It's Camazotz, btw, and has an interesting derivation (at least, I assume L'Engle didn't simply make up the word):
Camazotz (Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil SA/NA): The "snatch bat" or "death bat" of Mayan legend. It was supposedly a giant bat which attacked human beings and other large animals, drinking the blood. It was also known as the "sudden bloodletter". Fossils of Desmodus draculae, the giant vampire bat, support these legends. there have also been skeletons of D. draculae found which were sub-fossil, of very recent age. These suggest that the bat was still common when the Mayans were around, and may still be today.
no subject
Camazotz (Mexico, Guatemala and Brazil SA/NA): The "snatch bat" or "death bat" of Mayan legend. It was supposedly a giant bat which attacked human beings and other large animals, drinking the blood. It was also known as the "sudden bloodletter". Fossils of Desmodus draculae, the giant vampire bat, support these legends. there have also been skeletons of D. draculae found which were sub-fossil, of very recent age. These suggest that the bat was still common when the Mayans were around, and may still be today.
(from http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/cryptodominion/bats.html)