white-winged vampire bat
Quick Summary
The white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngi) is one of three species of blood-eating bats native to the New World tropics and subtropics. Unlike the common vampire bat, which primarily feeds on livestock, the white-winged vampire bat is mostly found in intact forests, where its diet consists of birds and other forest animals. These bats are known for their unique feeding behavior, making a small incision with sharp teeth and then lapping up the blood. They possess strong anticoagulants in their saliva to prevent clotting. While the wounds are usually minor, there is a risk of infection, and vampire bats are known to transmit rabies.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
