| Range: |
Eastern and southern Africa |
| Habitat: |
Dry grasslands |
| Conservation Status: |
Common |
| Scientific Name: |
Otocyon megalotis |
Its name says it all: this fox has big ears, and they come in handy for a variety of reasons. First of all, big ears help shed body heat (by cooling the blood that circulates near the bare surface of the ears) – a great feature for this hot-climate critter. Second, big ears help the fox listen for its primary prey, insects (an unusual diet for foxes!). Finally, the fox makes visual signals with its ears to help keep in contact with other members of its family group. A family group shares one or more dens, which the foxes either dig from scratch or create by enlarging another animal’s burrow. Dens are used for breeding, resting, and refuge from predators, such as the Cheetah. Did You Know?Among foxes, the bat-eared fox takes second prize for big ears: only the Fennec Fox has ears that are larger in relation to its body size.
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