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Field guide · species

Bat-eared Fox

Otocyon megalotis

The bat-eared fox is an African canid whose diet is unusually focused on insects. Large ears are relevant to finding small concealed prey as well as to the species’ striking appearance.

Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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Tree of lifeScientific lineage

Advanced classification

Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

cellular organisms cellular root
Eukaryota domain
Opisthokonta clade
Metazoa kingdom
Eumetazoa clade
Bilateria clade
Deuterostomia clade
Chordata phylum
Craniata subphylum
Vertebrata clade
Gnathostomata clade
Teleostomi clade
Euteleostomi clade
Sarcopterygii superclass
Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
Tetrapoda clade
Amniota clade
Mammalia class
Theria clade
Eutheria clade
Boreoeutheria clade
Laurasiatheria superorder
Carnivora order
Caniformia suborder
Canidae family
Otocyon genus
Otocyon megalotis species

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Physical traits

Very large ears stand above a small, slender body with darker facial and limb markings.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Habitat and range

Short-grass savannas and other relatively open habitats provide feeding grounds and den sites.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Diet and nutrition

Termites and other insects are important foods, with additional small animals and plant matter taken occasionally.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Behavior and activity

Foraging can track the activity of insect prey. Daily schedules vary with region and season, including differences between hot and cool conditions.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

Geographic distribution

The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