Bat-eared fox

Scientific name: Otocyon megalotis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small, slender fox with distinctively oversized rounded ears. Tawny to grey-brown coat above, cream to white underside; face markedly darker with characteristic facial pattern.

Size and weight

Males 1.5–2.5 kg, females 1.3–2.2 kg. Body length 38–52 cm, tail 24–34 cm.

Habitat

Open and semi-open savanna grassland, arid steppe, and sparse scrubland. Elevation range from sea level to approximately 2000 m.

Distribution

East Africa from Somalia southward through Kenya and Tanzania to Mozambique; also southwest populations in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia. Prefers open, dry terrain.

Diet

Predominantly insects (especially termites and beetles), supplemented with small rodents, lizards, and ground-nesting birds; diet shifts seasonally with insect availability.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular; hunts in pairs or small family groups. Accomplished diggers using self-excavated burrows and abandoned dens of other species.

Hunting tips

Drive slowly across open ground during early morning or late evening, watching for movement against the skyline. Look for small tracks (ca. 5 cm) and dug patches where animals forage for insects. Approach detected activity slowly with the wind in your favor; use light ammunition.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.