5 facts about bat-eared foxes

With an average body length of 55 cm or 22 in (from the head to the base of the tail), the bat-eared fox usually has ears 13 cm (5 in) long. The blood vessels in the ears help the fox to adjust its body heat, helping the animal to survive in hot temperatures. Bat-eared foxes have great hearing and can even detect beetles burrowing in the ground.

One of the most interesting bat-eared fox facts is that these animals obtain almost all the water they need from food. When fresh water is hard to find, it can be a big problem for larger animals of the savanna, but not for the bat-eared fox.

If you love foxes as much as we do, take a look at these pictures of the most gorgeous fox species and stunning melanistic foxes.

Bat-eared foxes are found in more than 10 African countries, where termites are considered pests by the farmers. Bat-eared foxes help to control their population.

A female gives birth to one to six pups at a time. The mother feeds the babies with its milk for 14-15 weeks, but the rest of the parental care is taken by the father. The female spends most of the time hunting to maintain sufficient milk production. Such a reversal in parental roles is very rare in canids.

This fun trivia quiz will reveal if you are a true animal vocabulary expert.

Bat-eared foxes don't mind living in large groups: 1 square mile (2.6 km²) can be occupied by as many as 70 individuals.