Species · GBIF taxon 2433298
Common Vampire Bat
Desmodus rotundusAlso known as Vampire Bat
Common vampire bats are highly specialized, agile mammals that walk, run, and hop along the ground to approach sleeping livestock. They use infrared receptors on their nose-leaf to locate warm blood vessels close to the skin before making a painless incision with razor-sharp incisors. Within their roosts, these bats form tight-knit social bonds, sharing regurgitated blood meals with roost-mates that failed to feed.
NocturnalMammalSocial
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Cattle
- Horses
- Pigs
Predators
- Birds of prey
- Snakes
- Feral cats
ThreatsHabitat destruction, roost disturbance, and human persecution due to rabies concerns
HabitatsCaves, hollow trees, mines, and abandoned buildings in tropical and subtropical regions
Life spanUp to 12 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPhyllostomidae
- SpeciesDesmodus rotundus
Native
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and bite defensively; never handle wild bats or sleep exposed in their range.
- Why it is dangerous
- Can transmit rabies through bites, and their saliva contains anticoagulants that prevent blood clotting.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a small, tailless bat with a short, conical muzzle, large thumbs used for walking, and no true nose-leaf.
- What to do
- Avoid entering roosting caves and never touch a grounded bat; seek immediate medical attention if bitten.
Responsible observation
- Roost awareness: Avoid entering dark caves, hollow trees, or abandoned wells where colonies sleep during the day.
- Secure dwellings: Use screens and netting in tropical regions to prevent bats from entering sleeping quarters at night.
- Report sightings: Contact local wildlife or health authorities if you find a bat acting strangely in daylight.
Close Relative Close Relative Extinct Relative Family Member
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