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Taxa

Otocyon

Mammal Genera

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
Genus 2
Member Count Band
Under 10 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Canidae, Taxa
Source Wikipedia: Bat-eared fox

Parent Taxon Of

Bat-eared fox, Species
Source Wikipedia: Bat-eared fox
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Angola

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Botswana

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ethiopia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Kenya

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Malawi

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Mozambique

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Namibia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Somalia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Africa

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Tanzania

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Uganda

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Zambia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Zimbabwe

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ10803425, descriptionView the Source
2. Wikipedia: Bat-eared fox
Wikipedia
  • 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.
  • Parent Taxon Of: Bat-eared fox, Lead, genus
    The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) is a species of fox found on the African savanna.
  • Child Taxon Of: Canidae, Description
    It is a small canid, being of comparable size to the closely related cape fox and common raccoon dog.
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Otocyon
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Otocyon
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Otocyon" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 3.6 ... "early_interval": "Piacenzian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Otocyon
Wikidata Q200400, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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