World's Weirdest: Vampire Bats
When it comes to feeding, this thumb-sized bat definitely sides with Dracula. Vampire bats are the only mammals on an all-blood diet — and an unsuspecting cow is the perfect prey.
Transcript
He comes in the night, avoiding the moonlight.
He has just one all-consuming desire-to feed.
And there's only one thing on the menu-your blood.
This is no mythical creature, but a living, breathing animal-the vampire bat.
When it comes to feeding, this little thumb-sized bat definitely sides with Dracula.
It's the only mammal on an all-blood diet.
An unsuspecting cow is the perfect prey.
First, a stealthy ground approach.
Vampire bats can walk on their thumbs and hop like a rabbit.
Ankles and ears are prime targets.
A quick bite and the feast begins.
These vampires really do have fangs-sharp upper incisors that can delicately slice into their prey without being detected.
Anticoagulants in the bat's saliva keep the blood from clotting.
They don't suck blood-they drink it.
And they're blood-o-holics.
If a vampire bat misses more than one night of slurping, they could die.
No one dies from blood loss at this vampire's meal.
But they can kill.
Millions of dollars' worth of cattle die each year from rabies transmitted through vampire bat bites.
It may not be supernatural, but that's definitely scary.
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