![]() In other animals, these bacteria would harm their hosts, so its especially surprising that these bats can carry them. Their stomachs are filled with hundreds of different types of bacteria that protect them from the diseases in blood. The researchers found that these genes also help the flying mammals to process the high levels of nitrogen and iron in blood that would be toxic to other animals.įurthermore, common vampire bats have a special microbiome in their guts that lets them digest blood. ![]() Transposable elements are pieces of genetic code that can move from place to place.īiologists studying the bats noticed that these transposable elements were found in regions that work with the immune system and metabolism. ![]() So how do common vampire bats survive on hematophagy, or sanguivory, as the practice of eating blood is called New research published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution says that the answer lies in their guts and genes. In addition to containing pathogens, bloodthough full of iron, nitrogen and salthas very little carbohydrate or vitamin value.
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