Tale of Bat Eared Fox
- Author Peter Philip
- Published March 11, 2011
- Word count 521
The Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis)with the name Otocyon which is derived from the Greek words "oto" for ear and "cyon" for dog is a canid of the African savanna, named for its large ears. The ears of bat-eared foxes can grow up to 5.3 inches long and have an average weight of about 2.2-4.5 kg.
The teeth of the Bat-eared Fox are much smaller than teeth of other canid species. This is an adaptation to its insectivorous diet, insects making up as much as 80% of its food intake.Bat-eared foxes use these specialized ears to locate termites, dung beetles, rodents, birds ,eggs and sometimes fruits and other insects, which make up most of their diet.
Bat-eared foxes can hear larvae chewing their way out of an underground dung beetle ball. They can also detect the sound of harvesting termites chewing on short grasses. Surviving on an all-insect diet required several adaptations in the bat-eared fox. In addition to their large and powerful ears, bat-eared foxes have specialized extra teeth for chewing up insects, and their lower jawbone is designed to open and close rapidly.
The body of the bat-eared fox is ashy gray in color with black limbs and tail. The backs of its enormous ears are also black, and it has a raccoon-like white facemask. The underside of its neck and belly are paler than the rest of its body.
Bat-eared Foxes are mostly nocturnal animals that live in small groups consisting of mated pairs and their young. The pairs live in dens and typically raise two to five pups together. Mated pairs are very social and are monogamous, Bat-eared foxes mate for life, and sometimes two females will mate with one male and share a communal den.
The father is very invested in the rearing of young, and he spends a great deal of time baby-sitting. While the father is watching the cubs, the mother is free to forage for food, including insects, which are a steady food source. Though they are low in nutrition and cannot be regurgitated for the young, they allow the mother to take in the necessary amount of food needed to produce milk for the cubs.
Bat-eared foxes are hunted by several different mammal species, including cheetahs, jackals, spotted hyenas, rock pythons, African wild dogs, and leopards. Their large, bushy tails work as a rudder when fleeing from predators in a zig-zag pattern. They are fast and good at dodging, but their best chance at escaping predation is by fleeing to their underground dens, which have several entrances and multiple chambers connected by tunnels.
A bat-eared fox family may have several dens throughout their home range.Bat-eared foxes are also preyed upon by raptors and must keep a watchful eye while foraging. Most of their foraging is done alone at night. While looking for food, these foxes walk slowly and quietly with their noses to the ground and their ears cocked forward, listening for insects.
Look for them when outdoor, usually in the morning hours, they can be seen warming up in the morning sun, before getting into their dens when it gets hot.
Natural Track Safaris is a Kenya based nature Safari Company catering for holidays in Tanzania, family outdoor adventures,budget camping in Tanzania, Kenya and uganda. For more safari information visit http://www.natural-track.com/safaris and http://www.natural-track.com
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Ford GT: A Legacy Reborn—An Epic of Speed, Ambition, and Timeless Design.
- Thoroughbreds: The High-Stakes Monarchs of the Horse World.
- Cheap Flights to Pattaya: How to Find the Best Deals on the Web
- Arabian: The Desert Treasure.
- The effect of Energy Price Increases on UK Business
- Friesian: The Gothic Knight of Elegance and Power.
- Essential Tips for Engineering Procurement Teams in Australia for Offshore Fabrication in Thailand
- A Family Fun Day at the Dolphinarium Pattaya: Kids Day Out
- Elite Horses: A Testament to Wealth, Power, and Prestige on Four Legs.
- Emerging Trends in Data Annotation Technologies
- The World of Private Jets: A Soaring Exploration of Luxury, Power, and Prestige.
- What Is an Exotic Car? A Luminous Odyssey Through Automotive Exotica.
- Porsche 918 Spyder: A Pinnacle of Hybrid Hypercar Engineering
- BRABUS X Rolls-Royce: When German Tuning Meets British Luxury.
- A Global Tour of Luxury Homes: The Pinnacle of Extravagance.
- Koenigsegg: The Swedish Hypercar Revolution!
- Tips and Trick for a comfortable journey to Thailand
- Korean Cuisine in Pattaya
- Optimize Order Fulfillment in Business Central
- Stainless Steel Cladding: A Modern Solution for Strength and Style
- The Versatility and Benefits of Stainless Steel Cladding
- Define Luxurious: Is it just the same as Luxury?
- Premium car warranty for exotic cars.
- The Power of Lite14 Email Extractor: Revolutionizing Email Marketing in 2025—But How Does It Compare to www.eml.ist?
- Getting to Pattaya, Thailand for the Songkran Celebrations 2025
- What to Look for in a Dog-Friendly Apartment
- Understanding Tinnitus: Causes, Symptoms, and Management
- Pocket Doors with Style: Elevating Your Home with Sandwash Nature Carved Doors from Mogul Interior
- Eco-Friendly Driving In Cities: How Urban Planning And Technology Are Shaping The Future
- Bohemian Farmhouse Luxury: Elevating Interiors with Carved Statement Pieces