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Nature is full of surprises, and its inhabitants are adjusted to avoid any potential dangers that are coming their way. The shape of a bird’s beak and the color of a mammal’s fur are examples of various adaptations that help animals survive.
Oversized ears also play a crucial role in dodging predators, regulating temperature, and finding others of their kind. Not to mention their charm as accessories!
Today, we’re all ears as our Bored Panda team has gathered the cutest pictures of animals that are sporting sound receivers a few sizes too big. Warning: Some of these ear-to-body ratios might leave you overwhelmed with sweetness.
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#1
Long Boy
Louise Clarke 2 years ago
I wonder if it's a gen 1 Savannah cat. They are half serval
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Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
What I want to know is, is he married? Does he have any kittens? Ummm, asking for a friend. You all soft can-openers go play with your rectangle things and mind your own business.
Rebelliousslug 2 years ago
He looks so polite and well behaved. That’s probably wildly inaccurate though 😂
Khavrinen 2 years ago
And the best jumps. Servals catch birds out of the air!
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Many animals with large ears have exceptional hearing. A serval, a type of African wildcat, can hear smaller prey like rodents and frogs wiggling their way underground. Koalas use their excellent hearing to detect predators and communicate with others through the dense, leafy foliage that often surrounds them. Kangaroos have very sensitive ears that can rotate, which helps them monitor their surroundings, even while they’re eating or resting.
Besides, having enormous hearing organs can provide other adaptational benefits. Animals like African elephants, English lops (species of rabbits), and American Brahmans (a breed of beef cattle) use their ears to regulate body temperature. The large area dense with blood vessels encourages the loss of excess body heat, providing a much-needed cooling effect.
RELATED:
#2
People Keep Saying He Will Grow Into Them
Mary Ross 2 years ago
So how much starch did you put on his ears? C'mon now---'fess up!
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AtMostTheFabulist 2 years ago (edited)
I don't know, those are pretty big ears, and his feet are a little small.
Stinky Malinky 2 years ago
How incredible that those amazing ears don’t match his shadow. Wow. Crazy. This being at #2 is why so many people vote for autocrats. Learn to read media.
#3
Harlow And Her Subwoofers
AtMostTheFabulist 2 years ago
Subwoofers - made me laugh out loud. Love that second pic...dogbutts
Stephanie Fay 2 years ago
these pictures will now live rent free in my head for all time! love!!
Moreover, the Basset Hound’s lengthy ears are designed to act as scent-catching traps, carrying smells toward the dog’s highly sensitive snout. This unique feature secures them the title of “the second-best sense of smell” among all canine breeds. Also, bats use their hearing organs to aid in their flight navigation. They capture a large amount of sound waves that allow them to maneuver through the dark with precision, making darkness irrelevant. Similarly, Aardvarks’ enormous ears compensate for their bad eyesight to better suit their nocturnal lives.
#4
Let's Meet Lovely Jane
glowworm2 2 years ago
All this time, I thought the song was called “ Sweet Jade”.😅
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CG 2 years ago
Definitely looked vulpine, but I can't say I've ever heard of that breed of fox.
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#5
My Friends 3-Month-Old Big Ears Rabbit
Rosy Maple Moth 2 years ago (edited)
As cute as they are, unfortunately lop-eared bunnies are prone to ear and dental issues such as narrowed ear canals, ear mites, misaligned and overgrown incisors, molar overgrowth and molar spurs. The conditions are often long-lasting and have the potential to cause pain, deafness or difficulty eating. Please refrain from buying those.
SlightlyTarnished 2 years ago
Why. These animals don't exist naturally, just people breeding for the unique, unfortunate for the animal. I can't help but to believe it must be a chore, possibly painful, for the rabbit to live with those Frankenstein ears.
#6
I Can’t Believe Teddy Turns 7 Today. Happy Honking Birthday To My Long Boy
Littlemiss 2 years ago
Aww I think this Teddy from YouTube, who sadly passed away not long after his birthday. He and his brother Stache went within months of one another.
Elizabeth Elliot 2 years ago
He's lovely, but I think it's sad. These cats are bred to look like this at no advantage to them, and they don't live as long.
glowworm2 2 years ago
Teddy was one of my favorite internet cats because he honked! Sadly, the sweet fellow passed away a few months back.
