Bat-Eared Fox Facts
The bat-eared fox, or Otocyon megalotis, is a species of fox native to the eastern and southern regions of Africa. It is most often found in the savanna or brushy areas. The bat-eared fox often lives in groups and is most active at night.
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Appearance
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The bat-eared fox gets its name from its large, bat-like ears. The bat-eared fox can have gray or yellow-brown fur. It also has dark markings around its eyes that look like those of a raccoon. The bat-eared fox usually measures about 18 to 26 inches in length and weighs about 7 to 12 pounds.
Diet
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The majority of the bat-eared fox's diet includes insects, such as harvester termites and dung beetles. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, spiders and millipedes. Bat-eared foxes also hunt small rodents, scorpions, lizards, baby birds, and bird eggs. Bat-eared foxes eat some plants, such as wild fruits. Bat-eared foxes do not drink water often because they derive moisture from the insects and animals that they eat.
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Habits
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Bat-eared foxes are usually nocturnal. During the day, they remain hidden in their underground burrows and come out at night to hunt. Bat-eared foxes participate in social grooming, especially within their familial groups.
Reproduction
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Bat-eared foxes usually mate for life. They live in pairs, male and female, and mate to produce about one litter of babies a year. The baby bat-eared foxes are called "kits." The average litter ranges from 2 to 6 kits. Female bat-eared foxes give birth about two months after mating. Male bat-eared foxes stay with the female and her pups, helping to guard the young as well as groom them and play with them.
Communication
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Bat-eared foxes live in family groups of about two to five individuals, usually with only one fully grown male. The foxes are able to communicate with the others in their group by signaling with their tail and ears. They also use vocal communication, emitting soft, whistle-like calls. There are nine distinct bat-eared fox calls.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Red Fox image by Steve Mutch from Fotolia.com
