Vampire bats 'French kiss with blood' to form lasting bonds
Vampire bats establish friendships by sharing regurgitated blood with their neighbours in a"kind of horrifying French kiss", a new study says.
If bats go three days without eating, they can die of starvation, so sharing the blood can be a life-saving act. It found that when the vampire bats became isolated in a roost, pairs unfamiliar with one another - but in close proximity - would begin grooming, then"mouth-licking" before swapping food."We go from bats starting as strangers from different colonies to groupmates that act to save each other's life," said Prof Gerald Carter, author of the study and behavioural ecologist at Ohio State University.
He added that the bats would groom even after their fur had been cleansed, suggesting that the behaviour was not just an issue of maintaining hygiene.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tennis bodies suspend sport until 7 June with sideswipe at French OpenThe French Open organisers want the tournament in September but the response from the ATP and WTA was: ‘Now is not a time to act unilaterally’
Read more »
Stock markets stabilise as ECB launches €750bn coronavirus stimulus – business liveRolling coverage as central bank pledges to buy bonds in pandemic emergency programme to support economy
Read more »
Mourners banned from kissing and hugging at funerals over coronavirus fearsThe Westerleigh Group, who looks after 40,000 funerals a year, has introduced new strict social distancing measures for all future funerals as fears over coronavirus intensify
Read more »
Coronation Street BAN: ITV soap stop kissing scenes amid coronavirus fearsCORONATION STREET has banned kissing scenes in an attempt to minimise contact between actors and prevent the spread of coronavirus between actors and crew on set.
Read more »
James Bond star reveals Ian Fleming’s ‘SCARILY similar’ coronavirus prediction in 007 filmJAMES BOND star George Lazenby has pointed out a ‘scarily similar' coronavirus prediction in Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Read more »
Stock markets fall back despite ECB and Federal Reserve's coronavirus support – business liveRolling coverage as European Central Bank pledges to buy bonds in pandemic emergency programme to support economy
Read more »