The "holistic" study, which examined both the microbiota and the bat's DNA, is among the first of its kind to investigate how vampire bats digest blood, Mendoza says by email. 1 of 35 ...

Were that gene still active, vampire bats might overdose on iron every time they eat. Another lost gene helps them survive on blood meals indirectly by changing the way their brains work.

Vampire bats that form bonds in captivity and continue those 'friendships' in the wild also hunt together, meeting up over a meal after independent departures from the roost, according to a new study.

Only three vampire species of the 1,400 kinds of bats can do that — the others eat mostly insects, fruit, nectar, pollen or meat, such as small frogs and fish.

Vampire bats are happy to share their meals with a friend, suggesting a strong bond between these social mammals.

Vampire bats hunt and eat with trusted buddies, study shows By Alexandra Larkin September 23, 2021 / 6:57 PM EDT / CBS News ...

As blood-eating mammals, vampire bats, which live in the forests of Mexico and Central and South America, are particularly intriguing.

Vampire bats must eat often to survive—typically every night. If a bat is unable to find a blood meal, it may receive regurgitated blood from a close social partner. “To some extent, we were trying to ...

Vampire bat taste receptors react to "bitter salts" like magnesium sulphate – perhaps because drinking water containing the salts might react badly with the blood the bats eat ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Vampire bats share their food by vomiting blood for each other, and now researchers think they might also call their roosting companions to feed on a bleeding animal with ...

Vampire bats must eat often to survive -- typically every night. If a bat is unable to find a blood meal, it may receive regurgitated blood from a close social partner.