Not to be confused with the Vampire Bat.
The largest bat in the New World, the spectral vampire bat, despite its name, is no blood sucker. This big bat needs large prey to satisfy its appetite. Its victims include birds, rodents and even other bats. Like the real vampire bat, the spectral vampire often stalks prey on the ground, and is so agile it can chase down mice while crawling on its winged "hands." Once a victim is caught, sharp fangs and powerful jaws finish the job.
Big Bite: Most bats feed on insects or fruit, but this giant has to have more calories to survive. The spectral vampire bat kills big prey quickly so it doesn't escape. A crushing bite ends the struggle.
Wing It: With a wingspan that measures up to three feet wide, this bat is the biggest in the Americas. Its wings are made of a thin layer of skin that is drawn tight over a flexible structure of bone. At the end of each wing, a single "thumb" claw pokes out.
Just Hangin' Out[]
Spectral vampire bats roost in family groups, and hang upside down when resting.
Unlike most other bats, the spectral vampire bat doesn't spend much time in the air. This hunter is extremely nimble on the ground, and can stalk prey by crawling through tall grasses on all fours, using the thumb claws on its wings as its front feet. The spectral vampire also has extra-long claws on its hind feet; it uses these to hang upside down from a branch or rock, and waits for potential victims to pass underneath. A single bite to the brain is usually enough to kill most prey, and the bat chews up its meals until nothing is left but the bones of its victims.
Assisted Living: Spectral vampire bats differ from other bats even in the way they raise their young. This is one of few species that brings food back to the roost for their young; the bats even feed their mates, which stay behind to care for their babies.
Ghosts & Vampires: This bat was named a vampire because people believed it drank the blood of its victims. Plus, its sneaky way of stalking prey made it seem like a ghost, or specter, when it pounced.
Bat of Prey[]
- Creeping along the underside of a branch in search of prey, the vampire bat spots a bird in its nest and sneaks closer without making a sound.
- When directly above the bird, the bat anchors itself by digging its long claws into the branch, then drops down and grabs the bird by the skull.
- The bat's teeth sink deep into the bird's head, killing it almost instantly. The predator then climbs up to a safe spot where it can feast without being bothered.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The Did You Know? section is missing a space between the period of the first sentence, and the beginning of the second one.
- The multi-paneled illustration, "Bat of Prey", is also used in the Wildlife Explorer series inside the spectral vampire bat's card. Here, titled "A Bone-Crunching Experience", an extra panel of the bat flying is included before the other three illustrations; the bird is also specified to be some sort of cuckoo bird.
- The image of the bats roosting on the back of the knowledge card is also shared.
- The spectral vampire bat is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in From The Shadows on Monster Mania 43.
- It is then featured in Odd Creature Out on Monster Mania 44.