Animals with big & long ears include Aardvark, African Elephant, African Wild Dog, American Brahman, and Anglo-Nubian Goat.
One of the most amazing aspects of nature is the incredible diversity of animals that exist on our planet.
Every animal has distinguishing characteristics that set it apart from others. Long ears are one feature that may distinguish various animals at a glance.
Long ears can help with hearing, however, they are not the primary purpose of some animals. In this post, we’ll look at 25 animals with large ears and learn a little bit about each one.
Examples of Animals with Big & Long Ears
1. Aardvark
| Scientific Name | Orycteropus afer |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The aardvark is an African animal that has long, pointed ears. These animals are nocturnal and use their keen sense of hearing to find prey at night. Aardvarks are omnivores and eat mostly insects, but will also consume small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
They have no natural predators, but their numbers have declined due to hunting and habitat loss. Aardvarks are often depicted in African folktales as magic animals that can transform into other creatures.
2. African Elephant
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. Their ears are quite large in proportion to their body size and play an important role in thermoregulation. African elephants use their ears to fan themselves and cool down when they get too hot.
African elephants are also very vocal animals. They use their trunk to make a variety of sounds, including trumpeting, humming, and snorting. Elephants communicate with each other using these sounds to express emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear.
3. African Wild Dog
| Scientific Name | Lycaon pictus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | South Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The African Wild Dog is a mammal that can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa. This animal has long, pointy ears and is the largest of the wild dogs. They primarily eat antelope, though they will also eat other small prey animals.
They are both diurnal and nocturnal animals. When not hunting or eating, they can be found resting on their bellies or backs with their long legs stretched out behind them.
4. American Brahman
| Scientific Name | Bos taurus indicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | India |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The American Brahman is a breed of cattle that originated in the United States. These cows are known for their large and floppy ears, which help to keep them cool in hot weather. They are mostly raised for beef, but they can also be used for milk or breeding purposes.
5. Anglo-Nubian Goat
| Scientific Name | Capra aegagrus hircus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | United Kingdom |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The Anglo-Nubian goat is a breed of domestic goat that originated in England. They are known for their long ears, and they have been bred to be dairy animals but also as show goats.
One of the most popular breeds of dairy goat in the United States is the Anglo-Nubian. These goats are known for their long, floppy ears and gentle nature.
They have been bred to be both dairy animals and show goats, making them a versatile breed that is popular with many people.
6. Basset Hound
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Great Britain |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog that is known for its long floppy ears. These dogs are bred as hunting companions and can be found in North America, Europe, and Australia. They weigh between 30 and 55 pounds and have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.
7. Bat-Eared Fox
| Scientific Name | Otocyon megalotis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southern and eastern Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The bat-eared fox is a small African mammal that has large ears which help it to hear prey moving underground. These foxes live in open areas such as savannas and deserts, where they eat insects, lizards, and rodents.
8. Bilby
| Scientific Name | Macrotis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Australia |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The Bilby has very long ears and is also known as the rabbit-bandicoot. It is a marsupial that lives in Australia. Its diet consists mainly of insects, seeds, fruits, and bulbs.
9. Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
| Scientific Name | Lepus californicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the western United States and Mexico |
| Diet | Herbivore |
While rabbits are known for their large ears, the black-tailed jackrabbit’s long ears stand out. These animals have excellent hearing and can swivel them around to better pinpoint sounds. They live in open grasslands and deserts across North America and Canada.
10. California Leaf-Nosed Bat
| Scientific Name | Macrotus californicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Mexico and the United States |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The California leaf-nosed bat is a medium-sized bat found in the southwestern United States. This species has long, pointed ears that are covered in hair. They use their keen hearing to find prey like insects and small mammals.
They live in deserts and other arid habitats where they can easily hunt for food.
11. Caracal
| Scientific Name | Caracal caracal |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa and from the Arabian Peninsula through northwest India |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The caracal is a medium-sized cat found in Africa and parts of Asia. These animals have long, black tufts of hair that stick out from their large ears. The caracal’s primary purpose for having such big ears is to help them hunt prey.
They can hear the slightest movements of their prey from far away, and then stalk them until they’re close enough to pounce.
They live in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and scrublands.
