Bat-eared foxes are distant relatives of African wild dogs and jackals. Unlike their carnivorous relatives, they primarily feed on termites. Their teeth, which number between 46 and 50—more than any other heterodont mammal—are adapted to their prey, as are their ears. With their characteristic oversized ears, they can detect the faintest sounds and the activity of tiny insects underground. Additionally, these large "bat ears" help with the thermoregulation of these peaceful small mammals.
Otocyon megalotis
BAT-EARED FOX
Bat-eared foxes are small mammals that feed 90% on termites but also consume arachnids, scorpions, and other insects. Occasionally, they catch small birds and rodents. Not only is their hearing remarkable, but bat-eared foxes are also known for their social nature. They often live in family groups of up to 15 animals. They do not mark or defend territories aggressively against other packs.
PROFILE: BAT-EARED FOX
- Shoulder height: ♂♀ 30 cm
- Weight: ♂♀ 3-5 kg
- Diet: Termites (up to 90%), spiders, scorpions, other insects. Occasionally small birds, lizards, and rodents, rarely fruits.
- Mating season: August to September
- Gestation period: 2 months
- Birth: October to November
- Lifespan: Up to 13 years
Bat-Eared Fox
Small Foxes with Big Ears
WILDLIFE KNOWLEDGE BAT-EARED FOX
Bat-eared foxes are fox-like in appearance and display dog-like gestures. Their large ears can grow up to 13 cm long, which, given their shoulder height of only 30 cm, makes up more than a third of their size. Two subspecies are spread across the African continent—one in southern and the other in eastern Africa. The bat-eared foxes at KAMBAKU belong to the subspecies Otocyon megalotis, which lives in the savannahs of Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, as well as southern Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. This species prefers regions where the grass does not grow taller than about 25 cm. If the grass grows higher, the packs migrate to other regions.
Bat-eared foxes often inhabit abandoned aardvark burrows. They expand these burrows and occupy them with up to 15 animals (a monogamous parent pair with offspring). Their home ranges are often limited to a few square kilometers; the more termite mounds there are, the smaller the action radius. Male juveniles leave their families at about six months old and join another pack in a different area. Female offspring often stay longer with the parents and help raise subsequent litters. Predators of the small foxes include lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Young foxes are also preyed upon by birds of prey such as eagles and black-backed jackals.