by Colleen Mart

Created on: July 11, 2010   Last Updated: July 13, 2010

Vampire species around the world 

Stories about vampires fascinate us.  Perhaps that is why books and films about vampires are so popular.  Indeed in our modern culture the belief in vampires is so strong, that there are those that profess to be vampires and describe the different species of vampires that exist today. However before there were best seller books and vampire films, there were legends of vampires told in countries around the world.  There are almost as many species of vampires as there are

countries, so let’s introduce ourselves to a few of them. 

The Greeks of antiquity believed the Vrykolakas to be a vampire-like creature.  A person could become a vampire if they ate meat from an animal killed by a wolf or werewolf.  It was believed that a vampire would become bloated like a barrel after feeding and have a ruddy complexion.  Due to this flushed appearance, red haired people with pale eyes were thought to be vampires.  On the other hand, a werewolf could become a vampire after it died, so the vampire might resemble a werewolf with glowing eyes.     

There are various vampire-like beings wandering around the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands.  India tells of the Vetala, a being that lives in cemeteries, hangs upside down from trees like bats, possessing corpses and reanimating them in order to stalk victims.  In northern India the vampire has intestines circling its head and drinks blood from a skull.  Viet Nam’s vampires, which may only be a head, have red antenna coming out of their noses that they use to suck blood from victims. 

In the Philippines tales are told about female vampires and are known as Aswang.  The Aswang is described as having a hollow drinking-straw-like tongue with which they drink blood, being able to shapeshift, possessing wings and may even be able to detach parts of her upper body.  Of course descriptions of the Aswang vary from island to island.  

In West Africa vampires are known as Asanbosam or Sasabonsam and are said to have iron teeth.  They appear to be very human except they have books for feet.  Their method of feeding is to suck blood from the thumbs of sleeping persons. 

Although most tales about vampires claim that they only feed on blood from humans and that the human then becomes a vampire, which is not necessarily the case.  In Mexico legends tell of the Chupacabra who feeds mainly on goats hence the name which means “goat sucker.”  Ticks, leeches, fleas and mosquitoes, found throughout the world, are creatures that attach themselves to a warm blooded host and suck blood which would make them some of the most prolific vampires known.  However rest assured that if you or your pet should be bitten by a tick, leech, flea or mosquito, you or your beloved companion will not become a vampire. 

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