12. English Lop
| Scientific Name | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | England |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The English lop is a breed of rabbit that was originally bred for its long ears. These ears can measure up to 11 inches long, making them some of the longest in the world. The primary purpose of these big ears is to help the rabbits stay cool in hot weather.
They live in many different habitats but prefer to live in dry locations with plenty of grasses.
13. European Hare
| Scientific Name | Lepus europaeus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Continental Europe and part of Asia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The European hare is a large, brown rabbit found throughout Europe and parts of Asia. These animals have long ears that help them to hear predators coming from far away. They also use their big ears to communicate with other hares, warning them of danger or letting them know when it’s time to mate.
They live in open fields and meadows where they can easily see any danger coming their way.
14. Fennec Fox
| Scientific Name | Vulpes zerda |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The fennec fox is a small, desert-dwelling fox found in North Africa and the Middle East. These animals have huge ears that help them stay cool in the hot desert sun. The fur on their ears traps air and helps keep their body temperature down.
They live in sand dunes and other arid habitats where they can find plenty of food to eat.
15. Greater Kudu
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus strepsiceros |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout eastern and southern Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The greater kudu is a large antelope found in Africa. They are easily recognizable by their long, spiral horns and their big ears. Their ears help them to stay cool in the hot African sun. They live in forests and savannas where they can find plenty of shade to hide from predators.
They eat leaves, fruits, and grasses.
16. Koalas
| Scientific Name | Phascolarctos cinereus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Eastern Australia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The koala is a small, tree-dwelling marsupial found in Australia. These animals have big ears and long noses. Their ears help them stay cool in the hot Australian sun, while their noses help them find food (mainly eucalyptus leaves).
Koalas live in open woodlands and forests, where they can find plenty of food to eat and safe places to sleep.
Related Article: What Eats Koalas?
17. Long-Eared Hedgehog
| Scientific Name | Hemiechinus auritus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central Asian |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The long-eared hedgehog is a small mammal that lives in the deserts and mountains of Pakistan. Like other hedgehogs, this animal has spiky quills all over its body. It also has large ears with black tufts of hair on them to help distinguish it from other animals. These prickly mammals feed on insects and other small prey.
They live in rocky areas and desert scrublands where they can find plenty of shelter from the harsh sun and predators.
Related Article: Do Algerian Hedgehog Have Quills?
18. Long-Eared Jerboa
| Scientific Name | Euchoreutes naso |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The long-eared jerboa is a small rodent found in deserts and steppes in Asia and North Africa. These animals have long, furry ears that help them stay cool in the hot desert sun. They also use their big ears to listen to predators and escape danger.
They live in burrows underground where they can find protection from the harsh desert environment.
19. Mule Deer
| Scientific Name | Odocoileus hemionus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the western United States |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Mule deer are found in western North America. They get their name from their large ears, which resemble those of a mule. These animals use their big ears to help them stay cool during the hot summer days.
They live in forests, scrublands, and grasslands where they eat a variety of plants.
20. Red Kangaroo
| Scientific Name | Macropus rufus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Australia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
This large animal has long, floppy ears that hang down on either side of its face. Its primary purpose for having such large ears is to help it regulate body temperature by allowing excess heat to escape them. The blood vessels close to the skin are also able to warm up or cool down quickly, depending on the need.
They live in Australia and are herbivores that eat mostly grasses but will also consume leaves, flowers, and fruits if they can find them.
21. Sand Cat
| Scientific Name | Felis margarita |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa’s Sahara desert |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The sand cat is a small, desert-dwelling cat that has some of the longest ears in the feline family. These animals have excellent hearing and use it to find prey even in complete darkness. They also have big eyes that help them see well in low light conditions.
They live in hot, arid environments where they can find plenty of prey to eat. They drink water when it’s available, but can also survive for long periods of time without it.
22. Serval
| Scientific Name | Leptailurus serval |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The serval is another large-eared cat found in Africa. They have the largest ears of any feline, relative to their size. The long tufts of hair that stick out from their ears are used as camouflage while they stalk prey and can help them blend into tall grasses or even trees at night.
They mostly live in open grasslands and savannas where there is plenty of prey to be found.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.