A small fox of the African savanna named for its huge ears, which help it keep cool and hear its prey. It is the only canid that lives mainly on insects, above all harvester termites, which also give it the water it needs.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Insects only
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAfrica
HabitatGrassland
ColoursTan, Black, Grey
SizeSmall
Length46–66 cm, plus a 23–34 cm tail
Weight3–5.3 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives infamilies
Lives for10–13 years
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Two separate populations: East Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia to Tanzania, and southern Africa from Angola to South Africa.
- What it eats
- Mainly insects, especially harvester termites.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Finds its termite prey by ear, with ears up to 13 cm long.
It has more teeth than any other non-marsupial land mammal.
It does not drink from open water; its termite prey keeps it hydrated.
Often confused with
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