Anthony Nizza 2 years ago
Ohhhh nooooooooo!!!!! Omg that kills me!! The poor woman that had them loved them SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!
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Teresa Spanics 2 years ago
AWW, I hope that you have many more long and happy years with your dear sweet Teddy 😻💖
#7
Long-Eared Bat
A B C the Third 2 years ago
Sssshhhh, don't yell, you're gonna frighten that little buddy ;P
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Overall, the title of the biggest ears belongs to the African elephant, as they can grow to be six feet long and four feet wide. This species of elephant can feel vibrations underground through their feet, detecting sounds of stampeding animals from miles away, helping to recognize the approaching danger.
However, relative to their size, elephant ears are about one-sixth of their entire body. If we consider this metric, then the biggest hearing organs belong to a small rodent called the long-eared jerboa. Its sound receivers are two-thirds as long as its body, making it literally all ears. Jerboas are inhabitants of deserts, and the larger ear surface helps cool down their little bodies in the scorching sun.
#8
His Ears Are Part Of The Tiny Tent
Agamemnon O'Neill 2 years ago
They're adorable, but people keeping them as pets are contributing to them becoming extinct in the wild.
SlightlyTarnished 2 years ago
The Fennec Fox trade is disgusting. These are wild animals, now being marketed as pets. Get a domestic dog or cat for f's sake.
#9
My New Kitten Has The Biggest Ears
Multa Nocte 2 years ago
Are you sure that's a cat and not a bat? It's just one letter different.
Teresa Spanics 2 years ago
AWW, I hope that you have many long and happy years with your dear sweet kitty 😻💖
Amy Pontious 2 years ago
Big ears beautiful big eyes just absolutely cutiepie! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
#10
This Is Ralphie. His Ears Are Already Pretty Big, But He Can Make Them Bigger If You Want. 12/10 Very Cool Ralphie
Meaghan Stewart 2 years ago
I have a basset and they indeed can make their ears longer! It’s adorable.
#11
Our Little Troublemaker
Although they provide many advantages, the presence of big sound receivers can sometimes be inconvenient for their owners. For example, a Basset Hound’s ears are prone to infections, so ear hygiene is crucial for the health and comfort of these dogs. For long-eared bats, large hearing organs increase air resistance, forcing them to use more energy while flying compared to other species with smaller ears. Also, elephants living in forests can get their sound receivers caught in foliage. That’s why breeds of forest elephants usually have smaller oval-shaped ears to adapt to living in cooler, foliage dense environments.
#12
We Always Thought He Would Grow Into His Ears
Multa Nocte 2 years ago
I don't think I've ever seen a German Shepard type dog with ears this big.
#13
Tiny Temmie Is Ready For Take Off
Mir Adwari 2 years ago
I'm in complete agreement with you. Gorgeous colouring and markings.
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Kat-Renee Kittel 2 years ago (edited)
Baby Maine Kitty 😻🐾🐾 (Panda won't let me say the name of this big cat breed 😂🐾🐈)
Page intentially left blank 2 years ago
I thought Maine C**n at first, but now I'm thinking it might be a werewolf cat. I could be wrong, as it's a young'un
glowworm2 2 years ago (edited)
According to the OP, the kitty is indeed a Maine C00n. If the kitty was a lykoi (the werewolf cat), she would actually be missing some fur as it grows in patches.
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#14
Ears A Plenty
- 2 years ago
For folks who want a fennec fox: do a lot of research. So many cute wild animals make terrible pets (and may be illegal to own). Fortunately, there are so many cute videos and pictures. I was really lucky to visit a monkey sanctuary. Monkeys make terrible pets (as do fennecs), so donating to the sanctuary and learning about each monkey was amazing.
Bored Retsuko 2 years ago
Yes, I'm perplexed when people see a wild animal and say "I want one!" Like, as a pet...? Not possible... (sure I'll get downvoted)
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Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
When I first watched Zootopia I immediately knew "little Toot-Toot" the "baby fox" was a con artist because I could tell he was a Fennec fox (which looks nothing like a baby red fox). Mind you it was still hilarious when he spat out his pacifier and told Nick to get bent in a comically deep adult voice.
