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False vampire
Where does the False vampire live?
They are called false vampires because they were once mistakenly thought to feed on blood, like the true vampire bats of the subfamily Desmodontinae.
The false vampire bats have a wide distribution across the world, and they live in different habitats depending on the species.
Some of the most well-known false vampire bats are:
The spectral bat (Vampyrum spectrum), also known as the great false vampire bat, great spectral bat, American false vampire bat or Linnaeus's false vampire bat.
It is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America, where it roosts in tree hollows or caves.The greater false vampire bat (Megaderma lyra), also known as the Indian false vampire bat or greater false-vampire.
It is native to Asia, where it ranges from India and Sri Lanka to China and Indonesia.
It roosts in caves, buildings, or tree hollows.The heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor), also known as the heart-nosed false vampire bat or heart-nosed megabat.
It is native to Africa, where it occurs in the eastern and central parts of the continent.
Example of the color palette for the image of False vampire
![Palette with colors: Charcoal, Dark sienna and Nadeshiko pink Picture with primary colors of Charcoal, Dark sienna, Nadeshiko pink, Linen and Rose taupe](/images/false-vampire/demonic-looking-man.webp)
See these colors in NCS, PANTONE, RAL palettes...
What does the False vampire look like?
There are two families of false vampires: Megadermatidae and Phyllostomatidae.
They are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
False vampires are relatively large bats, with head-body lengths ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm.
They have large eyes, very large ears, and a prominent nose-leaf.
False vampires don't have tails, except for one species (Chrotopterus).
Their fur color varies from brown to white, grey, or green.
Some examples of false vampires are:
The lesser false vampire bat (Megaderma spasma) and the greater false vampire bat (Megaderma lyra) are found in Africa and Asia.
They have brown or grey fur and a heart-shaped nose-leaf.
They feed on insects and small vertebrates, such as other bats, birds, and rodents.The yellow-winged bat (Lavia frons) is found in Africa.
It has yellow fur and a yellow membrane between its legs.
The yellow-winged bat has a triangular nose-leaf and large ears that are joined at the base.
This bat feeds mainly on insects, but also eats fruits and nectar.The heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor) is found in Africa.
It has grey or brown fur and a large, heart-shaped nose-leaf.
The heart-nosed bat has long ears that are separated at the base.
It feeds mainly on large invertebrates, such as scorpions and spiders.
It hunts by hanging and listening for its prey.The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is found in Australia.
It is the largest false vampire, with a head-body length of 14 cm.
This bat has white or grey fur and a long, pointed nose-leaf.
The ghost bat has large ears that are separated at the base.
It feeds on insects and small vertebrates, such as other bats, birds, reptiles, and mammals.
It is considered an endangered species.The tropical American false vampire (Vampyrum spectrum) is found in Central and South America.
It is the largest New World bat, with a head-body length of 13.5 cm.
This bat has brown fur and a round nose-leaf.
It has large ears that are separated at the base.
The tropical American false vampire feeds on insects and small vertebrates, such as other bats, birds, rodents, and opossums.
It often roosts in pairs with some of their offspring.The woolly false vampire (Chrotopterus auritus) is found in Central and South America.
It has dark brown fur and a small tail.
The woolly false vampire has a round nose-leaf and large ears that are separated at the base.
This bat feeds on insects and small vertebrates, such as other bats, birds, and rodents.
It is the only false vampire that has a tail.
Example of the color palette for the image of False vampire
![Palette with colors: Black, Dark green and Bole Picture with primary colors of Black, Dark green, Bole, Sienna and Pale copper](/images/false-vampire/man-dressed-in-a-dracula-costume-walking-down-a-street.webp)
See these colors in NCS, PANTONE, RAL palettes...