Adorable cute little fennec fox in hands
The fennec fox or fennec (Vulpes zerda) is a small nocturnal fox found
in the Sahara of North Africa. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually
large ears, which serve to dissipate heat. Its name comes from the Arabic word (fanak),
which means fox, and the species name zerda comes from the Greek word xeros
which means dry, referring to the fox's habitat.
The fennec is the smallest
species of canid in the world. Its coat, ears, and kidney functions have
adapted to high-temperature, low-water, desert environments. In addition, its
hearing is sensitive enough to hear prey moving underground. It mainly eats
insects, small mammals, and birds.
The fennec has a life span of up to 14 years in captivity. Its main
predators are the African varieties of eagle owl. Families of fennecs dig out
dens in sand for habitation and protection, which can be as large as 120 m2
(1,292 sq ft) and adjoin the dens of other families. Precise population figures
are not known but are estimated from the frequency of sightings; these indicate
that the animal is currently not threatened by extinction. Knowledge of social
interactions is limited to information gathered from captive animals. The
species is usually assigned to the genus Vulpes; however, this is debated due
to differences between the fennec fox and other fox species. The fennec's fur
is prized by the indigenous peoples of North Africa, and in some parts of the world,
the animal is considered an exotic pet.
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