Anteater Fox

Anteater Fox (Neootocyon insectophagus)
Order: Carnivores (Carnivora)
Family: Canids (Canidae)
Habitat: southern and eastern Africa, savannas and woodlands
The border of Neocene and Holocene epochs was marked with the mass extinction of various animal species and even familles. That included the extinction of Proteles cristatus, unusual predator from southern and north-eastern Africa, who was almost completely insectivorous. The human intervetion and new rivalring species caused the extinction of that insectivorous hyena. But that environmental niche hasn't stayed vacant for too long, as there were several applicants to fill it: in the North Africa it was grumbling ant-mungo from the family closely related to civets, while in the south it was the representative of another carnivorous family – the bigear fox (Otocyon megalotis) descendant – anteater fox.
It's a middle sized animal with thick fur (size varies from 80 cm to 1 m, weight - 6 -10 kg) and relatively long legs which is typical for most open environment animals. Thick fur saves the animal from the ants and termites' "soldiers" bites. Thick and shaggy fur of that animal has relatively monotone brown colour, with just the ears' tips being a bit darker. Nose, chest and neck have extra protection from insects, spiders and scorpions bites- unusualy dense skin. The vulnerable nose has extra protection- a small piece of cornual "armour".Unlike another 'anteaters' (Holocene true anteaters from Edentates Order and pangolines, Neocene echidnas, lizards and wormtonguers) its teeth system isn't reduced- it has plenty of sharp small teeth, resembling insectivors teeth a lot. Being very careful, anteater fox hunts only in twilight and in the night. In the day anteater foxes rest in selfmade holes or in the other animals dens. Very often they share their dens with armor-headed wart hogs for extra protection.
The sensitive ears of anteater fox are inclined a bit forward and down; keen hearing helps it successfully find insects even in deep darkness. Its paws aren't specialized simply for breaking termitarys, so the fox has to vary its diet, adding another invertebtates (beetles, spiders or ants) into it. Also its diet includes eggs and small vertebrates. One of the main alternate food sourses are locusts, who have survived all the ecological disasters on the border of Holocene and Noeocene. Its invasions are comparable to lemming invasions, and as regular in Neocene as it was in Holocene. To the anteater fox, it's just like lemming invasion to polar fox- it "forgets" about hunting in twilight only and hunts for the locust even in the daylight.
Just like their ancestors, anteater fox are monogamous. That is explained by the diet pecularities- they hunt for small preys so the nessesary population density just can't be reached. The female gives birth to 3-7 cubs but not all of them reach senior age, especially in dry lean years, when there's little food and all savannah inhabitants, including large predators, are starving.
The maximal lifetime of anteater fox is 10-15 years.
In the northeastern Africa, where the insectivorous enviromental niche is occupied by other animals, lives the anteater fox relative - coastal fox (Neootocyon oraannona). Its diet includes various seafood- shellfishes, dead fish, mollusks,which they gather during the falling tide. Unlike its southern relative, coastal fox body is more "foxy"- it has shorter legs and smaller ears. The lower part of coastal fox' acoustic duct is protected by skinny valve to prevent water from coming into ears. The fur is short and hydrofuge (especially on lower body half). Despite living at the seashore, coastal fox is not a good swimmer. It prefers to search for its food on the littoral fringe, but sometimes comes to feed before the falling tide ends or stays on the littoral fringe till the rising tide starts. The fur of coastal fox is more light-colored that the one of anteatrer fox- it's yellow with grey shades. The fingers on the paws are mobile and broad-placed, which helps the coastal fox to run on the sand with ease as well as hold its preys. The coastal fox is very careful animal, who is very tolerant to its relatives. Several couples of those anmals can feed on the littoral fringe simultaneously without disturbing each other, and fights rarely happen during the feeding.
The breeding and home life resembles those of an anteater fox. Coastal fox makes its dens at coastal rocks or at the bushes (higher that the highest rising tide mark). The maximal lifespan is around 12 years.