Giant Vampire Bat

Coming soon

The largest known vampire bat was Desmodus draculae, which was much larger than the contemporary common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus). They are roughly twice as hefty as contemporary vampire bats, with a wingspan of 50–55 cm (20–22 in), a body length of 11–14 cm (4–5.5 in), and a weight of 60–100 g (2–3.5 oz).

The sturdy, muscular body of Desmodus draculae was ideal for strong flying and eating. Its powerful canines were made to pierce the skin of huge creatures. Desmodus draculae may have possessed a nose leaf structure akin to that of contemporary vampire bats, which helped in echolocation and blood source location.

Strong and nimble, Desmodus draculae can fly low and stealthily to get close to its prey. Their senses include advanced echolocation for nighttime navigation and infrared sensitivity for detecting blood flow in prey, such as contemporary vampire bats. Desmodus draculae typically avoid water, albeit awkwardly, by paddling with their wings. They can cross small bodies of water when needed, although they are not very good swimmers.

Desmodus draculae is a hematophagous species that mostly feeds on the blood of animals. Typically, the bat goes after its target while it's asleep at night. It then splits apart its hosts' skin with its razor-sharp fangs and uses its long tongue to drink their blood. Desmodus draculae have special adaptations to help them with the special way they feed. For instance, researchers discovered that flying mammals can locate prey by sensing the sound of an animal breathing. These bats can even recognize the breathing patterns of one animal, like a cow, and return to feed on it night after night. While sometimes debated, Desmodus draculae are considered venomous as they produce a specialized secretion in their saliva (aptly named 'Draculin'), which facilitates their feeding.

Due to the species' strong polygynous nature, dominant adult males watch over groups of females. Being one of the most social bat species, it participates in a range of cooperative behaviors like as sharing food and grooming one another. Due to its feeding habits on cattle and ability to transmit rabies, the common vampire bat is considered a pest. These bats have also been observed to consume turtles, crocodiles, toads, and snakes while kept in captivity.

Males compete for territory in regions where females roost. When there are several males using the roost, each male protects a section of it from the other males. Wilkinson observed the male residents fiercely defending their territory against visiting males that were camped out in tree roosts. Fighting, pushing, and chasing are typical defensive strategies. The three primary fighting styles are biting, gestures, and wing strikes.

To commence mating activity, a male will climb up on a female's back, grip her folded wings, and lay his mouth against the back of her neck. Copulation takes about three to four minutes. Other potential prey items that would have been available to Desmodus draculae include plains viscacha, deer, and camelids.

Reproduction

Presumably similar to modern vampire bats:

1. Likely gave birth to a single pup per year.

2. Social structures may have included reciprocal feeding and roost sharing, though exact social behavior is unknown.

This vampire bat prefers to roost in densely forested areas or caves. Like contemporary vampire bats, this bat had intricate grooming and social relationships. This species used its teeth and heat sensors to obtain blood, and it could land on prey or feed while in flight.

Large creatures, such as horses and cattle, would have been the main targets of Desmodus draculae, although humans could have been in danger if they were hungry. If there was large prey available, this bat might stay away from people. Similar to contemporary vampire bats, Desmodus draculae display social bonding, which may include "gifting" food to familiar humans in situations of domestication.

Most records of Desmodus draculae are from the late Pleistocene, but some are from the Holocene. A Desmodus canine tooth discovered in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina came from sediments dated at 300 years BP (ca. 1650 A.D.); this fossil was tentatively assigned to Desmodus draculae.

This species is extinct.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo/Roost

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: ???

• Locomotion: Airborne

• Habitat: Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests, Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Karst Cave; Karst Spring; Lush Cavern; Crystal Cave.

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: Argentina; Belize; Bolivia; Brazil; Ecuador; Mexico; Venezuela

• Reinachos: worldwide

• Delphia: ???

• Sawintir: ???

• Agarathos: ???

Bats can adapt to humans by being domesticated, to the point that they become clingy and cuddly. However, their lifespan in captivity is typically significantly lower than that of their wild counterpart, where they can live up to 30 years. You can feed with grubs, fruits, blood, or meat.

The first Desmodus draculae fossil was located in Cueva del Guácharo in Venezuela in 1965 by Omar J. Linares, which he noted in 1968 as a possible Pleistocene species of Desmodus. A formal and accepted description of the species was published in 1988, designating the collection by Linares, a skull and post-cranial material, as the type specimen.

• Coming soon

Earth

• Tagalog: Bampirang paniki ng dambuhala

• Ilocano: Panniki bampeyr higante

• Malay: Kelelawar vampir raksasa

• Indonesian: Kelelawar vampira raksasa

• Maori: Kaitā pekapeka-kōkopurangi

• ???

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmodus_draculae

• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1992386

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Desmodus_draculae

• http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=270550

• https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34646609#page/945/mode/1up

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263389291_Desmodus_draculae_Morgan_Linares_and_Ray_1988_reported_from_southeastern_Brasil_with_paleoecological_comments_Phyllostomidae_Desmodontinae

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Giant-Vampire-Bat-896752472