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Bat-eared Fox

Otocyon megalotis

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Otocyon megalotis
Class: Mammal
Weight: 7 to 12 pounds
Life span: 14 to 17 years
Conservation status: Least concern
Number of offspring: 2 to 6 kits at a time

About

I LIVE IN AFRICA

The bat-eared fox lives in eastern and southern Africa, primarily in savannas, brush, and grasslands.


I AM AN INSECTIVORE

The fox’s diet largely consists of insects, specifically termites and dung beetles, and this fox species has specialized molars useful for chewing the tough insects they feast on.


BAT-EARED FOXES ARE SOCIAL

Bat-eared foxes can be found living in groups of mating pairs and their young. They are a very social species and spend lots of time grooming each other, as well as playing and sleeping together.


THE BETTER TO HEAR YOU WITH, MY DEAR!

The bat-eared fox’s large ears, measuring over five inches long, help them hear insects moving underground. Bat-eared foxes can even hear larvae chewing their way out of buried dung beetle ball! They can also detect the sound of harvesting termites chewing on short grasses.


HELPING THE BAT-EARED FOX IN THE WILD

The bat-eared foxes at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo are enrolled in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSP is a program implemented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to help ensure a genetically viable population exists.


I AM IMPORTANT TO MY ECOSYSTEM

Bat-eared foxes play an important role in termite control. A single bat-eared fox can eat approximately 1.15 million termites each year.


Conservation

Learn more about our efforts, our conservation partners around the world, and the simple steps you can take to contribute.

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