Heat-Sensing Vampire Bats

Vampire bats are long known for their insatiable appetite for blood.  This bat needs two tablespoons of blood a day, and cannot survive more than one day without this dietary requirement.  So how does this little vampire make best use of its time when hunting?

Researchers have found that vampire bats have heat sensing TRP receptors in their face that direct the bats to an area, on its victim’s body, that has the highest blood flow.  These sensors form a thermal image in the brain of the bat. 

Interested in teaching your students more about bats? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode: Ecology - Bats: Creatures of the Night.  Interested in speaking to students about bats? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Source:

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138953002/how-blood-sucking-vampire-bats-aim-their-bites