#15
My Little Boy Turns 9 Months Old Today And I Love Him More Every Second That Goes By
Ropre 2 years ago
They are Orientals. They honk and are really long legged and freaking adorable!
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glowworm2 2 years ago
That is an Oriental shorthair. Very unique and lovely cats.
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#16
Nosey Cow Undoubtedly Stole The Show At The County Fairgrounds. Not Everyone’s Into Cows, But She Was A Beauty With The Softest Ears
Amy Pontious 2 years ago
She's gorgeous love her ears her eyes and those eyelashes! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
With their impressive ears, animals can hear many sounds that humans are not capable of. Elephants' ability to hear infrasound waves allows them to hear even the movement of clouds. They can pick up when the rain clouds are gathering and know when to head for water sources. Pigeons can perceive sounds that are as low as 0.5 Hz, allowing them to detect distant storms, earthquakes, and even volcanoes. Moreover, many mammals and insects can hear the sounds made by plants. Studies show that greenery emits different sounds depending on the species and the type of stress (e.g., drought or cutting). Cats and dogs are also able to hear these sounds, so next time your pets hear something you don't, it’s possible that your plants are just mingling with them.
#17
Ears Out
M 2 years ago
Something looks off about this pic. Not the ears, but the cows look cut and pasted.
martymcmatrix 2 years ago (edited)
»Have you been rubbing yourselves on the cursed fig tree again?«
#18
She’s All Ears
#19
When Do You Think Her Ears Will Stop Growing?
Bryn 2 years ago
In the breed standard (this is an Ibizan) they're called hare feet :D
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Cheryl Tber 2 years ago
Looks like a pup and a jackrabbit got together. Those ears!!! Those toes!!! So adorable.
#20
I Met A Puppy With The Biggest Ears
martymcmatrix 2 years ago
Well, I'm sorry, but these ears may be big, but if you scroll along, you would certainly revise your statement...🕵🏽
#21
According To Our Vet, Our Puppy's Ears Are "Abnormally Large"
Even though the African elephant and long-eared jerboa have the biggest ears, they can’t be considered to have the best hearing. Actually, it’s quite impossible to nominate one animal that perceives sounds the best, as some can hear high frequencies better while others apprehend lower ones more efficiently.
The widest and highest-frequency hearing animal is the greater wax moth, which perceives sounds up to 300,000 Hz. It’s skilled at identifying bat echolocation waves and avoiding being eaten by them. As soon as they hear a predator, they change their flying direction into an evasive pattern, while some even close their wings and drop to the ground until the danger is gone. The lowest sound-hearing animal is a pigeon and wolves, cats, and dogs are known to be the most sensitive listeners, being able to pick up sounds at low volumes at long distances.
The workings of animal hearing are truly extraordinary, and there’s undeniably so much more that could be discovered and understood.
#22
Yesterday Evening I Was Blessed With My First Ever Brown Long-Eared Rescue Bat
#23
My Rex With His Big Ears
Madster 2 years ago
I want to see him do that funny grimace cats do when they sniff something weird.
Teresa Spanics 2 years ago
AWW, I hope that you have many long and happy years with your dear sweet boy kitty 😻💖
#24
Nala And Her Ears
#25
Fox's Ears
Max Fox 2 years ago
The exotic pet industry is a number one reason for animals going extinct. Thousands are illegally captured and transported, mots of which die along the way, in the most terrible conditions. Then the rest are generally mistreated, intentionally or not. Finally, most will end up harming a human or pet, because they have not been bred to live with other species in close proximity, and will be killed.
Toothless Feline 2 years ago
Agreed that they shouldn't be pets under normal circumstances, but sometimes wild rescues can't be released back into the wild for a variety of reasons. In such cases, the rescuers will often treat them as "semi-pets"—not truly domesticated, but not locked up in a zoo either.
Tamara Augustine 2 years ago
There are accredited sanctuaries for animals that can't be released.
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#26
Our New Continental Giant, Say Hello To Norman And His Ears
#27
Face In The Crowd
Daya Meyer 2 years ago
Everytime I see a donkey I have to pet their ears. They are so fluffy-wuffy soft!
