Type: Mammal
Family: Canidae
Habitat: Short-grass plains and areas where termites and beetles are found
Location: Two distinct populations in southwest and northeast Africa
Diet: Insectivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 6 years
Size: Head and body 18.1-26 in (46-66 cm); tail 12-14 in (30-35 cm)
Weight: 4.9-9.9 lbs (2.2-4.5 kg)
The ears of bat-eared foxes can grow up to 5.3 inches long. For an animal that stands 11.8-15.7 inches at the shoulder, that’s enormous. Bat-eared foxes use these specialized ears to locate termites, dung beetles, and other insects, which make up most of their diet. Bat-eared foxes can hear larvae chewing their way out of an underground dung beetle ball. They can also detect the sound of harvesting termites chewing on short grasses.
The body of the bat-eared fox is ashy gray in color with black limbs and tail. The backs of its enormous ears are also black, and it has a raccoon-like white facemask. The underside of its neck and belly are paler than the rest of its body.
(Please feel free to convert to metric measurements if you'd like).
