You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Est. See more ideas about Bat eared fox, Cute animals, Animals beautiful. Interesting. They are inoffensive and usually timid but this fox was doing everything it could to fight off the cheetah. How many teeth can you fit in the tiny mouth of a Bat-eared Fox? They are highly social so if you spot one, keep your eye out for more. Fun Facts. Bat-eared foxes will eat a lot of different bugs, including ants, beetles and grasshoppers, but they do have a favorite snack. Do you want to learn more cool stuff about other animals? Click here to receive our stories and photo galleries via email. COLOUR: A greyish brown with underparts paler. Bat-eared foxes have five-inch ears. From a farmer’s perspective, bat-eared foxes play a vital role in controlling harvester termite populations, which are considered a pest by farmers. The bat-eared fox first shows up in the fossil record 800,000 years ago, in Africa, where the species still lives to this day. You can normally find them at dawn or dusk cuddling in pairs by their den. Emerging at dusk from an underground den, the bat-eared fox prowls for prey. Zoologist and amateur wildlife photographer. Adult foxes measure 55 cm in head-body length. It is named for its large ears, which have a role in thermoregulation. Bat Eared Fox Facts for Kids. They are also hunted for their pelts. The most notable trait of the fennec fox is of course its little button nose. In fact, studies suggest that Sri Lanka has the highest density of elephants in Asia.. Other threats to the bat-eared fox include diseases such as rabies, canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus, as well as drought and habitat loss. It has enormous ears, measuring 6 inches (15 centimeters), which it appears to have borrowed from a much bigger relative. One of them commonly occurs in eastern African, while the other is in southern Africa. These cookies do not store any personal information. They communicate with each other using their ears and tail, as well as a variety of soft whistles. 3. Tailored safari specialists. 4 fun facts about this fantastic fox: 1. Check out our other Four Animal Facts. The bat-eared fox has extremely pointed teeth, which enables it to quickly and efficiently chew its meals to assist digestion. Animals That Start With X: A List of All the Animals Beginning with X, Animals That Start With U: Over 130 Animals, Photos, The Daily Creature Project – January Edition, A Personal Wishlist of Campsites in Zambia, Guide to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South African Owls, a Guide to the Owl Species Found in South Africa. Here are four interesting facts about the Bat-eared Fox! Pups are also vulnerable to smaller predators such as the black-backed jackal and the martial eagle. Fun Facts. They have the strength to jump a distance of at least three times their height. (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa). And wouldn’t that be a pity? A few weeks too early / late or a few kilometers off course and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. Bespoke safaris and stories. Humans are also responsible for the death of large numbers of bat-eared foxes, as a result of traps and poison intended for predators. It tends to hang out near herds of zebra, buffalo, and other large mammals that attract insects. FOXES ARE SOLITARY. They seldom drink water as they obtain most of the moisture that they need from their food. They are distinguishable by their huge ears and dark eye mask. Bat-eared fox … Bat-eared fox are diminutive members of the canid family, weighing less than 5kg. They have 13-cm-long ears. The bat-eared fox is losing its living space to humans. Listen up! Perfect for slicing hard-shelled and pincered insects! Bat-eared Fox Quick Facts. Bat-eared fox, also called Cape Fox, Big-eared Fox, orMotlosi, (species Otocyon megalotis), large-eared fox, belonging to the dog family (Canidae), found in open, arid areas of eastern and southern Africa. In any given year in countries like South Africa, the summer months are more common. That’s more teeth than almost any land mammal! Those incredible ears. Celebrate Africa and do good. The majority of the bat-eared fox’s diet consists of small invertebrates such as ants, termites, spiders, scorpions and crickets. Here are four interesting facts about the Bat-eared Fox! The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) is a species of fox found on the African savanna.It is the only extant species of the genus Otocyon and considered a basal canid species. They spend so much time listening to the ground that in areas where I’ve worked you can actually see the ear tips print in their tracks. The Bat eared fox is made up of two distinct subpopulations. The O. m. … It Has Multi-Purpose Ears. Distribution. The ears of the Bat-eared fox is full of blood vessels that allow it to shed heat from its body to help keep it cool. Unlike other canids, the male undertakes most parental care duties, while the female forages for food that maintains her milk production. Destinations, Hwange, Natural history, Zimbabwe, Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year. 50! 