Vampire bats run on treadmills as scientists seek answer to energy outputs

These suckers are fast.

Vampire bats hit the treadmills in a unique study in which scientists tested how the creatures metabolized the blood they feed on, according to a newly published study.

The study, published in Biology Letters, examined the unique running abilities of vampire bats with the hypothesis that the creepy crawlers would exhibit remarkable metabolizing capabilities.

Researchers placed vampire bats on respirometry treadmills to test out how they generated energy for their speedy crawling. Price Sewell/U of T Scarborough

Vampire bats use their thumbs, wrists, and legs to run more than three feet per second to sneak up on prey such as horses, pigs, goats, capybaras, cows, and other mammals.

“Running is a great way to stalk up quietly on their prey without getting noticed,” said the study’s lead-author Giulia Rossi, according to The Independent.

Vampire bats are able to reach speeds of up to three feet per second as they sneak up on their unsuspecting mammalian prey. Price Sewell/U of T Scarborough

The mitochondria moochers will latch onto their prey, make small incisions with their sharp teeth, and then lap up the leaking blood.

Researchers fed twenty-four bats enriched cow’s blood and set them on the tiny respirometry treadmills — set to rates of up to one mile per hour — to get readings on the nocturnal mammal’s use of blood proteins.

Scientists found that the plasma pilferers made rapid and extensive use of amino acids — derived from the blood they fed on — to fuel their speedy ambulation.

“What’s even more impressive is they can sustain this really high rate of exertion for a long time by only burning the proteins they’ve stored in their muscles. It’s something we can only dream of doing,” co-author of the study Ken Welch from the University of Toronto said, according to The Independent.

The vampire bats were fed enriched cow’s blood and were found to be burning almost exclusively amino acids for energy. Price Sewell/U of T Scarborough

All mammals, including humans, can burn amino acids for cellular energy, however the main source for non-egg-layers is carbohydrates and lipids. Amino acids contribute to five to ten percent of energy generation for the average human, according to the study.

The researchers suspect that the bats may even use amino acids to power their flight.