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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 and considered a basal canid species. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the middle Pleistocene.
It is named for its large ears, which have a role in thermoregulation. The bat referred to in its colloquial name is possibly the Egyptian slit-faced bat (Nycteris thebaica), which is abundant in the sub-region and has very large ears. Although not commonly used, other vernacular names include: big-eared fox, black-eared fox, long-eared fox, Delalande’s fox, cape fox, and motlosi.
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