The Spectral Bat

Vampyrum spectrum

Interesting Facts

These bats actually use an extremely advanced sense of smell to hunt their prey in pitch black forests.
When scientists first categorized this species, it was believe to be another species of Vampire bat, which feeds on blood. It was later determined that these two species are related but the Spectral bat does not drink blood.
Spectral bat has also been called "False Vampire Bat" or "Linnaeus's False Vampire Bat."
The Spectral Bat is actually featured in a children's book called Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel.
Vampyrum Spectrum has been deemed "near threatened" on the endangered species list because of habitat destruction.
Because of popular culture, many people fear these bats beside the fact that they aren't vampire bats and they don't drink blood.

Related Links

Endangered Species List: Vampyrum Spectrum. Shows this species is on its way to being extinct.

This group is working to conserve the rainforests of Guyana, which is home to the spectral bat.

A very cool website that goes into depth on how echolocation works and how bats use to to communicate and to see during night flight.