Behavior and maintenance of captive white-winged vampire bats, Diaemus youngi

Procedures for transportation and maintenance of the white-winged vampire b at, Diaemus youngi, are documented for the first time. Contrary to previous reports, D. youngi has been maintained on a diet of defibrinated bovine bl ood supplemented weekly with fresh chicken blood. Gregarious by nature, D. youngi exhibits dominance-hierarchy behavior, and behavioral patterns unrep orted in other species of bats. Although primarily arboreal with regard to feeding behavior, D. youngi demonstrates the ability to feed terrestrially- a behavior documented for the first time. Observations of our captive colon y contradict anecdotal and previously published information on feeding and behavior. Differences in feeding behavior between D. youngi and the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, appear to be related to selection of prey ( arboreal versus terrestrial prey, respectively). In places where these vamp ire bats coexist, resource partitioning may serve to reduce competition.