Otocyon is a monotypic genus of canids, family Canidae, containing only the bat-eared fox, Otocyon megalotis, found in two separated African savanna populations, one from Sudan through Tanzania and one from Angola to South Africa, roughly 1,000 kilometers apart. It is small, 3 to 5.3 kilograms, with notably oversized ears 11 to 13 centimeters long used for both thermoregulation and locating prey, and is the only canid considered truly insectivorous, feeding mainly on harvester termites with the aid of unique dentition of 46 to 50 blunted teeth.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Sources
1. Wikipedia: Bat-eared fox
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
It is the only extant species of the genus Otocyon, and is the sister species to all other members of the tribe Vulpini, not genetically being a true fox.
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