Bat-eared Fox

Otocyon megalotis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Cordats)
ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
FamilyCanidae (Canids)
GenusOtocyon (Bat-eared foxes)
SpeciesOtocyon megalotis (Bat-eared Fox)

Insufficient data

overall probability at Ruaha National Park

4 Verified records at Ruaha National Park

☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 is the sister species to all other members of the tribe Vulpini, not genetically being a true fox. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the middle Pleistocene. There are two separate populations of the bat-eared fox, each of which makes up a subspecies. 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. Other vernacular names include big-eared fox, black-eared fox, long-eared fox, Delalande's fox, cape fox, and motlosi. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park

Lycaon pictus

Panthera leo

Panthera pardus

Mungos mungo

Genetta genetta

Galerella sanguinea

Ichneumia albicauda

Crocuta crocuta

Acinonyx jubatus

Helogale parvula

Ictonyx striatus

Civettictis civetta

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Bat-eared Fox at Ruaha National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Probability
1	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	20–30%
2	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
3	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	10–20%
4	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	10–20%
5	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
6	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	10–20%
7	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	10–20%
8	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	10–20%
9	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	10–20%
10	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	10–20%
11	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	5–10%
12	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	5–10%
13	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
14	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
15	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
16	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
17	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
18	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
19	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
20	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
21	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	Insufficient data
22	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data

← Back to Ruaha National Park

Bat-eared Fox

Closest Relatives at Ruaha National Park

Painted Hunting Dog

Lion

Leopard

Banded Mongoose

Northern Small-spotted Genet

Slender Mongoose

White-tailed Mongoose

Spotted Hyena

Cheetah

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Striped Polecat

African Civet

📅 Monthly Probability

☀️ When They're Spotted

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found