Bat Eared Fox - Otocyon megalotis

The bat-eared fox is the only canid to have largely abandoned mammalian prey in favour of insects. The majority of their diet is made up of insects, particularly termites and grasshoppers. A very small precentage of their diet includes lizards, small birds, eggs, small mammals and fruit.The Bat-eared fox is found from mid to southern Africa. Its coloration is light fawn underneath with mixed hairs of brown and gray above. It has a black mask and legs as well as black hair on the back of its huge ears. Those ears are its most distinguishing feature. They have keen hearing to catch insects, small rodents, etc. to add to their diet which also includes bird eggs and chicks and some vegetable matter. Wild bat-eared foxes live in small groups. Best viewing in the Okavango Detla are Third Bridge area, Xaxanaka, Santawani in Moremi and Nxai Pan.