Vampire bats live in very structured colonies
and form strong social bonds. Female bats who go out to feed will share
food with other females in the nursery colony by regurgitating food.
They will adopt orphaned baby bats.
They are 70 to 90mm in length and their
wingspan is 320 to 350mm. They weigh about 40 grams. Their fur is a dark
grayish brown. slightly lighter on its belly. Vampire bats can be found
from northern Mexico through Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Vampire bats move well on the ground and in the
air. When they forage for food, they fly about one meter above the
ground. They usually feed on large birds, cattle, pigs, and
horses. They rarely bite humans.
They find food through smell, sound, and
echolocation. The vampire bat does not suck blood. They use their
sharp teeth to make a bite and then lap up the blood that pools there with
their tongue. They only need about two tablespoons of blood a day.