A-Z Challenge: B is for...Bloodsuckers

B is for...Bloodsuckers!
Image Source: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Official Site

Today's letter is B, which is for Bloodsuckers! Shockingly enough, I'm not going to write about vampires *gasp*...because I rather fancy saving them for V instead ;D 

So what are bloodsuckers exactly?

Mosquito
Image Source: Wikipedia: Hematophagy

Simply put, bloodsuckers are creatures that feed on blood. The scientific name for this practice is haematophagy, which is derived from the Greek words haima (blood) and phagein (to eat). According to the BBC Nature website:

Blood suckers take a variety of forms, many of them parasitic, from small invertebrates to larger mammals. Specialised features, such as the vampire bat's front teeth or the proboscis of the mosquito, help puncture the skin of their victim and there may also be chemical activity to prevent the victim's blood from clotting and ceasing to flow. Blood is full of nutrients, which makes it an attractive option for an easy meal.

I could write a whole entry just about the fascinating world of insects and bats, but it's not very horror-themed is it? No, the Bloodsuckers I'm talking about come from the GSC/THQ sci-fi horror game series 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.', which was loosely inspired by the Strugatsky Brothers' sci-fi novel 'Roadside Picnic'.

Image Source: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Official Site

A product of radioactivity in "The Zone", Bloodsuckers have developed claws, tentacled lower jaws to aid bloodsucking and the power to make themselves invisible, leaving only their glowing eyes behind. They prefer lurking around in the dark, in order to sneak up from behind on unsuspecting victims, but they do go on the prowl during the daylight hours as well.

Bloodsuckers are not only sneaky, but quick and strong too, which makes them formidable enemies. They are, however, not impervious to gunfire, so if you manage to keep out of their way long enough to shoot, you'll probably survive!

For more info about the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game series and Bloodsuckers, visit the following source sites:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Official Site

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Wiki

Wikipedia: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge.