Title
Liquid lunch – vampire bats feed on invasive feral pigs and other ungulates
Author(s)
Galetti, Mauro;Pedrosa, Felipe;Keuroghlian, Alexine;Sazima, Ivan
Published
2016
Publisher
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Abstract
Vampire bats have long captivated the imagination of humans worldwide. Although often associated with myths about Dracula-like creatures (Mayen 2003), only three of about 1200 known bat species – Desmodus rotundus, Diaemus youngi, and Diphylla ecaudata, all restricted to the New World – feed exclusively on blood (Turner 1975). Of these, the common vampire bat (D rotundus) has the widest distribution, extending from Mexico to Argentina. This species feeds mostly on livestock and poultry (Greenhall et al. 1983) but has also been documented preying on native mammals (Catenazzi and Donnelly 2008; Sánchez-Cordero et al. 2011).
We have used camera traps to monitor mammals in the Brazilian Pantanal and Atlantic Forest for the past 12 years. After checking 10,529 photos and videos of several terrestrial mammals, we saw several examples of D rotundus feeding on invasive wild feral pigs (Sus scrofa; six instances), free-ranging cattle (two instances), and native ungulates (four instances) including lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) and red brocket deer (Mazama americana). See WebVideos 1–5 for examples of bat feeding behavior and a thwarted attack on native and non-native mammals.
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.
![]()
Back
PUB18923