# Bat-eared Fox (*Otocyon megalotis*) The Bat-eared Fox is a small, cute fox with big ears! They love to eat insects and can be found in the grasslands of Africa, where they use their ears to hear tiny sounds. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Bat-eared Fox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Otocyon_megalotis_%28Namibia%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Otocyon_megalotis_%28Namibia%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Bat-eared Fox has a tan-grey coat with striking black markings on its legs, muzzle, and bushy tail. Its most distinctive feature is its exceptionally large, dark ears, which can reach 13 cm long and rotate independently to pinpoint sounds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Otocyon ## Interesting facts - A Bat-eared Fox can snap up to 5,000 termites in just one night! - A group of Bat-eared Foxes is called a "skulk" or a "leash"! - They get almost all the water they need from the insects they eat! - Unlike most fox species, male Bat-eared Foxes do most of the pup care! ## Special abilities - **Underground Listener:** Bat-eared Fox can locate tiny insects moving underground because their huge, independently rotating ears detect the faintest sounds. - **Termite Eater:** Bat-eared Fox has 48-50 small, sharp teeth that help them efficiently chew thousands of termites and other hard-shelled insects. - **Family Fortress Builder:** Bat-eared Fox can live in family groups and use their strong claws to dig complex burrows for shelter and raising their pups. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 46-66 cm - **Weight:** 3-5.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-6 - **Gestation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These foxes mostly munch on millions of insects, especially termites, using their amazing hearing to find them. - **Primary Foods:** Termites, Dung Beetles, Grasshoppers, Scorpions, Crickets - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Black-backed Jackal (*Canis mesomelas*) — Common predator of both adults and pups. - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Preys on young and smaller Bat-eared Foxes. - **Eats:** Harvester Termite (*Hodotermes mossambicus*) — Primary food source, hunted by the thousands. - **Eats:** Mound-building Termite (*Macrotermes natalensis*) — Another key termite species in their diet. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch animals from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bat-eared Fox? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bat-eared Fox? 46-66 cm ### How much does Bat-eared Fox weigh? 3-5.3 kg ### How long does Bat-eared Fox live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Bat-eared Fox move? 55 km/h ### What does Bat-eared Fox eat? These foxes mostly munch on millions of insects, especially termites, using their amazing hearing to find them. ### Where is Bat-eared Fox usually found? Grasslands ### How does Bat-eared Fox hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bergzoo Halle (Zoologischer Garten Halle)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bergzoo-halle) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Greenville Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenville-zoo) — South Carolina, US · Zoo - [Zoologischer Garten Magdeburg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologischer-garten-magdeburg) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Bat-eared Fox](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bat-eared-fox) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Bat-eared Fox: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bat-eared-fox)