Description
Scientific Name: Otocyon megalotis
Its enormous ears, which aid in thermoregulation, gave rise to its name. A type of fox found on the African savanna is the bat-eared fox. The name of this fox refers to how large its ears are in relation to its head. It features a little face with a white mask that resembles a raccoon and a short, pointed muzzle. Ashy grey dominates the Bat-eared fox’s torso, while black dominates the limbs, tail, and back portions of the ears. Comparatively lighter colors can be seen on the abdomen and the undersides of the neck. The animal changes its coat annually.
Habitat
The Bat-eared fox has two subspecies in Africa. One is in eastern Africa, extending from southern Sudan and Ethiopia to Tanzania. The other subspecies is found in southern Africa, from South Africa’s Cape Peninsula and Cape Agulhas through Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Bat-eared foxes may survive in semi-arid or desert areas. They inhabit open acacia forests, short grasslands, more arid savanna areas, and the borders of wooded areas.
Behavior
The bat-eared fox is a very sociable animal. In fact, if you find one in the wild, there are probably still a few more loitering nearby. Skulks of bat-eared foxes are what they are known as. A few different behavioral features distinguish the bat-eared foxes of South and East Africa. For instance, in the Serengeti, East African bat-eared foxes spend between 85 and 90 percent of their time at night, whereas South African bat-eared foxes are only nocturnal in the summer and diurnal in the winter. Because it offers protection from predators, these foxes typically stick together in packs.
As Pet/ In Captivity
They need special attention that a cat or dog would not require. They can be fed meat and vegetables when kept as pets. But like other fox species, bat-eared foxes require an enclosure that prevents escape. Take care when using this fox species to avoid digging and scent marking. Most of these mammals are insectivorous. Small invertebrates including termites, spiders, ants, crickets, and scorpions make up the bulk of these canids’ diets.
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