Talk:Vampire bat
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[edit] Species Differences?
"The three species are quite different from each other, and are therefore placed within different genera (no other species are currently classified in any of the three genera concerned). But they are related. ... They are ... now grouped as a subfamily, the Desmodontinae within the Phyllostomidae."
- Can anybody give brief info on the differences (or for that matter similarities) between the genera? -- 24 October 2005
[edit] Convergent Evolution
"A recent study found that vampire bats can, in addition to walking, run at speeds of up to 1.2 meters per second. This is an example of convergent evolution."
- It isn't obvious to the lay person why this should be considered an example of convergent evolution. Can anyone clarify? -- 24 October 2005
- I guess vampire bats can run faster than their bat ancestors, and this is an example of convergence with other fast-running animals. It's a poor example, though, so I've removed it. --Townmouse 21:44, 29 October 2005 (UTC)
[edit] In Folklore?
It would probably also be good to include a brief section on the idea of the sanguivorous bat in folklore -- 24 October 2005
- And also:
- which animals the 3 species typically prey on
- what they fed on before the introduction of European livestock, if different
- common vampire bat society, and particularly the reciprocal altruism of sharing blood
- Townmouse 22:36, 29 October 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Running vs Flying
"Running and walking are the primary way in which vampire bats approach their prey," says the article. I always kind of assumed they flew. Perhaps the article could be a little clearer on this point, for the benefit of those of us who know nothing about bats? — Haeleth Talk 22:53, 27 October 2005 (UTC)
- I don't know enough to be authoriative, but my understanding is that common vampire bat flies around until it finds its prey (or host, to be more precise), then lands close by and scampers up to it. The bat bites and begin feeding, but retreats temporarily if the prey attacks. I have a feeling the parasites may also climb onto their victims, but I don't clearly remember.
- I have added a couple of links to the Nature article referenced. There is a video showing a vampire bat bounding along rather like a gorilla, but even more so.
- --Townmouse 22:08, 29 October 2005 (UTC)
- I've seen a video of a vampire bat that landed about ten feet from its prey, got down on its belly and then lowcrawled up to the victim. Sneaky little things. 152.16.188.107 07:54, 27 August 2007 (UTC)
[edit] removed: eating cry
Whoa, whoa, TELL me no one has noticed this: "You might think vampire bats do not suck blood, but as stated in the first sentance they truly do. They swoop down of of their branches, screech their "eating cry," extend their teeth and suck the blood of harmless humans. Most deaths of humans and small animals occured from a vampire bat attack. Their favorite small animal to feast on is the oppossum. Vampire bats are only found at night, because they will disintigrate in the sunlight. Every other week they turn into vampires (below). They take the human form and suck blood from small animals and unsuspecting humans. However, in human form they do not screech. Wikipedia loves you and hopes you will come back for more information!" As the Beastie Boys might say: "Sabotage". Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be deleting that. 66.82.9.86 03:45, 28 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Hunting by breath sounds
There's an interesting Nat Geo article on how Vampire Bats can recognise different breathing sounds and therefore return to the same individual on consecutive nights. There article is here. Jack 02:55, 20 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] removed: Sipp's house
I removed a bit of vandalism, but I thought it was kind of funny, so I'll include it here. Who do you suppose Sipp is? or Charles Payne?
Also found in East Prairie Missouri at Sipp's house. *Charles Payne Maintenance Man East Prairie, Missouri R-2
brain 06:10, 30 March 2007 (UTC)
== Blood Types?
This has been gnawing at me for a couple days now. I was learning about different kinds of blood types, and I was thinking, what kind of blood types do vampire bats have? They must be able to consume any kind of blood type? Or does that not matter, because they're just eating blood for food. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.168.219.77 (talk) 04:34, 11 May 2007 (UTC).
It doesn't make any difference because the blood consumed doesn't enter the internal environment of the bat's body, so it wouldn't set off a specific immune response. It isn't like a blood transfusion, where the donor's blood enters the recipient's actual bloodstream.
Nineteenthly 21:33, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Vandalism with possible poorly expressed truth
I removed some vandalism, but at the end of the sentence it said "they go poopy every 8-10 months." I can't find a reference to how often they defaecate, but if anyone knows if that's true, maybe they should put it back in expressed in a more sensible manner. Nineteenthly 21:29, 22 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Bat size?
Should there be a section where the size of the vampire bat (height, weight, wingspan, etc.) is explained? Blahmaster 00:32, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Ghost Bats
I have just removed the phrase "are also known as Ghost Bats" as Ghost Bat is the common name for another species - Macroderma gigas, also known as the Australian False Vampire Bat, which lives in Australia. See: http://www.australianfauna.com/ghostbat.php and the Wikipedia article Ghost Bat. John Hill (talk) 05:27, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
