Bibliometric analysis of the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) prey in the American continent
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Abstract
The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is distributed across the Americas in both natural and agricultural habitats, from northwestern Mexico to northern Argentina. Desmodus rotundus feeds exclusively on the blood of various vertebrate species. Its feeding behavior impacts animal and human health due to the risk of rabies virus transmission. The objective of this study was to explore the wild and domestic prey of D. rotundus through a systematic review and a bibliometric analysis. Scientific and photographic evidence related to the diet of D. rotundus in the Americas was searched and selected from reference databases. Geographic location and biome data were recorded where predation events were documented. The review suggests that D. rotundus can inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems, ranging from deserts to tropical forests, and even elevations above 3100 meters. More than 40 wild and domestic species were identified in its diet, ranging from birds such as Humboldt penguins to large predators such as pumas, suggesting that D. rotundus is capable of, such as Humboldt penguins, to large predators, including adapting its diet according to prey availability and environmental conditions. The bibliometric analysis highlighted the generalist ecology of D. rotundus in terms of feeding behavior, habitat use, and distribution range. This study provides a baseline for identifying general patterns in the diet of D. rotundus and quantitatively complements the existing literature on the common vampire bat’s feeding ecology.
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