cool-critters:

Bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis)

The bat-eared fox is a species of fox found on the African savanna, named for its large ears, which are used for thermoregulation. The bat-eared 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 occurs in short grasslands, as well as the more arid regions of the savanna.  It prefers bare ground and areas where grass is kept short by grazing ungulates. It tends to hunt in these short grass and low shrub habitats. However, it does venture into areas with tall grasses and thick shrubs to hide when threatened. In addition to raising their young in dens, bat-eared foxes use self-dug dens for shelter from extreme temperatures and winds. They also lie under acacia trees in South Africa to seek shade during the day. The bat-eared fox is predominantly an insectivore that uses its large ears to locate its prey.  About 80–90% of their diet is harvester termites.In the more northern areas of its range (around Serengeti), they are nocturnal 85% of the time. However, around South Africa, they are nocturnal only in the summer and diurnal during the winter. Bat-eared foxes are highly social animals. They often live in pairs or groups of up to 15 individuals, and home ranges of groups either overlap substantially or very little.

photo credits:Yathin S Krishnappa, Derek Keats, Joachim S. Müller