Sanguisuga

The Sanguisuga is a Latin form of vampire. The name means “blood sucker” though it’s sometimes referred to as a “horse leech.” The term was used before the word Vampire was popularized, and likely referred to a Vampire or some other blood sucking demon. They are related to bats, and if pierced they pour out the blood they’ve consumed.

Citations:

Arnold, Thomas Kerchever, et al. A Copious and Critical English – Latin Lexicon, Founded on the German-Latin Dictionary of Dr. C.E. Georges. United Kingdom, Longmans, Green, and Company, 1865.

Bunson, Matthew. The Vampire Encyclopedia. United Kingdom, Gramercy Books, 2000.

Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.

Summers, Montague. The Vampire: His Kith and Kin. United Kingdom, Read Books Limited, 2020.

Summers, Montague. Vampire In Europe. United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, 2013.

Summers, Montague. The Vampire in Lore and Legend. United States, Dover Publications, 2012.