To answer this challenging question, researchers compared the genome of the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) with 26 other bat species and identified 13 genes in vampire bats that are either absent or non-functional. Over the years, these genetic changes have enabled the animals to adapt to a "blood" diet that is rich in iron and protein but low in fats or carbohydrates.
Vampire Diet: Can Bats Survive Solely on Blood?
Vampire bats can be a bit intimidating due to their ability to drink the blood of animals. But do they consume anything else, or can they only survive on such a bloody diet?
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The remarkable ability of this species of bats has its limits. Scientists have determined how long a vampire bat can survive by solely feeding on blood.
Most mammals cannot survive on a low-calorie liquid blood diet. Only three species of vampire bats out of 1400 bat species can do this—the rest primarily feed on insects, fruits, nectar, pollen, or the flesh of small frogs and fish.
How Vampire Bats Survive on a "Blood" Diet
The ability of bats from the vampire family to survive solely on blood has astonished scientists. These creatures are among the most remarkable of all bats. This capability is attributed to changes in their genome that allow vampires to consume blood without the need for other, more calorie-dense foods.
With such a low-calorie diet, vampire bats cannot go long without food. In extreme cases, well-fed bats will regurgitate their food to share it with a starving neighbor. However, they cannot share with just any fellow bat: these animals have complex social relationships and seem to remember which individuals helped them in the past, repaying that assistance in kind.