vampire bat


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Related to vampire bat: Common Vampire Bat

vampire bat

any bat, esp Desmodus rotundus, of the family Desmodontidae of tropical regions of Central and South America, having sharp incisor and canine teeth and feeding on the blood of birds and mammals
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
References in periodicals archive ?
At this time, viral activity is related to rabies transmitted by more common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus.
This would result in a greatly increased abundance of vampire bats, making bites on humans more likely.
The leaflike front of a common vampire bat's nose senses the blood heat of a capillary-rich spot to bite, and its sharp teeth nick the flesh.
Discovered in the venom of the common vampire bat from Central and South America, Professor Fry said the compounds had significant potential for future drug design and development.
The bats represented 15 species of 10 genera; the most prevalent (26.3%) species was the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus); the other 14 species accounted for 0.8%-12.7% of the bats sampled.
But the vampire bat species was not scientifically described until the early 19th century.
It's for his vampire bats. Schutt, a biologist at Long Island University in New York, spent three years as a graduate student raising two vampire bat colonies in order to study these mysterious blood drinkers.