Common Vampire Bat

Common Vampire Bats are small bats with grayish-brown fur, lighter undersides, large eyes, pointy ears, and a rounded nose. They usually measure about 2.75 to 3.5 inches long, with a wingspan of up to 15.75 inches, and weigh just over 1 ounce. Their sharp teeth are specially adapted for making small, precise cuts in skin.

Common Vampire Bats live in warm climates, including rainforests, grasslands, and even desert regions. They are found throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Common Vampire Bats feed exclusively on blood, making them the only mammals in the world known to survive entirely on this type of diet. They usually feed on large, warm-blooded animals such as livestock and other mammals. Rather than sucking blood, they make a small incision with their teeth and lap up the flowing blood.

Common Vampire Bats live in social colonies that usually contain 20 to 100 individuals, though some colonies can be much larger. Females usually give birth to one young, occasionally two, after a gestation period of about 7 months. At first, babies drink milk, then gradually begin feeding on regurgitated blood before eventually joining adults on nighttime hunts. They typically live around 9 years in the wild and up to 20 years in human care.

Common Vampire Bats are specially adapted for their unusual feeding style. Their saliva contains a powerful anti-clotting compound that helps blood continue flowing while they feed. They are also excellent nighttime hunters, using heat sensors and strong senses to locate blood-rich areas on sleeping animals.

Least Concern