Bat-Eared Fox
NAME:
Bat-Eared Fox
ZOO NAME:
Halali (found in the Education Department)
CLASS:
Mammalia
GENUS:
Otocyon
SPECIES:
O megalotis; 3 subspecies
LENGTH:
18- 26″ with 12″ tail
WEIGHT:
7-10 lbs.
LIFESPAN:
14 yrs. (captive), 7-10 yrs. (wild)
DIET:
80% of diet is insects; rodents, birds, eggs, fruit
PREDATORS:
jackals, eagles, hyenas, domesticated dogs
RANGE
Southern to central Africa. Two populations: Ethiopia to Tanzania; southern Angola to South Africa
HABITAT
Open Grassland and Savannas; prefers short grass
CHARACTERISTICS
The Bat-eared Fox is named for its huge ears. The small fox also has tawny fur with black ears, legs and face. They possess small teeth that are needle-like to devour insects. Bat-eared Foxes have extra teeth compared to other canids.
BEHAVIOR
Bat-eared Foxes are nocturnal with very good hearing. They can hear insects moving under the ground beneath them! These foxes live in small groups, in dens with multiple entrances. They are very capable diggers with quick speed to escape, reversing directions without slowing speed.
REPRODUCTION
Bat-eared Foxes breed annually within monogamous pairs. 2-5 pups or kits are born per litter after a 60-75 day gestation period. The kits are fully grown in 5-6 months.
ANIMAL FUN FACT!
The Bat-eared Fox survived the Ice Age extinction of the Mammoths and Saber-toothed Cats and have been around for almost 12,000 years.All canids (dog family) primarily eat mammals, like mice or rats, except the Bat-eared Fox, who eats mainly insects.
Bat-eared Foxes are often found near large herds of grazing animals, such as zebra or giraffe, since they eat the dung beetles that are attracted to herbivore feces.