5 facts about bat-eared foxes

4/7/2020

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Nature Story: 5 facts about bat-eared foxes

This little-known animal looks like a funny cartoon creature – its large ears are definitely one of the cutest in the animal kingdom. Let's learn something new with these fun bat-eared fox facts.

Here are some basic trivia facts about the species:

bat-eared foxes live in African savanna;
the species is also known as Delalande's fox or black-eared fox;
they feed on dung beetles, termites and other insects;
the bat-eared fox's habitat is areas with bare ground and short-grass plains.

#1 They use their big ears to regulate body temperature and locate prey

Nature Story: bat-eared fox ears — wikimedia CC BY

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.

#2 They rarely drink water

Nature Story: what does bat-eared fox eat — shutterstock

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.

#3 They help local farmers

Nature Story: bat-eared fox facts termites — shutterstock

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.

#4 A bat-eared fox baby is usually looked after by its father

Nature Story: baby bat-eared fox father — shutterstock

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.