Animal Diversity WebU of M Museum of Zoology ADW Home ADW Home ADW Home University of Michigan Help About Aninal Names Teaching Special Topics About Us



Structured Inquiry Search — preview

Diaemus youngi
white-winged vampire bat


By Andrew McLain

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Phyllostomidae
Genus: Diaemus
Species: Diaemus youngi

Geographic Range

Diaemus youngi has been recorded in throughout tropical South America, including parts of Paraguayan Chaco, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, and Trinidad. However, little work has been done on this rare species, therefore the range may be larger than what has been documented. (Greenhall, et al., 1983)

Biogeographic Regions
neotropical

Habitat

Diaemus youngi has been found in moist tropical and dry forests. They have been found roosting in caves, tree hollows, and on the edges of banana tree plantations. (Nowak, 1997; Elizondo, 1999)

Habitat Regions
tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes
rainforest ; scrub forest

Physical Description

Range mass
35 to 45 g
(1.23 to 1.59 oz)

Average length
85 mm
(3.35 in)

Head and body length of white-winged vampire bats is about 85 mm, there is no external tail. The forearm length is approximately 50-56 mm. Adults weigh approximately 30-45 grams. The pelage is usually a shiny clay color, light brown, or dark cinnamon brown. The edges of the wings are white, and the membrane between the second and third fingers is largely white. They have a peculiar short thumb with a single pad under the metacarpal. The slightly re-curved lower incisors with their unique system of cusps distinguish this genus from Desmodus. Diaemus youngi is the only bat known to have 22 permanent teeth. The other two vampire bat species (Desmodus rotundus and Diphylla ecaudata) lack the second upper molar and only have 20. (Nowak, 1997)

Sexual Dimorphism
sexes alike

Reproduction

The mating system has not been documented in this species. However, related species are polygynous.

Mating System
polygynous

Average number of offspring
1

Little is known about reproduction in this species. However, the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, breeds throughout the year, bearing a single young after an 8-9 month gestation. (Greenhall, et al., 1983; Lord, 1992)

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous

Little information exists for this speceis. However, in related species young are nursed and cared for by females for several months after birth, at which time the young become independent. Young bats are typically born naked and helpless and develop rapidly in the weeks following their birth.

Parental Investment
altricial ; female parental care

Lifespan/Longevity

Average lifespan
Status: captivity

>20 years

Typical lifespan
Status: captivity

20 (high) years

The lifespan of Diaemus youngi has only been documented in captivity where they can live 20 years. The relate common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) lives around 9 years in the wild. (Marlett , 2001)

Behavior

White-winged vampire bats have not been observed locomoting on the ground in the wild. However, they are morphologically similar to common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), suggesting that they may be capable of walking on the ground. To feed, these bats select their prey, then cautiously moves across a branch until they are close enough to extract blood from the prey’s feet. An incision is made after preliminary licks have been made on one of the digits, and blood is extracted by further licking the wound. Anticoagulants from the bat’s saliva ensure that blood flows freely. If the prey is startled or moves, the bat will hide under the branch until it can move back to the feeding site. Feeding time lasts around 15 minutes, then the bat flies away.

White-winged vampire bats are nocturnal and roost in small groups. (Schutt, et al., 1999)

Key Behaviors
flies; nocturnal ; sedentary ; social

Communication and Perception

There is no documented research on communication was found for this species. However, all microchiropterans utilize echolocation for navigation and possibly spatial organization. In addition, most bats use audible vocalizations, smells, and touch for communicating among individuals. In addition bats use vision, smell, touch, and auditory signals for perceiving their environment.

Communication Channels
tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels
visual ; acoustic ; echolocation

Food Habits

White-winged vampire bats feed mostly on blood from various bird species, including free-ranging poultry species (chickens, Guinea fowl, and turkeys). (Nowak, 1997; Schutt, et al., 1999)

Primary Diet
carnivore (Sanguivore )

Animal Foods
blood

Predation

Known Predators


Although little is known about predation on this species, it is likely that most predation occurs on young in roosts by small predators, such as snakes, and by birds of prey on bats leaving roosts. (Tuttle, 1996)

Ecosystem Roles

There is insufficient information on Diaemus youngi and its potential role in the ecosystem. It is possible that this species harbors and transmits diseases to various birds. They impact bird populations through parasitism, by feeding on their blood. (Nowak, 1997; Schutt, et al., 1999)

Ecosystem Impact
parasite

Species Used as Host

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

There is no information available on economic importance of this species.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Diaemus youngi is considered a pest because individuals sometimes feed on the blood of domestic poultry species. They may also be a carrier of rabies and other infectious diseases. (Elizondo, 1999)

Negative Impacts
causes or carries domestic animal disease

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Least Concern
More Information

US Federal List [Link]
No special status

CITES [Link]
No special status

This species is not protected under CITES or IUCN. The status of populations is poorly known. (Greenhall, et al., 1983)

For More Information

Find Diaemus youngi information at

Contributors

Andrew McLain (author), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Chris Yahnke (editor), University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.

References

Elizondo, L. 1999. "Diaemus youngi" (On-line ). Accessed 11/05/2002 at http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.inbio.ac.cr/bims/ubi/mamiferos/ubiespejo/ubiid%3D1571%26-find.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddiaemus%2Byoungi%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8.

Greenhall, A., G. Joermann, U. Schmidt, M. Seidel. 1983. Mammalian Species: Desmodus rotundus. American Society of Mammalogists, 202: 1-6.

Lord, R. 1992. Seasonal reproduction of vampire bats and its relation to seasonality of bovine rabies. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 28 (2): 292-294.

Marlett , J. 2001. "Vampire Bat" (On-line ). Accessed 11/23/02 at http://www.scz.org/animals/b/vampire.html.

Miller, G. 1907. The families and genera of bats. Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus, 57: i-xvii + 1-282.

Nowak, R. 1997. "White-winged Vampire Bat" (On-line ). Accessed 11/05/02 at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/chiroptera.phyllostomidae.diaemus.html.

Schutt, W., F. Muradali, N. Mondol, K. Joseph, K. Brockmann. 1999. Behavior and Maintenance of Captive White-Winged Vampire Bats, Diaemus youngi. Journal of Mammalogy, 80 (1): 71-81.

Tuttle, M. 1996. Protection from Predators. Bat Conservation International, Inc, 4 (2) /Fall: 5-6. Accessed (Date Unknown) at http://www.batcon.org/bhresearcher/bv4n2-6.html.

To cite this page: McLain, A. 2004. "Diaemus youngi" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 31, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Diaemus_youngi.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

Other formats: OWL

Home  ¦  About Us  ¦  Special Topics  ¦  Teaching  ¦  About Animal Names  ¦  Help

Structured Inquiry Search — preview