Bloodbat

Bloodbats (Sanguinarius gulae) are carnivorous mammals in the order Chiroptera. The forelimbs of all bats are developed as wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of sustained flight (other mammals, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums and colugos, can only glide for limited distances). The word Chiroptera comes from the Greek words cheir (χειρ) "hand" and pteron (πτερον) "wing," as the structure of the open wing is very similar to an outspread human hand with a membrane (patagium) between the fingers that also stretches between hand and body.

Since Bloodbats, as their name indicates, are carnivorous, they are included in the suborder Microchiroptera - they use echolocation, lack the claw at the second toe of the forelimb, lack a closed-ring-shaped ear (the edges are separated from each other at the base) and lack underfur; they have only guard hairs or are naked. The bloodbat has a short, conical muzzle and lacks a nose leaf, instead having naked pads with U-shaped grooves at the tip. The nose does have specialized thermoreceptors, which aids the animal in locating areas where the blood flows close to the skin of its prey; this seems to be a similar structure to that of infrared-sensing snakes. Their digestive system is adapted to their liquid diet, and their saliva contains a substance, draculin, which prevents the prey's blood from clotting.

They have been known to in human-built structures, much to the dismay of the residents. Colonies can range from a single individual to thousands. Each individual needs a blood meal at least once every few days. If a bat fails to get adequate food during its foraging, it may contact another bat in its colony to induce a food donation. The food exchange occurs mouth-to-mouth in an activity similar to kissing.

Unlike their cousins, the Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata), and the White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi), the Bloodbat has been known to swarm partial or whole colonies to take advantage of larger prey in a manner similar to the piranha, leaving their victims nearly completely drained of blood and covered with bites about 7mm long and 8mm deep.