sanguivory

Sanguivory is a form of hematophagy, which is the practice of feeding on blood. Organisms that exhibit sanguivory are known as sanguivores. While many creatures consume blood incidentally as part of their diet, sanguivores are specifically adapted to feed on blood as their primary or sole food source. This feeding strategy is found across a variety of animal taxa, including insects, arachnids, and even some vertebrates.

Among invertebrates, mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches are well-known examples of sanguivores. Mosquitoes use specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and extract blood, often serving as vectors for diseases. Ticks attach themselves to a host and feed for extended periods, while leeches possess suckers and often secrete anticoagulants to facilitate blood flow.

In the vertebrate world, vampire bats are the most prominent sanguivores. These bats, found in Central and South America, have unique adaptations for feeding on the blood of other animals, typically mammals and birds. They possess sharp incisors to make a small incision and then lap up the blood. Some fish, such as the candiru, are also known to engage in sanguivory, though their feeding habits are often debated and can involve parasitism. The evolutionary development of sanguivory requires adaptations for locating hosts, piercing skin or other tissues, and efficiently processing blood as a nutrient source.