#28
Everyone Said, "You’re Gonna Grow Into Those Ears." But I’m So Glad I Didn’t. Mom Says They Give Me Character
The Chronic Insomniac 2 years ago
Is that a solid black Panda marked German Shepherd??? I haven't seen one in 15 years.
#29
It's Still Summer For Me As Long As I Can Relax On The Balcony
LapCat 2 years ago
🎶 the wonderful thing about Tiggers, is that Tiggers a wonderful thing 🎶
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Angela Van Kell 2 years ago
I think they said they are called Oriental cats.
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#30
Tell Me How Much You Love Me. I'm All Ears
#31
Meatloaf's Ears Officially Stood Up This Morning And They Are Just So Big
#32
Do Derpy Ears Count?
The Chronic Insomniac 2 years ago
Is this another Panda marked German Shepherd? I see the faint nose blaze.
Katherine Heasley 2 years ago
Hasn't quite got the hang of those huge things yet. Don't worry, he'll get it.
#33
Hi, I Am Sirus
DaisyGirl 2 years ago
Am rather surprised by the number of wild animals as pets on this posting...
Jules 2 years ago
Me too DaisyGirl and very sad. This just fuels the exotic animal trade where they're are taken from the wild because "they look cute" to live a life of misery instead of wild and free
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Emilee Martin 2 years ago
I once found a baby serval and I could not find its mother, so I took it in and raised it. RIP Basil at 16 years old. I am not from America btw
Angela Van Kell 2 years ago
Why does everyone keep calling him/her Sirius? It says in the headline that it's name is Sirus, not Sirius. Just something I noticed. Not shaming anyone or trying to be mean.
#34
A Bat-Eared Fox I Got To Meet And Greet
Justin Rogers 2 years ago
It is a shared pet but doesn't get the luxury of snuggle blankets and TV
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#35
Ears Up And Smile, Done
#36
All Business. My Guy A Few Weeks After His Ears Stood Up
Ugh_What_Now 2 years ago
Precisely! In fact the dog(currently) directly above this one Doris, is a perfect example of one of the most famous breeds that do this, and they are a "2 in 1 breed if you will. The Phalène/Papillion, all puppies start out with floppy ears, if they stay that way, they remain a Phalène. If they stand on point, they are then categorized as a Papillion(and how many generations in). Essentially the start of a whole new breed. As far as I know, no other dogs are being separated by such a minuscule marker.
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Move Along, Buddy, I Said No Pictures Today
#38
On A Bright, Clear Morning At Alamo Lake, A Jackrabbit Cleans It's Big Ears
Upstaged75 2 years ago
The first time I was out in the desert I couldn't believe how BIG jackrabbits actually are! I'm used little cottontails around here.
#39
Doris The Model
Heather Vandegrift 2 years ago
She's gorgeous, and I'll bet she's ridiculously adorable if you trim the hair on her ears short!
The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 2 years ago
It's a Raptorian! (Porcina's little helpers, My Little Pony, anyone remember?)
#40
Little Loki And His Ears
CG 2 years ago
That's a caracal. Or at least part caracal. The little tufts of fur at the end of the ears are pretty big giveaway.
Jennik 2 years ago
My daughter had ear tufts like that when she was born. Wondering if she is fully human...
Load More Replies... Lemon 2 years ago
I think most of them are rescues or are injured to the point they can't be released into the wild.
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#41
My Angels
Lucas 2 years ago
Nice reminder! Will happily have that song stuck in my head.👍
Load More Replies... Charlie Alexander 2 years ago
Ron and Russel Mael....aka Sparks, as everybody seems to think... :-)
#42
A Perfect End To The Holidays. 2 Healthy Happy Heifers
#43
Some Bilbies Will Sit Quietly While You Do A Health Check, And Others Will Pose For The Camera.
