In the cave of a giant sloth that has gone extinct, scientists have discovered the vampire bat Desmodus draculae.
The name Desmodus draculae is derived from “Dracula,” the legendary vampire count. With a body size larger than a computer keyboard and a wingspan of 50 cm, it is one of the largest bat species to have ever existed on Earth, and of course, belongs to the group of blood-sucking bats.
Vampire bat in the cave of a giant sloth – (Photo: Miramar Natural Science Museum)
According to Sci-News, it belongs to the subfamily Desmodontinae, which means “vampire bats,” comprising 3 extinct species and 3 living species. The fossil discovered this time, found in the cave of an extinct giant sloth in Argentina, is 100,000 years old.
Dr. Santiago Brizuela from the Miramar Natural Science Museum (Argentina) stated that the fossil only includes the jaw of the creature, but it is sufficient to recreate its “portrait” from the past. It is unclear whether it entered the cave to hunt for food, seek shelter, or was preyed upon by another animal and dragged into the cave.
Although called a vampire, these blood-sucking bats actually consume only a small amount, insufficient to pose a danger to their “victims” – which are usually much larger and gentler creatures like cattle and buffalo, only through a bite.
However, they are dangerous in that they can carry rabies and other serious diseases, and both modern bats and these extinct bats are no exception.
This research was recently published in the journal Ameghiniana.
