Monogamous animals, fennec foxes can live in family groups of up to ten individuals. Adopt a red panda to give the perfect gift to the conservationist in your life — even if that conservationist is you! Their coats are long, soft, and thick and range in color from reddish cream to light fawn to almost white. This endangered species is native to the desert areas of North Africa and the Arabian and Sinai peninsulas.…. The dental formula is 3.1.4.23.1.4.3 × 2 = 42 with small and narrow canines. Fennec foxes are legally protected in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. The fennec is characterized by its small size (head and body length 36–41 cm [14–16 inches], weight about 1.5 kg [3.3 pounds]) and large ears (15 cm or more in length). These continue to be difficult times, so we must fall back on your passion for our critical mission now more than ever.

Heavily furred paws provide traction when running in the sand while also offering protection from the extreme heat of the terrain. Fennec, (Fennecus zerda), desert-dwelling fox, family Canidae, found in north Africa and the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas. The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a small crepuscular fox native to the Sahara Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. Nocturnal animals, fennec foxes will hide out in burrows during daylight to avoid the hottest portion of the day.

Educational Activities You Can Do at Home, About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Males are slightly larger, ranging in head-to-body size from 39 to 39.5 cm (15.4 to 15.6 in) with a 23–25 cm (9.1–9.8 in) long tail and 10 cm (3.9 in) long ears, weighing at least 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). The fennec is characterized by its small size (head and body length 36–41 cm [14–16 inches], weight about 1.5 kg [3.3 pounds]) and large ears (15 cm or more in length). Pups usually nurse for their first 10 weeks of life and become mature at 9 to 11 months. It is protected in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, where it has been documented in several protected areas. Washington, DC 20013. The fennec has a life span of up to 14 years in captivity and about 10 years in the wild. They can catch and kill prey larger than themselves; there have been documented cases of fennec foxes taking down fully grown rabbits. We have Fennec Foxes for sale in Texas and can arrange transportation for out of state homes! It has dark streaks running from the inner eye to either side of the slender muzzle. [7], African horned owl species likely prey on fennec fox pups. It hunts alone and digs in the sand for small vertebrates and insects. Fennec foxes are also capable of going for long periods without consuming water; they are able to hydrate through the food they consume. In some cases, different families interconnect their dens, or locate them close together. Its coat, ears, and kidney functions have adapted to the desert environment with high temperatures and little water. Anecdotal reports exist about caracals, jackals, striped hyenas also preying on the fennec fox. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, fennec foxes eat meat, assorted fruits and vegetables, mice and insects. She was leader of trio gangs (a vulture and hyena) who had a rivalry with titular character. There have been some instances of multiple family groups sharing a complex den. Its name comes from this species' name in Arabic: fanak (فَنَك). It has long, thick, whitish to sand-coloured fur and a black-tipped tail 18–31 cm long. [14][15] After mating, the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female, provides her with food during pregnancy and lactation.

The Fennec fox, or fennec (Vulpes zerda), is a small crepuscular fox found in the Sahara of North Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, South West Israel (Arava desert) and the Arabian desert. [7][8], A fennec fox digs its den in sand, either in open areas or places sheltered by plants with stable sand dunes. It is not uncommon for these dens to have multiple entrances and exits to provide a safe escape in the event of an outside threat. Females will go into estrus for one to two days, and following copulation the gestation period lasts between 50 and 53 days. The allure of owning a fennec fox as a pet is understandable. We're excited to welcome you back to the Zoo, and we've made a few changes. The smallest of all canids, fennec foxes are 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, with an additional 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 centimeters) of tail. .mw-parser-output table.clade{border-spacing:0;margin:0;font-size:100%;line-height:100%;border-collapse:separate;width:auto}.mw-parser-output table.clade table.clade{width:100%}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label{width:0.7em;padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:bottom;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;border-bottom:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width{overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-fixed-width:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.first{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-label.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel{padding:0 0.15em;vertical-align:top;text-align:center;border-left:1px solid;white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel:hover{overflow:visible}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.last{border-left:none;border-right:none}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-slabel.reverse{border-left:none;border-right:1px solid}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar{vertical-align:middle;text-align:left;padding:0 0.5em;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-bar.reverse{text-align:right;position:relative}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf{border:0;padding:0;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leafR{border:0;padding:0;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade td.clade-leaf.reverse{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkA{background-color:yellow}.mw-parser-output table.clade:hover span.linkB{background-color:green}, The fur of the fennec fox is straw-coloured. They have the largest ears relative to their body size of any member of the canid family, which they use to dispel heat and track down prey underneath the sand.

Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Fennec foxes may live up to 11 years in human care. This article was most recently revised and updated by, fennec - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [23], A fennec fox named Finnick was depicted in Disney's Zootopia. The fennec is the smallest canid species. [4] It was placed in the genus Vulpes by Karl Christian Gmelin in 1788. Fennec foxes typically give birth to one litter of pups per year, with between two and five young in a litter. They usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kilograms). The copulation tie lasts up to two hours and 45 minutes. Perhaps their most notable characteristic is their ears, which can grow to between 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) in length. [9], In the Algerian Sahara, 114 scat samples were collected that contained more than 400 insects, plant fragments and date palm Phoenix dactylifera fruits, remains of birds, mammals, squamata and insects. Support our Giant Panda Program and help provide the best possible care for our little guy. [11] The fennec fox is classified a "small wild/exotic canid" by the United States Department of Agriculture. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat. [7], The fennec fox is the smallest canid. [26], Pip, a rogue alchemist champion from 2016 video game, Paladins is a vulpin, a fennec fox like races. [2], Canis (zerda) was the scientific name proposed by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann in 1780. Share the story of this animal with others.

These foxes have large ears and bushy tails, and are the smallest members of the Canine family. Shop smart too!
By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. By becoming a member, you'll help the Zoo save species and get great benefits for you and your family each time you visit! Mainly nocturnal, the fennec spends the heat of the day underground in its burrow.

Some individuals were observed to bury prey for later consumption and searching for food in the vicinity of human settlements. [17], The oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old, and the oldest female 13 years. But according to nomads, the fennec fox is fast and changes directions so that even their Salukis are hardly able to capture it. The smallest canid is the fennec. Our babies do not come de-clawed or de-fanged. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Young are born fully furred but blind; their eyes open after eight to 11 days, and they are able to walk at about 2 weeks. They are considered one of the smallest Canidae species in the world. [16] [1], The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which also serve to dissipate heat. Omissions? [3] [7], The fennec fox is an omnivore, feeding on small rodents, lizards, geckos, skinks, small birds and their eggs, fruits and also some tubers. In the wild, fennec foxes eat insects—particularly grasshoppers and locusts—as well as small rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs.

The smallest of all canids, fennec foxes are 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, with an additional 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 centimeters) of tail. [7], The fennec fox is distributed in the Sahara from Morocco and Mauritania to northern Niger through Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula.

It mainly eats insects, small mammals, and birds. The ear to body ratio is greatest in the canid family and likely help in dissipating heat and locating vertebrates. You can help us by donating to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Emergency Fund today. The fennec is usually assigned to the genus Vulpes; however, this is debated due to differences between the fennec and other fox species. [24], Fenneko, one of main character from the 2018 Netflix's series Aggretsuko', is a fennec fox.[25]. The fennec fox, also known as the desert fox, is a petite animal that's native to the Sahara desert and other parts of North Africa. [13] Gestation lasts between 50 and 52 days, sometimes also up to 63 days. Precise population figures are not known but are estimated from the frequency of sightings; these indicate that the fennec is currently not threatened by extinction. It relies on the moisture content of prey, but drinks water when available. Fennec foxes are small mammals native to the Sahara Desert of North Africa. [22], Fennekin, the Fire-type starter Pokémon alongside with their evolutionary lines from Pokémon X and Y, is based on the fennec fox. In soft, looser sand, dens tend to be simpler with only one entrance leading to a single chamber. Hunting occurs at night and alone; fennec foxes use their abnormally large ears to listen for prey underneath the sand, and once located will dig with all four feet to expose their meal.

The fennec fox weighs about 0.68 kg to 1.6 kg (roughly 1.5 to 3.5 pounds) with a body length of about 20-40 cm (8 to 16 inches). Its long ears have longitudinal reddish stripes on the back and are so densely haired inside that the external auditory meatus is not visible. Their undersides are pure white, and their tails are bushy with black tips. A female fennec fox named Popy also appeared from French-South Korean computer animated animation Oscar's Oasis.

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