Common Vampire Bat

No species has contributed more to the misunderstanding and fear of bats than the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). Public perception and movie portrayal of them as huge, creepy, blood-sucking killers is sensationalist and incorrect. The common vampire bat in fact rarely kills its prey and is relatively small and ordinary looking, although it does possess some fascinating adaptations to its specialized feeding behaviour. The thin, broad, pointed, blade-like incisors are so sharp that the victim seldom notices the incision into its flesh. Heat sensors on their nose are also an adaptation to help the vampire bat find a good spot on an animal’s body to feed. Strong hind legs and a special, elongated and robust thumb help the bat to climb around on its prey and to take off after feeding. The coat is dark greyish-brown to reddish to golden, paler on the stomach and females are usually slightly larger than males.

Roles

• It played Bartholomew in The Great Elephant Detective
• It played LeFou in Beauty and the Wildebeest
• It played Blind Man in The Pirate Animals Who Don't Do Anything: A WildlifeTales Movie
• It played Creeper in The Black Cauldron (NatureRules1 Version)
• It played Bazzip in Battle For Luxurious Hotel (Samwei1234 Version)
• It played Grizz in We Bare Bats and We Bare Bats: The Movie
• It played Blossom in The Powerpuff Bats, The Powerpuff Bats Movie, and The Powerpuff Bats (2016)

Gallery

Books

See Also

• Greater False Vampire Bat
• Lesser False Vampire Bat