Vampire bats, members of the subfamily Desmodontinae, are leaf-nosed bats currently found in Central and South America. Their food source is the blood of other animals, a dietary trait called hematophagy. Three extant bat species feed solely on blood: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata), and the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi.
Geographical Range Vampire bats are found exclusively in the Americas, from Mexico through Central America and into South America. The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) has the widest distribution, from northern Mexico through Central America and much of South America, including central Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Vampire bat, (family Desmodontidae), any of three species of blood-eating bats, native to the New World tropics and subtropics.
The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), together with the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus, or Desmodus, youngi) and the hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata). Common vampire bats are highly social and have sophisticated social organization and behaviors. Female bats form close associations with other females, observed through activities such as social grooming and sharing food.
How often these bats share their food depends on a variety of factors including kinship, association, and reciprocal help. Basic facts about Common Vampire Bat: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status. Vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) are bats that feed on blood.
This particular habit in certain animals is known as 'hematophagy'. There are only three bat species that actually feed on blood: The Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus), the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata) and the White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi). All three species are native to the Rainforests of.
Read about Desmodus rotundus (vampire bat) on the Animal Diversity Web. While much of the world sleeps, vampire bats emerge from dark caves, mines, tree hollows, and abandoned buildings in Mexico and Central and South America. They glide stealthily through the night air as they search for food.
Like the legendary monster from which they get their name, these small mammals drink the blood of other animals for survival. They feed on blood from cows, pigs, horses. You will find the Vampire Bat living in a variety of locations around South and Central America.
They live in caves most of the time and like the areas where they do roost to be very dark. Vampire Bat overview characteristics geography timeline information & media contact.