Interesting Facts on the Vampire Bat
While it is true that vampire bats feed solely on the blood of other animals, they have often been subject to misconceptions and negative stigma in popular culture. Horror films have depicted vampire bats as bloodthirsty, menacing creatures that stalk the night looking for prey to feast on. Actually, vampire bats have many interesting qualities that make them unique in comparison to other mammals.
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Identification
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Vampire bats are easily identifiable from other species of bats because of their teeth. Vampire bats have extremely long canine teeth and two sharp, triangular, pointed front teeth. They also have large, pig-like noses and oversized ears. Like other bats, vampire bats hunt in the dark and have poor eyesight. Their large ears and noses allow them to hunt for prey in pitch-black conditions, while the shape of their teeth makes it easy to puncture the skin of other mammals to feed.
Vampire bats are also easy to identify because of their agility. Not only can this species of bat fly, but it can also crawl, jump, climb and even cartwheel.
Location and Living
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This species of bat is found primarily in Mexico and South America. Vampire bats are "dome roosters" meaning they sleep upside down from roof-like structures. While caves are a favored living place, vampire bats may also roost in hollow trees, wells and abandoned buildings.
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Feeding
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Vampire bats are the only mammal known to mankind that feeds solely on the blood of other mammals. Vampire bats feed primarily on the blood of livestock, but in rare occasions have been known to feed off of human blood. The bat attacks from the ground, not the air, by crawling toward another animal and sinking its teeth into an area its nose senses as being the warmest. The bat's saliva contains an anti-coagulant that prevents the blood from clotting. Vampire bats feed for approximately 30 minutes, and do not cause the other animal to lose any significant amount of blood.
Vampire bats have a fast metabolism and have to feed nightly. A vampire bat can starve to death in less than 48 hours
Gestation and Mothering
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The gestation period for vampire bats is between 90 and 120 days, which is unusually long for an animal so small. At birth, baby vampire bats weigh approximately 0.17 oz.
Female vampire bats are attached to their offspring and keep them by their side for the first three months of life. During this three months, the baby vampire bats attach themselves to their mother's body, and feed off of milk she produces instead of blood. Baby bats will stay attached to their mothers even in flight and during hunting.
Misconceptions
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The biggest misconception involving the vampire bat is its feeding habits. People tend to believe this species is ravenous and bloodthirsty, when in reality it is a timid and social creature. Vampire bats live in groups of anywhere from 100 to 1,000 bats. The biggest risk vampire bats pose to livestock and humans is rabies and infection.
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