shop now
 

Night

 
 

#3 -- When Bats Take Wing

By Jessika Toothman
how stuff works logo
 
vampire bat

Not only are vampire bats members of the only group of mammals that can fly, they also have the further peculiarity of being the only mammals that feed on blood alone.

Vampire bats love to feast on larger mammals like horses, cattle, pigs and even humans from time to time. The hunt begins in the evening, when the vampire bats leave their roosts and take flight in search of potential targets. Once they've locked on to their prey using heat sensors and echolocation, they wing to the ground and approach on foot. After a small, typically imperceptible chomp, the bats begin to lap up the fresh blood flowing from their sleeping victims. An anticoagulant in their saliva means they can continue to feed for up to 30 minutes.

>> NEXT: #2: When Coyotes Call 



10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1   NEXT » 



Top 10 Predators | More Creature Countdowns

More Creature Countdowns

horrors Animal Horrors
From great beasts on land to hellish monsters of the sea, these are the top 10 horrors of the animal world.		 Animal Performers Animal Loudmouths
From howls and hoots, these ten creatures have no intention of zipping their lips!		 Hissy Fits Animal Hissy Fits
Whether they are making a stink (literally) or leaving a sting, these ten animals will put you in your place.

 
 
advertisement

More from How Stuff Works

How Bats Work
Bats are the only mammals that can fly, and they live much of their lives hanging upside down. Most species are only active at night, spending their days in dark caves! Learn more.

Could a fungus cause the extinction of bats?
Something's wrong in the bat cave. No, not Batman and Robin's lair -- we're talking actual bat caves full of thousands of bats. What is "white nose syndrome" and what's happening to the bats?

 
 
newsletter
 
 

our sites

video

 

mobile

shop

stay connected

corporate

Image Credits DCL |

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC. The number-one nonfiction media company.