Ah, the world of bats! Flying mice of the night that might just be more than your average pest control! They leap straight across the cultural abyss from bloodthirsty fiends (looking at you, Nosferatu) to the lovable losers in What We Do In The Shadows. Imagine a vampire bat in a tuxedo with a bowtie—awkwardly asking if you’re a mortal to feast upon—or posting memes about "blood diets."
Now, let’s start with the juicy question: “Do bats drink blood?” Well, grab your garlic cloves because here’s the bloody truth! Most bats—about 1,397 out of 1,400 species—aren’t in the vampire business. They’re more into fruit, insects, and nectar. Think of them as the health-conscious vegans of the bat world. But fear not; there are three cheeky little exceptions known as “vampire bats.” Yes, only three! Like the Spice Girls, but with more teeth and a penchant for the unconventional swipe.
Let me break it down for you: the common vampire bat (the one that likes its beef rare), the hairy-legged vampire bat (which I assume is on a quest for poultry), and the white-winged vampire bat (the socialite that gets easily distracted by a chic ‘bloody’ affair). A fun fact to impress your friends: they’re the only blood-sucking mammals! I mean, let’s be real; they could use a better marketing strategy.
Now, these critters might sound scary but don’t pack your bags for a blood-thirsty vacation in South America just yet. The reality is that attacks on humans are rare—between 1 to 3 per year! It’s like having a really picky vampire roommate who has a strict diet but occasionally considers a human buffet when insomnia strikes.
Let’s talk about how these little fiends process blood. Seems that sipping on the red stuff doesn’t quite come with a user manual. But surprise, surprise—those batty brains are designed for it! They’ve got these evolved, super special intestines—think of them as Nature’s version of ~Uber~ for nutrients. Plus, they have a secret weapon: they can secrete draculina, which sounds like a poorly named potion from a Harry Potter spin-off. It’s an anticoagulant that keeps the blood flowing like a heavily edited nightclub scene.
Finally, let’s divert our attention to the program doing the training of future bat whisperers! I mean, who wouldn’t want to work with these bizarre yet captivating creatures? You could learn how to manage blood-sucking mammals without getting a degree in nursing! You might even walk away from your exotic animal technician course knowing the secrets of draculina and possibly pulling some flashy lines at parties!
So, remember folks, before you grab the vampire teeth for Halloween, know your bats! They may be misunderstood, fancy bloodsuckers in a horror flick, but they also contribute to the ecosystems in a way that’s… well, positively fascinating! Now go forth and spread the good word about our flying buddies—minus the myth of them being bloodthirsty monsters. They’re really just very misunderstood nocturnal critters with dietary restrictions!
From Nosferatu; to Count Dracula; from the histrionic vampires of Hammer films, to the adorable geeks of ‘What we do in the shadows’…All these fictional beings have many characteristics in common, although today there are two that interest us especially: they drink human blood and turn into bats. Outside of the vampire universe, “winged mice” are totally real and you have surely seen them many times, hunting for insects at dusk. But do bats really drink blood? Stay with me to clear your doubts and get to know them better.
Do bats drink blood?
We’re not going to keep the mystery for long. In reality, there is no clear answer: although most bats do not drink bloodthere are three species that do. These three species are called “vampire bats.” Would you like to learn more about them and discover their customs and care? Be sure to consider the possibility of taking a Specialist Technician Course in Exotic Animals, which will train you to work in zoos, nature reserves, recovery centers…
In total, there are about 1,400 species of bats worldwide. Most of them have gotten the “bad reputation” (which shouldn’t be either) of their three vampire counterparts, although the poor They feed on fruit, insects or the nectar of flowers. But their strange appearance, their nocturnal habits and the fact that they are “flying mice” have earned them the animosity of human beings for a long time.
It was not until the 20th century that scientists discovered that only three species feed on blood. They all belong to the subfamily Desmodontinae; specifically, one of them they drink blood of birds, another feeds only on mammals and a third combines both varieties. And if you think you could find one when you go on an excursion… Well, unless you live in South America (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Uruguay), you’re going to have a difficult time.
And those who do drink blood are…
Out of curiosity, let me tell you that these animals are the only blood-sucking mammals (which feed only on blood) that exist on the planet. If we add to this the fact that bats are also the only mammals that fly, we already have the vampire legend ready… Returning to reality, we are going to get to know these curious beings up close, a fascinating trio with a “gothic” touch. These are the bats that suck blood:
common vampire bat (Round Desmodes)
It is a small, brown bat, very similar to the ones that fly on summer nights through our cities and towns. With a singularity: it feeds on the blood of other animals, especially cattle. Apparently, in times of famine too can attack dogs or chickens, and even humans. Of course, cases of attacks on humans around the world are between 1 and 3 a year. They’re not as scary as they seem!
His strategy is most peculiar. When their “food source” is asleep, they perch on the ground and They are walking towards her, step by step. I don’t know if they seem cute or sinister to me… Jokes aside, you have to be careful with them: they can transmit rabies.
Hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata)
This small nocturnal animal It feeds only on bird blood. Again, since they are small beings and have few defensive or attack strategies, their strategy is based on caution.
When a bird is perched on a branch, the bat hangs under it and approaches where the bird is. Then, he bites her paw and licks the wound. And if the bird notices, its attacker will hide until it gets lost again. Be careful: although it does not attack mammals or humans, It can also transmit rabies.
White-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi)
Located for the first time in Brazil and described in 1823 by the biologist Johann Baptist von Spix, this species is divided into two subspecies: centralof which only one specimen has been seen in Texas in 1967, and Ecaudatawhich It spreads across different countries in South America. Their diet consists mainly of bird blood, although occasionally in captivity they also feed on cattle and pig blood.
Exotic Animal Technician Course
Yes, some bats suck blood. But how do they process it?
As humans, drinking blood can make us quite sick. But the worst thing is not that it is more or less rich, but that For mammals it is a complicated fluid to digestwhich also transmits numerous diseases. It is logical that practically no animal of this particular class feeds on it, but we must not forget that we have three “rebels” on our list.
Until recently, scientists didn’t know how vampire bats process blood. But in 2018, the magazine Nature published a study in which the DNA of specimens of the three species mentioned above was analyzed. In it, it is confirmed that these animals They metabolize it thanks to their intestinal batteries.
Of the few nutrients that blood has, 93% are proteins that are difficult to digest. Bacteria are responsible for processing them; but, also, The DNA of these bats has genetic modifications which makes them tolerant to a diet high in these compounds. And, if that were not enough, evolution has made them very resistant to the endogenous retroviruses present in the blood on which they feed.
And now, a curiosity. Did you know that when they bite a victim, bats secrete an anticoagulant substance? Thus, the blood continues to flow so that they can be satisfied in complete peace of mind. Attention, because You will love the name of this fluid: it is called draculina. And then they say that scientists have no sense of humor!
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If you have read this far, it is clear that you are passionate about the strangest critters on the planet. Bats that drink blood, although they are few and strange, are also fascinating… And working with animals like them is a privilege for the most restless minds. If you dare to send the formyou will receive information on how to take an Exotic Animal Specialist Course that will train you as a professional.
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