not all bats are vampire bats :- only 3 of the over one,300 bat species within the world are vampire bats: the common (Desmodus rotundus), the white-winged (Diaemus youngi) and hairy-legged (Diphylla ecaudata) vampire bats. Residing in Central and South America, these also are bats Who consume blood for food and water.
- Humans aren't their first choice for a meal :- vampire bats will prey on virtually any type of animal. The common vampire bat tends to prey off mammals like cows, pigs, and horses, whereas white-winged and hairy-legged vampire bats primarily prey on birds.
- Vampire bat spit keeps the blood flowing :- A protein in vampire bat saliva acts as an anticoagulant that prevents the blood of the prey from clotting and sealing up the wound. This protein is known as "Draculin" and has been targeted as a possible treatment for stroke patients.
- Vampire bats have special skills :- Vampire bats have evolved a variety of physical abilities to aid in the hunt for food. Infrared perception in their nose acts like a heat-seeking sensor that allows the bats to find blood vessels near the surface of their host's skin.
- Vampire bats tend to live in colonies in almost completely dark places, such as caves, old wells, hollow trees, and buildings.
- These creatures are nocturnal and most active in the early night.
- The basic social system of roosting bats is formed of ‘harems’. These are composed of females and their offspring and some adult males referred to as ‘resident males’ and a separate cluster of males, known as ‘nonresident males’.
- Vampire bats are believed to be the only species of bats within the world to ‘adopt’ another young bat if bat's mother will no more in life.
- They are clean animals that regularly groom themselves moreover other bats.
- Vampire bats generally fly about one meter off the ground.
- Vampire bats have such good eyesight that they may be able to see prey from a distance of 130 meters.
- They don’t take away enough blood to hurt the animal, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease.
- Unlike another species of bats, vampire bats can walk, run, and jump. They have strong legs and a special thumb that helps them take off after feeding.
- Each night, vampire bats drink about half of their weight in blood.
- If they can’t find blood for two nights in an exceeding row, they will die. Luckily, female bats usually (will be/is/may be ) generous; well-fed bats can often regurgitate blood to share with others in exchange for grooming.
- Vampire bats will truly be quite tame, and even friendly to humans.
- These bats are thus lightweight and agile that they're generally able to drink blood from an animal for over half-hour while not waking it up.
