Discover

Today
Animals
Explore
Archive
Search

Use it

Classroom
Resources
Field lab
Quiz
Saved

Trust

Methodology
Sources
Corrections
Accessibility
Contributors

Details

About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
Newsletter

Animal profile

Bat-eared Fox

Otocyon megalotis

MammaliaShort-grass plains, arid savannah and scrub with bare groundLeast Concern

Field profile

The bat-eared fox is a small, large-eared canid of open African grassland that feeds almost entirely on insects. Its dentition departs sharply from the canid norm to suit that diet. Family groups forage together and males take an unusually large share of pup care.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2026-04-04

Bat-eared Fox

The bat-eared fox has extra molars for termites

Most canids carry 42 teeth. The bat-eared fox has up to 50, with additional molars and a jaw muscle arrangement built for rapid chewing, because roughly four-fifths of its diet is insects, dominated by harvester termites.

Read with evidence →

Bat-eared Fox | Daily Animal Facts