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The Fennec
fox is light sandy on the back and sides (paler on sides than back). It has a
white underside and the bushy tail and outside of the ears are reddish-brown.
It's muzzle is narrow and pointed. The fur of the Fennec is thick and soft. It
is similar to other foxes, but has larger eyes and very large ears.
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The Fennec
fox is usually 22 to 24 inches long, including an 8 inch tail! The Fennec
stands 8 inches high at the shoulders and weighs 3 to 3 1/2 pounds.
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Where the Fennec Fox is
Found
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Fennecs
live in the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian and Sinai peninsulas where
they are among the most common mammals. |
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The large
ears (4 to 6 inches!) of the Fennec fox serve to radiate excess body heat. They
also give the fox excellent hearing! Its light colored fur is camouflage to
blend in with the desert sand. Light colors also absorb less heat so the animal
stays cooler. |
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The fox's
fur is fine and thick with longer guard hairs covering a dense woolly
undercoat. Heavy fur is unusual for desert dwelling animals, but insulates the
fox from the colder nights as well as daytime heat. The feet of the Fennec fox
are thickly furred. This insulates the pads from the hot desert sand. The fur
on the feet also cushions the animal's step, making its movement quiet and
difficult to detect! |
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The Fennec
fox is extremely agile. It has been known to jump two feet straight up from a
standing position and make horizontal leaps of four feet! |
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The fennec
is the only species of carnivore in its region able to live well away from
oases or other water. It seems to be completely independent of the need to
drink! The Fennec fox usually meets its water needs through the food it eats.
It will drink regularly and frequently if there is water available. .
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The Fennec
fox is nocturnal, which allows it to avoid the extreme heat of the desert day.
During the daylight hours, it spends its time sleeping in a den, dug by the fox
itself. This animal digs so rapidly that it has the reputation of "sinking"
into the ground! |
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The Fennec
female gives birth to a litter of from 2 to 5 pups in March or April, after a
51 day gestation period. The young are raised in the den. |
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The Fennec
fox feeds on a variety of small prey, such as insects, desert snails, lizards,
small mammals, birds, eggs, berries, and fruit. It stores any excess food
underground, much like a dog burying a bone. |
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Hairs
growing inside the ears of the Fennec fox help prevent sand and insects from
entering! |
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Long
whiskers help the Fennec sense its surroundings in the dark or in a burrow!
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