How vampire bats drink your blood without you noticing

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Imran Razik |

TED-Ed

• October 2025

Vampire bats are the only mammals to subsist on blood alone. Their ancient ancestors might have eaten parasites and insects off larger animals until vampire bats began feeding directly from those animals themselves. So, how do these nocturnal creatures find their sustenance? And what animals do they most commonly target? Imran Razik follows the nighttime routine of a vampire bat as she hunts. [Directed by Sharon Colman, narrated by Adrian Dannatt, music by Jarrett Farkas].