Prey

• Although the vampire bat has become feared by humans, it rarely ever attacks a person. Instead, vampire bats prefer quadrupedal mammals such as cattle, pigs and tapirs. Legend is correct in one respect, though. The vampire bat drinks blood. In fact, the only food substance their bodies can handle is blood. Their esophagus is too small to allow the passage of solid foods, and their stomachs are shaped in a twisted zigzag so as to optimize the processing of liquids.
  
  

Heat Sensor

• Stealth is essential for a vampire bat's survival. Because they're only 3.5 inches in length, they must never be detected by their prey, which are often several hundred times their own body weight. An angered cow could easily kill the vampire bat. So as to get the most blood for their effort, the vampire bat has evolved a unique nose-leaf to detect heat. This feature allows them to triangulate the spot on their sleeping prey where the blood is most likely close to the surface. Prepared with this information, the vampire bat is able to make a single incision in their victim, thereby reducing the chance of waking their prey.
  
  

Lick and Jump

• Before actually biting, the vampire bat will carefully lick down the fur of their prey, at the same time feeling for any movement. When the fur is ready, the vampire bat will bite, leaving a shallow wound no larger than 3 to 5 mm. As soon as the bite has been made, the bat leaps away so as to be prepared in case its victim stirs.
  
  

Bite

• If the victim doesn't stir, then the vampire bat approaches and drinks from the wound. Its saliva contains a natural anticoagulant, so that blood flows freely and steadily. Its body can only support a little blood at a time, amounting to about a teaspoon. When it's done, the vampire bat flies away and the wound eventually heals, though it might take some time due to the anticoagulants.
  
  

Dracula

• The vampire bat gained notoriety when associated with Vlad the Impaler, the "vampire" of European legend. Since that time, "vampire" refers to a supernatural blood-sucking human more often than it refers to the real-world bats of Latin America. Many of the bats' characteristics have been imposed on the legend, though, including its nocturnal lifestyle and diet. In some legends, "vampires" can even transform into bats, alighting into their victim's bedrooms through open windows and balconies.