Preferential prey selection by Desmodus rotundus (E. Geoffroy, 1810, Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) feeding on domestic herbivores in the municipality of São Pedro–SP.

This research investigates whether the vampire bat species Desmodus rotundus, shows preferential targeting of certain types of domestic herbivores in São Pedro, Brazil. It found that horses and cattle are attacked more frequently than other species, with horses being the prime target, likely due to their thinner skin compared to cattle and a consideration of energy efficiency in hunting.

Overview of Research

• The researchers aimed to study whether Desmodus rotundus, commonly known as the common vampire bat, prefers certain types of prey when feeding on domestic herbivores in the Municipality of São Pedro (São Paulo, Brazil).
• The study involved surveying vampire bat attacks on rural properties where different types of domestic herbivores were being raised, and analyzing the frequency of attacks on the entire herd and individual species.

Key Findings

• The investigation showed that the most frequently targeted herbivores by Desmodus rotundus were cattle and horses.
• Using the chi-square test (χ2), with a significance level of 5%, the researchers corroborated the findings of higher attack frequencies in properties with these two species.
• Among cattle and horses, the latter were found to be attacked more frequently, suggesting a possible preferential selection by D. rotundus.

Theoretical Support and Proposed Reasoning

• The findings of this study align well with the Optimal Foraging Theory, which states that predators optimize their hunting strategy based on the net rate of energy consumption – in this case, horses seem to offer a higher net rate of energy.
• Another reasoning proposed by the researchers is that the thinner integument (skin and associated structures) of horses, compared to cattle, might make it easier for the bats to bite, possibly contributing to their status as preferred prey.