Desmodontidae

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | 627 words | Copyright

Desmodontidae(vampire bats; order Chiroptera, suborder Microchiroptera) A family of bats (sometimes included in the Phyllostomatidae) in which the incisors are adapted for piercing and the digestive system is modified for a diet consisting exclusively of blood. The nose has a fleshy pad, the ears are well separated, the tail is absent. The limbs are sufficiently strong to support the weight of the animal on the ground, enabling it to run and jump with agility. Vampire bats are distributed throughout tropical America and subtropical S. America. There are three genera (Desmodus, Diaemus, and Diphylla), with three species.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Desmodontidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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