What are some special features of vampire bats?

Answer 1

There are only three species of vampire bats in the world, and they live only in the Americas, from Mexico to South America, including parts of the Caribbean. They have small bodies, 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long, and weigh between 1/2 ounce and 1 3/4 ounces. They have fewer teeth than other bats, and have large sharp front teeth for piercing the skin of animals. They soften the animal's skin by licking it, and then bite off hair or feathers before biting through the skin and lapping up the flowing blood from the wound. They have an anticoagulant substance in their saliva that prevents blood from clotting. Although they lap up less than an ounce of blood, smaller animals, such as chickens, sometimes bleed to death because the anticoagulant prevents the blood flow from stopping. Vampire bats have heat sensors in their noses that help them find blood vessels close to the skin of their prey. They have excellent night vision and hunt only when it is fully dark. They have very sensitive hearing, and move quickly when on the ground. They may crawl, run, or jump into the air to escape when threatened.