Meet the bat-eared fox

Posted by Taylah Strauss on 17 December 2021

The bat-eared fox gets its name from its… you guessed it, ears. This fox has unusually large ears in proportion to its head, like that of a bat. This unique creature also bears a physical resemblance to raccoons. Want to know more? Here’s everything you need to know about this fascinating animal.

Appearance

Other than ears the size of dinner plates, bat-eared foxes have small faces, and a short, pointed muzzle. Their ashy grey body sports short legs, and their teeth are rather small compared to other canid species, according to Animalia.

They sit at a 300mm height at the shoulders, with a length of 800mm. They weigh between three to five kg.

Diet

A couple of bat-eared foxes foraging for a tasty snack. Credit: Pim GMX/Flickr Commons

Due to their small teeth, their diet is restricted to small insects, rodents and fruit. They forage in groups or families, and they mainly prefer harvester termites or dung beetles. The body fluids of these insects also hydrate bat-eared foxes. On rare occasions, they may feed upon chicks or bird eggs, according to Siyabona.

Habitat

Bat-eared foxes’ habitat is dependent on their region. They can be found in grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, forests and savannas.

Breeding

A lovely couple. Credit: Martha de Jong-Lantink/Flickr Commons

Bat-eared foxes are monogamous creatures, typically mating once in a lifetime. Breeding occurs from September to November.

Their gestational period lasts approximately 60 to 70 days, and a female can give birth to as many as 5 pups in one litter. Both parents help to rear the babies.

A bat-eared fox pup. Credit: Regina Hart/Flickr Commons

During the first week of life, bat-eared fox pups will open their eyes. In their second week, they begin to venture from the den, though the weaning process can quite some time.

Pups are considered fully grown when they are about five to six months old and reach sexual maturity around nine months.

Behaviour

A family gathering. Credit: Scott Presnell/Flickr Commons

These sociable animals live in pairs or groups of families. Primarily nocturnal creatures, groups share the same den, forage together, and protect each other. They like to groom one another and play together.

They are such excellent diggers, that they dig their own dens and even dig for their prey. However, they prefer using burrows dug by other species, such as aardvarks or hedgehogs.

Distribution

The bat-eared fox is found all across the African continent but is found mostly in southern and east Africa.

Status

Currently, the three biggest threats bat-eared foxes face are hunting, habitat loss, and diseases. Hunters pursue bat-eared foxes for their soft pelts; these are highly valued and form much of the income source in certain parts of Africa. Habitat loss occurs mostly due to urbanisation.

Bat-eared foxes can attract many of the same diseases as dogs, such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, and rabies – which has a 90% mortality rate.

Nonetheless, under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, bat-eared foxes are listed as least concerned, with a stable population.

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