Vampiro: the vampire bat in fact and fantasy

310 Pages·1999·3.83 MB·English

by  David E. Brown

Page i
VAMPIRO
Vampiro : The Vampire Bat in Fact and
title:
Fantasy
author: Brown, David E.
publisher: University of Utah Press
isbn10 | asin: 0874806011
print isbn13: 9780874806014
ebook isbn13: 9780585106434
language: English
subject Vampire bats.
publication date: 1999
lcc: QL737.C52B76 1999eb
ddc: 599.4/5
subject: Vampire bats.
Page ii
Portrait of a vampire bat ready to spring into action.
Photo by Bruce Hayward.
Page iii
Vampiro
The Vampire Bat in Fact and Fantasy
David E. Brown
Drawings and maps by
Randy Babb
THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PRESS
Salt Lake City
© 1999 by David. E. Brown
All rights reserved
L O C C -P D
IBRARY F ONGRESS ATALOGING-IN UBLICATION ATA
Brown, David E. (David Earl), 1938-
Vampiro: the vampire bat in fact and fantasy / David E. Brown; drawings and maps by Randy Babb.
p. cm.
Originally published: Silver City, N.M.: High-Lonesome Books, c 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-87480-601-1 (alk. paper)
1. Vampire bats. I. Title.
QL737.C52B76 1999
599.4'5-dc21 99-13760
Cover photo by Randy Babb
Back cover photo courtesy of the Eastman Kodak Company
Page v
To the memory of Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
who wrote down all that he observed and then some
Page vii
CONTENTS
List Of Illustrations ix
Foreword xi
Preface
Introduction 7
Part I 13
Natural History Of Vampire Bats
Discovery By Science 13
Common Names 18
Description 20
General Appearance 20
Lengths and Weights 23
Spoor 23
Other Vampire Bats 24
False Vampire Bats 25
Fossil History 26
Range And Distribution 29
Northern Limits 33
Habitat 35
Physical Abilities 38
Agility on the Ground 38
Flight 39
Hearing and Echolocation 40
Eyesight and Sense of Smell 41
Strength and Endurance 42
Feeding Behavior 43
Prey 43
Hunting Methods 45
The Vampire's Bite 46
Desmokinase 48
Other Adaptations For Feeding On Blood 49
The Vampire Bat At Home 50
The Vampire Bat at Rest 51
Nighttime Activity 51
Movements and Home Ranges 52
Social Behavior 53
Sex Life And Reproduction 56
Enemies, Longevity, And Mortality 58
Part II. 61
Vampires And People
Vampire Bat Attacks On Humans 61
Depredations on Livestock and Pets 65
Vampire Bats As Reservoirs Of Disease 68

Page viii
Rabies 69
History of Vampire Bat-borne Rabies 71
Epizootics 73
Other Diseases Transmitted by Vampire Bats 73
Vampire Bat Control 75
Prevention and First Aid for Humans 83
Vampire Bats In Captivity 84
Vampire Bats In Indian Mythology 87
Contemporary Folklore 92
Vampyres 96
Vampyrism And Real-Life Vampyres 99
Vampyres & Vampire Bats In Western Literature 102
Vampyres and Vampire Bats on Film 110
Vampyres and Vampire Bats on Television 114
The Vampire Bat As A Logo 115
Present Status And Attitudes Toward Vampire Bats 119
References And Bibliography 121
Acknowledgements 141
Index 143