Fauna
Mammal

Common Vampire Bat

Desmodus rotundus

Also known as Vampire Bat

Common vampire bats form intricate social colonies inside caves and hollow trees, recognizing fellow roost-mates by voice and regurgitating blood meals to starving neighbors. Agile runners and leapers on the ground, they stalk resting livestock under cover of darkness before making painless shallow incisions using razor-sharp incisors. Specialized infrared heat sensors on their nose leaves guide them directly to warm capillary beds beneath their target's skin.

NocturnalMammalSocial
Common Vampire Bat reference
(c) Tomás Carranza Perales, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tomás Carranza Perales · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCattle, Horses, Feral Swine
Predators
  • Barn Owl
  • Striped Owl
  • Cat-eyed Snake
ThreatsRetaliatory culling by ranchers, cave vandalism, habitat fragmentation
HabitatsTropical dry and moist forests, scrublands, caves, hollow trees
Life span9–12 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyPhyllostomidae
  2. SpeciesDesmodus rotundus
Range & activity
Native
Safe observation
Interaction riskModerate
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is moderate
Can transmit rabies and deliver sharp defensive bites; never handle and observe only from a safe distance.
Why it is dangerous
Vampire bats are documented reservoirs of the deadly rabies virus, transmitting the fatal pathogen through saliva during bites.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Distinguished by an elongated thumb claw used for quadrupedal walking, missing tail, and reduced fleshy nose leaf.
What to do
Never touch or trap bats; seek immediate emergency post-exposure medical prophylaxis if bitten or scratched.
Responsible observation
  • Roost etiquette: Do not enter active roost caves, as torchlight and loud noises induce mass panic.
  • Livestock care: Protect pastured livestock with screening and ensure domestic animals have current rabies vaccinations.
  • Grounded bats: Never touch a grounded bat with bare hands; contact local wildlife officials for safe removal.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…