Fennec << FEHN ehk >> is the smallest species (kind) of fox. Fennecs live in the deserts of northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The animal ranges in color from white to pale reddish-orange and has a bushy, black-tipped tail.
Fennecs are well adapted to desert life. Their light coloring keeps them cool in the daytime heat and helps them blend into the sand to avoid enemies. Their fur provides protection from the hot sun, and warmth during cold nights. The hair on the soles of their feet enables them to run quickly over hot sand. Their large ears help release excess heat from the body.
The fennec stands about 8 inches (20 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and weighs about 3 pounds (1.35 kilograms). Its enormous ears grow about 5 inches (13 centimeters) long.
Fennecs dig burrows deep in the sand and rest in them during the daytime. Up to 12 animals may share one burrow. Female fennecs give birth to 2 to 5 young each spring after a gestation of 50 to 60 days. At night, fennecs hunt such food as insects, lizards, or small mammals. They also forage for birds’ eggs, plant bulbs, and fruits. Although they will drink water when it is available, fennecs can get all the water they need from their food.
Jackals, hyenas, and feral dogs all prey on fennecs. People also capture them for their fur and to keep them as pets. Fennecs are common throughout much of their range. They are not endangered, but populations have declined in some areas. Fennecs can live up to 14 years in captivity.
