Native to the African savanna, this fox species is the sole extant species of the genus Otocyon. The bat-eared fox is named for its oversized ears, which play a dynamic role in regulating their body temperature. While they are not quite as small as their canid cousins, the fennec fox, the bat-eared fox is also fairly small— only growing up to 32 inches and weighing around 10 pounds!

To make this spunky fox species even more interesting, they are considered the only truly insectivorous canid, with harvester termites making up a substantial 80–90% of their diet.

Did You Know?

Bat-eared foxes essentially act as nature’s termite control. On average, bat-eared fox individuals consume approximately 1.15 million termites per year!