Bat-eared fox[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Canidae |
Subfamily: | Caninae |
Genus: | Otocyon S. Müller, 1835 |
Species: | O. megalotis
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Binomial name | |
Otocyon megalotis (Desmarest, 1822)
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Subspecies | |
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range | |
Synonyms[3] | |
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The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) is a species of fox found on the African savanna. It is the only extant species of the genus Otocyon[1] and considered a basal canid species.[4] Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the middle Pleistocene.[5]
It is named for its large ears, which have a role in thermoregulation.[3] The bat referred to in its colloquial name is possibly the Egyptian slit-faced bat (Nycteris thebaica), which is abundant in the region and has very large ears.[6] Although not commonly used, other vernacular names include big-eared fox, black-eared fox, long-eared fox,[7] Delalande's fox, cape fox,[note 1][8] and motlosi.[3]
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