Here we are at the start of another week of Wild Facts. Since it is Monday, I thought you may need some help getting your day start so I figured the Spectral Bat would be the perfect candidate to get you up out of your seat. This particular bat species is also known as False Vampire Bat, Linnaeus’s False Vampire Bat and the Spectral Vampire Bat. As you might expect from all the common names, the Spectral Bat is a carnivorous bat, however, it doesn’t feed strictly on blood. You can find the Spectral Bat anywhere between Mexico and Peru.

Do You Smell That?

The Spectral Bat is the largest carnivorous bat in the Western Hemisphere with a wingspan over 80 cm (2.6′) and a body length between 12.5 and 13.5 cm (4.9 – 5.3″). Unlike other bats, this carnivore prefers to use their keen sense of smell over their echolocation to track down their prey. The typical meal they smell out includes rodents, birds and even other bats. They Spectral Bat uses a methodical hunting method to slowly stalk their prey before swooping in and grabbing the unsuspecting victim by their head. It will then fly the latest meal back to their roost where they will begin feasting.

Committed to the Family Life

When you think of bats, you typically think of them hanging upside down in a cave. The False Vampire Bat is slightly different as they prefer to roost in the hollows of trees. They will typically share these roosts with a long-term mate as well as family members, which is a rare behaviour in the bat world.  Just as rare is the fact that the Spectral Bat is one of the only bat species that show male parental care. Typically, at least one male (or older offspring) will remain in the roost with the youngest bat while the rest of their family goes out to forage. Having a stay at home dad obviously works of this species, which makes me wonder if other bats shouldn’t adopt this special parental technique.

Are You Threatening Me?!?

Unfortunately, the habitat this particular bat species depends on (i.e. lowland forests near swamps and rivers) is being destroyed by human civilization. As a result the Spectral Bat is listed as Near Threatened, and therefore needs to be monitored to ensure their population doesn’t dwindle. With any luck, we will leave some of their habitat alone so they can continue to flourish.