Vampire Bat Adaptations

The vampire bat is native to Mexico, as well as Central and South America. They are the only mammal that feeds solely on blood, which they mainly get from sleeping farm animals during the night.

  1. Teeth

    • Because vampire bats live on a liquid diet they have little need for teeth, with the exception of a few razor sharp ones to draw blood from their victims. They need these very sharp teeth to break through the hides of cattle and horses.

    Heat Sensor

    • Vampire bats are able to sense heat using a sensor on their nose; this is to help them find where the blood is closest to the skin. They need to locate where on the animal the skin is thinnest to make feeding easier.

    Saliva

    • Once they have found the ideal spot and taken that first bite, the bats lap at the blood. To keep the blood flowing until they have had their fill, the bat's saliva contains an anti-clotting agent. The bats generally weigh 2 oz. and can almost double their weight once they finish feeding.