Indigenous to Central and South America, vampire bats live in a very strong social culture. The develop bonds with other bats in the colony, and learn to recognize each other through sound and scent.
Vampire bats tend to live in caves, trees, or buildings.
Their colonies can reach numbers of up to 2000 bats, but most colonies tend to house approximately 100 bats. Mating season lasts all year for the vampire bat. Their lifespan is quite long - vampire bats may reach twenty years of age or older. A vampire bat usually drinks two tablespoons of blood per day, on average. They typically hunt very close to the ground, using heat sensors on the nose to help them locate a vein close to the skin.