Hairy-legged Vampire Bat
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| iHairy-legged Vampire Bat | ||||||||||||||
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| Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823 |
The Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata) is one of three species of vampire bat. Despite connotations of vampires, it mainly feeds on the blood of birds. This vampire bat lives mainly in tropical and subtropical forestlands of South America. It is the sole member of the genus Diphylla.
It generally rests during the daylight with less than twelve other bats in a cave, although a cave was once found with 35 bats. It also shares its food.[citation needed] It also has good sight, but poor echo location.[citation needed]
As with all mammals, it can be a carrier of rabies.
[edit] Subspecies
There are two recognized subspecies
- Diphylla ecaudata centralis is found from western Panama till Mexico
- Diphylla ecaudata ecaudata is found in Brazil and eastern Peru till eastern Panama
[edit] References
- Chiroptera Specialist Group (1996). Diphylla ecaudata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
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