Latest News

  • Home
  • Global
  • Vampire bats 'French kiss with blood' to form lasting bonds
Vampire bats 'French kiss with blood' to form lasting bonds
Thursday, April 2, 2020 IST
Vampire bats

Vampire bats establish friendships by sharing regurgitated blood with their neighbours in a "kind of horrifying French kiss", a new study says.

 
 

Researchers observing the mammals said their sharing behaviours appeared to be an important aspect of their bonding.
 
If bats go three days without eating, they can die of starvation, so sharing the blood can be a life-saving act.
 
The study, published in the journal Current Biology, aimed to determine how the species developed relationships.
 
It found that when the vampire bats became isolated in a roost, pairs unfamiliar with one another - but in close proximity - would begin grooming, then "mouth-licking" before swapping food.
 
"We go from bats starting as strangers from different colonies to groupmates that act to save each other's life," said Prof Gerald Carter, author of the study and behavioural ecologist at Ohio State University.
 
"They have this 'boom and bust' foraging experience, so they either hit it big and get a large blood meal or they're starved for that night.
 
" Food sharing in vampire bats is like how a lot of birds regurgitate food for their offspring . But what's special with vampire bats is they do this for other adults," Prof Carter said.
 
He added that the bats would groom even after their fur had been cleansed, suggesting that the behaviour was not just an issue of maintaining hygiene.
 
Vampire bats are the only mammals to feed entirely on blood, which they get by biting larger animals such as cattle.
 
The flying creatures can drink up to half their weight in blood a day, unlike their other bat relatives, which generally dine on fruit, nectar or insects.
 
In November, a scientific study discovered that bats that form bonds while in captivity often continue their relationships when released back into the wild.
 

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
'Worse than prison': A rare look inside China's detention camps to 'brainwash' Muslims

ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...

Recently posted . 199K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
What The Shape Of Your Belly Button Says About Your Health

If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...

Recently posted . 8K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Horrifying Acts of Chemical Warfare and Gas Attacks

In this age of terror, there might be nothing more terrifying than the thought of an attack carried out with chemical weapons. We’ve all heard the horrific ...

Recently posted . 3K views . 4 min read
 

 Article
Top 10 Best Gym Equipment Brands in India 2018

Body fitness is one thing that everyone wants to maintain irrespective of age. Going to the gym and doing some great exercise always helps to maintain your body fit...

Recently posted . 3K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Global

 Article
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s son arrested by NIA in terror funding case

The National Investigating Agency on Tuesday arrested Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s son Syed Shahid Yusuf in connection with a terror funding in J...

Recently posted. 665 views . 6 min read
 

 Article
World’s longest sea bridge brings China closer to Hong Kong

The $15 billion, 55-kilometer (34-mile) bridge, which Xinhua says is the world’s longest sea link, will open for traffic at 9 am on Wednesday and is tipped ...

Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
A Check List Before Your Road Trip Starts

Carry certain things before you set out to make your life easier.   Before you set out for the adventurous road trip on your ho...

Recently posted. 628 views . 2 min read
 

 Video
Mining Diamonds At Crystal Grove Diamond Mine



Recently posted . 677 views
 

 Reviews
The Best 5 Camping Tents in India 2018 – Reviews & Buying Guide



Recently posted . 1K views . 99 min read
 

 Reviews
The Best 5 Hiking Backpacks in India – Reviews & Buying Guide



Recently posted . 1K views . 140 min read
 

 Article
WhatsApp to soon let you switch to video during a voice call

WhatsApp Beta version 2.18.4 comes with a dedicated button for switching to video calls during voice calls.

Recently posted. 645 views . 0 min read
 

 Article
Cultured meat is now being mass-produced In Israel

“Our goal is to make cultured meat affordable for everyone.”

Recently posted. 964 views . 0 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

"The audience see a joker as a joker; But the joker sees himself as a performer. . . No matter what others think about you, it’s your life - just go on with confidence."
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top