Hematophagy
PRACTICE BY CERTAIN ANIMALS OF FEEDING ON BLOOD
Blood-sucking; Blood sucking; Haematophagy; Haemophagic; Hemophagic; Hemophagy; Haemophagy; Blood sucker; Bloodsucker; Sanguinivore; Haematophagous; Hematophagous; Bloodsuckers; Hematophagia; Sanguivorous; Sanguivory; Hematophagic; Sanguivore; Hematophage; Human hematophagy; Hemetophagy; Hemophagous; Blood drinking; Drinking blood; Drank blood; Haematophagic; Haematophage
Hematophagy (sometimes spelled haematophagy or hematophagia) is the practice by certain animals of feeding on blood (from the Greek words αἷμα "blood" and φαγεῖν "to eat"). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious proteins and lipids that can be taken without great effort, hematophagy is a preferred form of feeding for many small animals, such as worms and arthropods.