HABITAT AND RANGE:
Fennec foxes live in desert regions,
especially in sandy areas where there
are dunes. They range from Africa, north
of the Sahara, to Arabia and the Sinai
Peninsula.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The smallest member of the Canid family,
the fennec fox is well adapted to life
in the desert. From nose to the base of
the tail, the fox measures 14-16 inches
long. The tail measures an additional
6-12 inches. It typically stands 8
inches at the shoulder and weighs about
3 pounds. Fennecs are pale in color,
usually white, fawn or reddish-buff. The
underparts of the fox are usually
buff-white and the tip of the tail is
black, as is the nose. Huge triangular
ears that can be 4-6 inches tall
dissipate large amounts of heat. The fur
is very soft, fine and very thick. It
serves as insulation against both heat
and cold extremes. The soles of the feet
are densely covered with fur to protect
the pads from the hot desert sand.
ADAPTATIONS:
The fennec fox is one of the most
sociable of the foxes and often lives in
small groups of 10-15 individuals.
Typically these groups are extended
family. The young stay with their
parents for a long time and then may
make their own dens nearby. The fennecs
prefer to be out at dawn, dusk and
night, making them crepuscular and
nocturnal. The huge ears and light
colored fur effectively radiate excess
body heat, while the small, pointed nose
limits the amount of amount loss. Their
fur also gives them excellent camouflage
in the sand. The fennec is active, agile
and very fast over short distances. They
can jump about two feet straight up from
a standing position and can make a
horizontal leap of four feet.
DIET:
Fennec foxes are mainly carnivores, but
spend some time eating an omnivorous
diet. They eat insets, small rodents,
birds, bird eggs, lizards, tubers and
some other vegetable matter. They can
dig at great speed to catch prey or to
escape an enemy. They have also been
known to climb date palms to reach the
fruit. They can go for long periods
without water, but will drink freely
when water is available.
REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT:
Fennecs have a permanent den that acts
as shelter from enemies and climate as
well as a place to rear their young.
Mating occurs in January to February
and, after a gestation period of around
50 days, the young are born in March or
April. They typically have 2-5 pups.
STATUS IN WILD:
The fennec foxes are hunted by the
native people of the Sahara. They are a
rare animal, however, little is known
about the status of wild fennec fox
populations.
