The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) is a canid of the African savannah, named for its large ears.
The bat-eared fox , also referred to as big-eared fox, black-eared fox, and cape fox, has tawny fur with black ears, legs and parts of the pointed face. It averages 55 cm in length (head and body), with ears 13 cm long.
The bat-eared fox commonly occur in short grass lands as well as the more arid regions of the savannah. In addition to raising their young in dens, bat-eared foxes use self-dug dens for shelter from extreme temperatures and winds.
The bat-eared fox is an insectivore that uses its large ears to locate its prey. 80–90% of their diet is harvester termites. When this particular species of termite is not available bat-eared foxes feed on other species of termites and have also been observed consuming ants, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, millipedes, moths, scorpions, spiders, and rarely birds, small mammals, and reptiles. The insects they eat fulfil the majority of their water intake needs.
The bat-eared fox is predominantly monogamous. In contrast to other canids, the bat-eared fox has a reversal in parental roles with the male taking on the majority of the parental care behaviour. Females gestate for 60–70 days and give birth to litters consisting of 1 to 6 pups. Beyond lactation, which lasts 14 to 15 weeks, males take over grooming, defending, huddling, chaperoning, and carrying the young between den sites.
A males job is never done….
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
OK…now these I think are cute! 🙂
I’m so glad..
Sono molto buffi questi animali 🙂
Le foto molto belle, come sempre
Ciaooo, Pat
Thanks Pat… the little ones where running around.. I wish I could have caught those antics on camera…
Warmed my heart to see these images….amazing family dynamic…LOVE the great big ears!!
They are the funniest looking foxes.. and our lighting was not perfect..(but that’s game viewing not always perfect) … we did however sit a while and just watched the antics of the young running around and playing…
I wonder if any bugs fly into those ears and, if so, if they every find their way out…
you know what it’s like when driving and a bug hits the windscreen… I wonder if their ears aren’t a collection piece for the bugs they eat…
Much more effective than a butterfly net–they don’t have to carry anything around. These catchers are already attached! 😉
Long ears again and also very wide. Very cute … some fantastic animals you met … and thanks for bringing them to me. Glad that some male species take on their responsibility .. and not always lay in the sun … watching the world go by.
Lucky for my wife I’m not that way…LOL…
I would never think you would be neither. *smile
Gorgeously weird!
I agree thank you…
Those are lovely shots and they are so cute. They must have excellent hearing.
I would think so… maybe it’s to locate the insects it lives on…
What a strange looking animal. I love the diversity in nature.
I agree Alex .. thanks for calling in…
They are just the cutest things ever! Great photos of them. Nice to see the dads getting properly involved – I approve 🙂
Thank you… but I do everything at home… hope you believe me…
Man – what a cool looking fox – those ears are astounding. Great set, as always Bulldog. This trip was really something special.
That it was… thank you… and as we speak we are planning a trip for the winter when they say game viewing is even better…
A totally amazing creature with an awesome lifestyle we humans can learn from. Monogamy and flexible reversal roles for parents makes them a totally admirable creature. What a treasure find. Thanks.
Thank you… yes a good example from nature as a lesson to mankind…
They remind me of Prince Charles. 😀 Great pics, bdt. Thanks for all the info too. How weird that they live on insects. 😕
I wondered where I’d seen photos of these before… now I know, it wasn’t them but it was old Charlie boy…
Cute as … and so important in the maintenance of the termite population too. 🙂
Yes… not bad for a fox that wanted to eat Red Riding Hood..
aww it’s cute! especially the young!
They were playing around like any half grown puppy would… giving the parent uphill…
Oh my, these are awfully cute little fellows.
They are aren’t they…
I’m in love with these little guys! Great shots of them all, amazing.
Thank you…
This is one of those animals that I experience a mixed response to – they’re kind of freaky looking but really kind of cute too :).
You mean so ugly yet beautiful..?? odd looking actually…
Ya that’s it LOL!!
Those ears are absolutely amazing! I’d love to have one of these living at my place to eat all the insects 😀
Could do with one in the city as well…
How big their ears 🙂 So lovely they are. Thank you, love, nia
Thank you Nia…
Interesting markings on their faces. I like that the man of the family does some work too.
As we do at home.???
My kind of man. Not hen-pecked, but one who pitches in.
Wow – that is one creepy lookin’ critter. Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude sir. They must have excellent hearing.
To hear like they do would be good when in a crowd… you could keep up with multiple conversations… I wonder if it was not the fox in “Little Red Riding Hood”??