The Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis), also referred to as Delalande's fox, long-eared fox, big-eared fox, and black-eared fox, is a species of fox found on the African savanna, named for its large ears, which are used for thermoregulation. Fossil records show this canid 1st appeared during the middle Pleistocene, about 800,000 years ago. It is considered a basal canid species, resembling ancestral forms of the family. It has also been called a Sub-Saharan African version of a fennec fox due to their huge ears.
Predators include lions, cheetahs, jackals, spotted hyenas, rock pythons, African wild dogs, and leopards. Bat-eared foxes are named for their large ears, which are also used for thermoregulation. To escape from predators, bat-eared foxes rely on speed and their incredible dodging ability.
The bat-eared fox has tawny fur with black ears, legs, and parts of the pointed face. It averages 55 centimetres (22 in) in length (head and body), with ears 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long. It is the only species in the genus Otocyon. The name "Otocyon" is derived from the Greek words "otus" for ear and "cyon" for dog, while the specific name "megalotis" comes from the Greek words "mega" for large and "otus" for ear.