1) A Fox (There’s a separate population in North-East Africa.) This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 1. They don’t eat chickens! With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. (The Virginia Opossum has 50, and the Giant Armadillo – another termite-eater – can have up to 100!). Subspecies Subspecies of Bat-Eared Foxes include: Otocyon megalotis megalotis Otocyon megalotis virgatus Otocyon megalotis canescens Interesting Facts The Bat-Eared Fox is the only species in the genus Otocyon. They are often seen in areas that have been extensively grazed by domestic and wild ungulates, but they do venture into tall grass and thick shrub areas if threatened. These foxes have an incredibly good hearing because of their ears as well. The bushy tail, as well as the feet and legs, are black. Listening intently with its five-inch long ears, the fox can detect a termite chewing grass or a beetle larva burrowing underground. In their tiny mouth they fit 46 to 50 sharp, cusped teeth. The Bat-eared foxes control harvester termite population in their habitat, eating up to 1.15 million termites per year. For more information see our privacy page. Humans value their winter pelts. Predators of Bat-Eared Foxes include humans, jackals and birds of prey. In Botswana, indigenous people hunt the bat-eared fox for their pelts. Bat-eared foxes like to lie in the shade of acacia trees and favour short grasslands and arid savannah. Crocodile leather – does luxury have to be cruel? Those tiny jaws are super-efficient bug smashers! The white fox is an animal found in some of the coldest environments in the world. Guides often get asked the following questions about these cute and charismatic creatures: They are fairly common throughout the dryer regions of Southern and Eastern Africa, where they are most often seen foraging at night or in the early morning in warmer months and during the day when the weather turns colder. 4. : The most, new, latest, shocking, weird, scary, funny, fascinating, interesting and amazing things | facts in the world. Bat-eared foxes usually build their own self dug houses for shelter from extreme temperatures, wind and also to raise their young ones there. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Other threats to the bat-eared fox include diseases such as rabies, canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus, as well as drought and habitat loss. Other insects they feed on are grasshoppers and beetle larvae. It is the African fox. If you want to see bat-eared foxes in the wild then head to Namibia, Botswana or South Africa. The fox first arrived around 800,000 years ago. In sandy ground, of course. Bat-eared foxes have more teeth (48) than most mammals. Facts about the Bat Eared Fox. Family: Canidae (Wild dogs, Foxes, Jackals) Scientific name: Otocyon megalotis Average shoulder height: 35 cm (14 in) Weight: 3 - 5 kg (6.6 - 11 lb) Gestation period: 60 days Life expectancy: 10 - 12 years They will also eat small birds, mammals and reptiles, and even desert truffle. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. They've developed adaptations that are unique compared to other fox species that allow them to survive in the cold and dry areas they call home. Using their bat-like ears as twin satellite dishes they can even detect beetle larvae that are a foot underground! An adult bat-eared fox can grow an average of 54cm wide and normally live in arid grasslands or savannas. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When and where to go in Africa, and with whom. Primarily monogamous, the bat-eared fox couple uses this time to reinforce bonds, groom, and play together while enjoying a bit of sunshine before returning to their underground burrow for the day. Bat-eared foxes have nine different calls. Bat- eared fox is an insectivore, and mainly feeds on harvester termites and dung beetle. A pair normally lives together with up to six offspring. Their huge ears (both external and internal) are designed to detect even the tiniest insects moving around. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. *This article may contain affiliate links. Facts about the Bat-Eared Fox -- Otocyon megalotis: A summary of most interesting statistics (size, gestation...), amazing environmental adaptations & fascinating facts about social habits, etc. Safari company Bat eared fox members are found in only two regions in Africa. The bat-eared fox has extremely pointed teeth, which enables it to quickly and efficiently chew its meals to aid digestion. What are the major threats to bat-eared foxes? They dig dens in which to raise their young that also provide shelter from extreme temperatures and high winds. One of my favorite animals, the Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis), lives in one of my favorite places: the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. This little fox won’t raid your chicken coop at night. She has worked in the field with jackals, wolves, cheetahs, & leopards. Instead of drinking water, the Bat-eared fox obtains most of the moisture from its food. As human populations grow and expand, they encroach on wildlife habitats as they build new settlements, increase agricultural production, and construct new roads. A study made us understand that these fox families are very territorial and would inhabit home ranges of about 0.25 to as much as 1.5 sq km, and would mark their home range bo… A male fox is called a “dog,” a female is called a “vixen” and a baby is called a “kit.” The bat-eared fox diet consists mainly of insects such as ants and termites, in the rainy season and mice in the dry season. Instead they eat all kinds of insects (and occasionally small rodents). She serves on the Board of Directors of SEE Turtles, a non-profit sea turtle conservation organization. 4) The Sri Lankan Elephant is the largest of the Asian subspecies, measuring 6.6 to 11.5 feet tall and weighing 4,400 and 12,100 pounds. 1. The ears of bat-eared foxes can grow up to 5.3 inches long. The bat-eared fox live in Southern Africa, they are a long flight away! Publisher Sep 23, 2017 - Explore Caroline Jeffery's board "Bat eared foxes", followed by 784 people on Pinterest. That makes them a perfect termite-mashing machine! That’s cute! We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 2. Check out those ears! Today we’ll be sharing with you some interesting fun facts about this little fox with big ears. Prominent among termites is harvester termite (Hodotermes mossambicus) but if the harvester termite is not available then fox probably go for other termite species. 1991. 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