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title: ""At first glance, the smaller animal looks like a spider, but gripped…"
date: 2020-10-14
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
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# "At first glance, the smaller animal looks like a spider, but gripped…

*October 14, 2020 · Facebook*

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[https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2020-big-bat-bloodsucker?tags=ed.current](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2020-big-bat-bloodsucker?tags=ed.current){target="_blank"}
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\"At first glance, the smaller animal looks like a spider, but gripped to the head of the Mozambican long‑fingered bat was actually a six-legged, wingless bat fly. This bloodsucking parasite moves around on its host, but usually sits on the lower back, out of reach. When a bat is in flight, the fly may sit on its host's head instead\"\
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[https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2020-big-bat-bloodsucker?tags=ed.current](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2020-big-bat-bloodsucker?tags=ed.current){target="_blank"}
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