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Bat-eared Fox - All ears
A Bat-eared Fox on full alert, using its ginormous ears for detecting the slightest of noise.
This animal is greatly loved in Namibia. It preys on especially termites (it can hear them burrowing in their tunnels underground - thus the large ears) and other insects which causes damage to crop farmers etc. It is also highly protected by the Government. Illegal killing of this animal hardy exists.
The bat-eared fox is a species of fox found on the African savanna, named for its large ears, which are used for thermoregulation. Fossil records show this canid to first appear during the middle Pleistocene, about 800,000 years ago. It is considered a basal canid species, resembling ancestral forms of the family.
The bat-eared fox has tawny fur with black ears, legs and parts of the pointed face. It averages 55 cm in length , with ears 13 cm long. It is the only species in the genus.. more
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Listen up! The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis), a nocturnal insectivore, can be found on the African savannah. It’s named for its gigantic ears (shocker?). The species name ‘megalotis’ comes from the Greek words ‘mega’ (large) and ‘otus’ (ear). Their ears grow to be about 13 cm long! This is crazy considering the fox only has a shoulder height of 30-40 cm tall! The ears basically make up about a third of the fox’s height!
Why do bat-eared foxes have such enormous ears? Their ears are important for thermoregulation: they are loaded with blood vessels that shed heat to keep the foxes cool. And, for the bat-eared fox, big ears mean good hearing.
Can you imagine being able to hear underground larvae gnawing on dung beetle balls, the soft tread of a beetle, or termites chewing on grass? The bat-eared fox doesn’t have to imagine these things because it excels at hearing the imperceptible sounds of nature. The foxes walk slowly with their ears pointed towards the ground. They listen intently, tracking unsuspecting insects moving about beneath the surface. Once located, the foxes quickly dig up and devour the tasty insects. Not only are insects a great source of protein, but they provide an invaluable source of water.
Surviving on a diet of insects requires a few important adaptations. Bat-eared foxes have about 50 teeth, which is more than most mammals have. Their teeth are sharp, and are perfect for quickly and efficiently chewing up insects that are creeping about in the foxes’ mouths. They also have a special digastric muscle that enables them to open and close their jaw five times per second! Remarkable! {Spotted in Namibia by JungleDragon user, Living Wild} #JungleDragon #batearedfox #fox #Otocyonmegalotis Posted one year ago