Overview
At the edge of the savannah, where the grass rustles and the ground begins to cool, the bat-eared fox moves with its nose low and its enormous ears constantly turning. These ears can reach around 13 cm in length and are sensitive enough to detect insects moving beneath the soil.
Unlike most members of the dog family, the bat-eared fox feeds predominantly on insects. Termites form much of its diet, along with beetles and other invertebrates found across Tanzania’s open grasslands and semi-arid landscapes. It often pauses with its head tilted towards the ground before quickly digging or pouncing on prey detected below the surface.
Bat-eared foxes are also unusually social for small foxes. They may live in pairs or close family groups, resting, foraging and grooming together. Both parents help raise the young, with males taking a particularly active role in guarding, grooming and caring for the pups.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a small, slender fox with exceptionally large ears, a pointed muzzle and a bushy tail. Its coat is generally sandy-grey or yellowish-brown, with dark markings around the eyes, muzzle, ears, legs and tail tip.
The oversized ears serve two important purposes. They provide exceptionally sensitive hearing for locating insects underground and also help release body heat in warm, open environments.
Bat-eared foxes are often active after dark, but they are not always strictly nocturnal. Their activity can change with the season, temperature and the behaviour of their termite prey, and they may forage during daylight in cooler conditions.
Interesting facts
Bat-eared foxes can hear the movement of insects underground and will often stand still, ears tilted, before striking.
Their diet is made up of over 80% insects, one of the highest insect consumption rates among mammals.
Unlike most foxes, they have more teeth (46–50 in total) and are adapted for chewing hard-shelled insects like termites.