By Rajni Pandey | July 17, 2024
These small bats drink blood from other animals, typically livestock. They have heat sensors on their noses to find blood vessels close to the skin and are found in Central and South America.
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Leeches are segmented worms that attach to hosts and suck their blood. They secrete an anticoagulant called hirudin to prevent blood from clotting and are found in freshwater environments worldwide.
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Female mosquitoes feed on blood for egg development. They are vectors for diseases like malaria and dengue fever and are found in warm and humid environments worldwide.
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Bed bugs are small, nocturnal insects that feed on human and animal blood. They can survive several months without feeding and are commonly found in beds and furniture.
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Ticks are arachnids that attach to hosts and feed on their blood. They can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and are found in forests, grasslands, and areas with high vegetation.
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This small parasitic catfish feeds on blood and is found in the Amazon River. Candiru are infamous for their alleged ability to enter the urethra of humans, though this is largely a myth.
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Fleas are small, wingless insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They can jump up to 150 times their body length and are found on host animals, in their nests, and bedding.
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Also known as assassin bugs, they feed on the blood of mammals, including humans. They can transmit Chagas disease and are found in the Americas, particularly in rural areas.
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Lampreys are jawless fish that attach to other fish and suck their blood. They have been around for over 360 million years and are found in freshwater and coastal regions of temperate climates.
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