Bat-Eared FoxNamed for it’s large ears, the bat-eared fox is a canid species that inhabits ope

Bat-Eared Fox

Named for it’s large ears, the bat-eared fox is a canid species that inhabits open plains of Africa where termites and other bugs are found. Interestingly, termites make up 80% of the fox’s diet. This makes them insectivorous. A single fox can eat up to 1.15 million termites a year. Also, because of their insect diet, they have unusual teeth are much smaller than other canids.

The bat-eared fox is very social. They live in groups that can have up to fifteen foxes. Mothers will birth 1-6 kits. Parental roles switch with the bat-eared fox. After the kits are birthed, the male will take over and groom, carry, and defend it’s kits.

The bat-eared fox is not endangered, and not even threatened, really. However, as human population grows, settlements have slowly taken their territory. They have also, rarely, been known to be hunted for their fur.

Photo by: Shaun Dunphy via Flickr