Bats are exceptional mammals that can fly. Vampire bats, however, have a more interesting feature—they are the only mammals that feed exclusively on blood. 

These bats feature an oversized nose and teeth. But it’s the ears that really make it stand out. A vampire bat has adorable ears that give it the Mickey Mouse quality that anyone will love.

Vampire Bats Do Not Feed on Human Blood

A Vampire Bat can feed on almost all types of animals, although not a human being. Instead, you’ll find them going after sea lions, porcupines, snakes, armadillos and snakes. A vampire Bat feeds on penguins too. But for the better part of its life, a Vampire Bat sticks to feeding birds and livestock.

At the same time, the typical Vampire Bats feed on mammals such as horses, cows and pigs. The white-winged and hairy-legged Vampire Bats mainly feed on birds such as the sleeping chicken.

Vampire Bats Do Not Suck Blood

It is usually thought that the Vampire Bats suck blood. But in reality, they lap it up like a cat. If successful in hunting, the Vampire Cat will make a painless incision near the artery of its prey using its sharp teeth. The Vampire Rat will then let blood flow out into to pool before licking it.

Also, despite popular belief, vampire bats don’t kill their prey as they only take 1-2 teaspoons of blood at a time.

A Vampire Bat has Many Skills

A Vampire Bat evolves and adopts different skills that ease hunting. For example, it has an infrared receptor in its nose, which acts like a heat-seeking sensor. The heat sensor allows the Vampire Bat to locate the blood vessels near the surface of their prey’s skin. The Vampire Bat also has echolocation skills. It can send out a sonar so it can navigate in total darkness.

A Vampire Bat Has a Complex Social Relationship

Vampire Bats have complex social ties similar to that of dolphins, primates and humans. The Vampire Bats do not store energy in their bodies. They, therefore, have relationships for helping each other get food. Missing two meals a day may lead to starving. The food-sharing relationship is the most outstanding tie.