#44
My Mom Just Took This Picture Of A Donkey With Bunny Ears. She Said This Guy Was Really Shy, But One Of The Cutest Of Them All
Justin Rogers 2 years ago
Poor guy has all kinds of issues from hooves to legs to back to his ears. Hope he is living his best life
#45
The Serval. They Have The Largest Ears Proportionally To Their Body Size Of All The Cat Species. These Cats Are Absolutely Magnificent And Have Such Remarkable Features
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 2 years ago
That other fellow was more handsome. *washes her tail*
#46
Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s Maybelline
#47
Aardvark At The Zoo
David Paterson 2 years ago
I was absolutely shocked when I first saw how big they are. The size of a pig, not the size of a cat. They grow up to 80 kg and up to 2.2 metres long.
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#48
Hi Friends
#49
Snow Face
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
Very cute, but it is a wild animal. Wild animals should never be pets, nor should they be even semi-domesticated.
Snowy Ashton 2 years ago (edited)
There are domesticated foxes now specifically bred for being pets.
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Lara Verne 2 years ago
My cousin tried to keep fox as a pet, but it escaped to the woods. But sometimes it comes back to steal one of the cousin's chickens. Found the way even after cousin installed a new fence.
#50
All Ears
Denyce Alberts 2 years ago
I have to agree with those comments about keeping certain animals as pets. Yes, we humans domesticared many species millenia ago. But we're supposed to know better now!
#51
Salem Joined Our Family Yesterday. People Seem To Like Her Ears
#52
Dogmouse Or Dogiphant
#53
Alice Got Them Big Ears
Tim Fawcett 2 years ago
Alice says that she needs far more treatos than she is getting and you had better sort the matter out. She is not angry, just disappointed with you!
#55
Big Ears, No Brain
#56
I Thought He Would Grow Into His Ears. Doesn't Look Like It's Gonna Happen
#57
It Is Impossible To Pick Just One Picture Of Jolene When She Is So Picture-Perfect In Every Single One
#58
The Yote
Heather Vandegrift 2 years ago
I always thought coyotes were the size of a medium dog, maybe 20-25 lbs... So I was SHOCKED when I was walking 2 40-60 lb dogs in the dog park at my apartment when a coyote came running out of the woods just outside the fence and it was bigger than them!!
#60
Sleepy Saturday
#61
The Cutest Deer Wandered Into The Little Group Of Trees Where We Stopped To Have A Snack
Heather Vandegrift 2 years ago
"Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to... Are those APPLES you have? Oh, my, I haven't had apples in FOREVER!"
#63
We Need More Big-Eared Fellas
#65
If You Call Her Properly, She Will Come
ƒιѕн 2 years ago
Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding!"
Load More Replies... I heart Boo-BI-es 2 years ago
Properly, come here Properly..kinda a weird name for a pet..but ok..
#66
I Had The Pleasure Of Making Two New Long-Eared Friends On My Walk
#67
Getting A Good Scratch Behind The Ear
#68
Patiently Waiting For The Weekend Like
#69
It's Gorgeous To See One Of These Antlered Beauties First Thing In The Early Morning. Mule Deer Are My Favorite Deer
#70
Bunny Friends
#71
Today's Calm Parent And Daughter
#72
Evening All
#73
Kangaroo Ears
David Paterson 2 years ago
A few other Australian animals have big ears, not just the Bilby. Here's a recently discovered glider https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/624x351/p0975lnw.webp
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Multa Nocte 2 years ago
This is one of my favourite articles in a long time! More stunning animals, please!
Steve Hall 2 years ago
With ears that size you would think they would hear you when you call them, but do they listen...no they do not.
Stay Off My Lawn 2 years ago
Well this is all the proof I need that humans are the only animals who aren’t absolutely adorable with oversized ears
Adventure in The Wild Seo 5 months ago
unlike mountain gorillas, with very small ears. thanks for the article. by the way you can check them out on ugandagorillatrekking.org
Multa Nocte 2 years ago
This is one of my favourite articles in a long time! More stunning animals, please!
Steve Hall 2 years ago
With ears that size you would think they would hear you when you call them, but do they listen...no they do not.
Stay Off My Lawn 2 years ago
Well this is all the proof I need that humans are the only animals who aren’t absolutely adorable with oversized ears
Adventure in The Wild Seo 5 months ago
unlike mountain gorillas, with very small ears. thanks for the article. by the way you can check them out on ugandagorillatrekking.org
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