vampire bats by alex&alex

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Vampire Bats
By:Alex and Alex

Food

Animal blood

Meat

Other bats

They even nibble on the toenails of humans

Habitats

Vampire bats tend to live in colonies in almost completely dark places, such as caves, old wells, hollow trees, and buildings. Colonies can range from a single individual to thousands, often roosting with other species of bat. They will almost always have only one offspring per breeding season.

Habitats Continued

Each colony will typically have only one reproducing male, with around twenty females and their offspring. Each individual needs a blood meal at least once every few days. If a bat fails to get adequate food during its foraging, it may contact another vampire bat in its colony to induce a food donation. The food exchange occurs mouth-to-mouth in an activity similar to kissing. Vampire bats can live up to nine years in the wild and up to 19 in captivity.

Anatomy

Unlike fruit-eating bats, the vampire bat has a short, conical muzzle. It also lacks a nose leaf, instead having naked pads with U-shaped grooves at the tip. The common vampire bat also has specialised infrared sensors on its nose (see [1]), which aids the animal in locating areas where the blood flows close to the skin of its prey. A nucleus has been found in the brain of vampire bats that has a similar position and similar histology to the infrared receptor of infrared-sensing snakes.[citation needed]

Vampire bats, generally have small ears and a short tail membrane. Their front teeth are specialised for cutting and their back teeth are much smaller than in other bats. Their digestive system is adapted to their liquid diet, and their saliva contains a substance, draculin, which prevents the prey's blood from clotting. The vampire bats do not suck blood, but rather lap the blood at the site of the haemorrhage.

Measurement

Length: Body, 2 3/4 in.
Wingspan: 8 in.
Weight: 1 oz.

Where is it found?

The common Vampire bat is native from northern Mexico southward to Chile and central Argentina and Uruguay as well as the island of Trinidad. It is found in both arid and humid regions of the South American tropics and subtropics.

Enemies

Horned Owl