The oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old, and the oldest female 13 years. The pups are weaned at the age of 61 to 70 days. Pups remain in the family even after a new litter is born. They communicate by barking, purring, yapping and squeaking. Females give birth between March and June to a litter of one to four pups that open their eyes after 8 to 11 days. After mating, the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female, and provides her with food during pregnancy and lactation. Gestation usually lasts between 50 and 52 days, though sometimes up to 63 days. ReproductionĬaptive fennec foxes reach sexual maturity at around nine months and mate between January and April. 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. Some individuals were observed to bury prey for later consumption and searching for food in the vicinity of human settlements. It hunts alone and digs in the sand for small vertebrates and insects. It relies on the moisture content of prey, but drinks water when available. The fennec fox is an omnivore, feeding on small rodents, lizards, geckos, skinks, small birds and their eggs, insects, fruits, leaves, roots and also some tubers. In soft, looser sand, dens tend to be simpler with only one entrance leading to a single chamber.

In some cases, different families interconnect their dens, or locate them close together. In compacted soils, dens are up to 120 m 2 (1,300 sq ft) large, with up to 15 different entrances. Its name comes from the species' Arabic name: fanak ( فَنَك).Ī fennec fox digs its den in sand, either in open areas or places sheltered by plants with stable sand dunes. The fennec's fur is prized by the indigenous peoples of North Africa, and it is considered an exotic pet in some parts of the world. Knowledge of social interactions is limited to information gathered from captive animals. 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. Fennec families dig out burrows in the sand for habitation and protection, which can be as large as 120 m 2 (1,300 sq ft) and adjoin the burrows of other families. Its main predators are the Verreaux's eagle-owl, jackals and other large mammals. The fennec has a life span of up to 14 years in captivity and about 10 years in the wild. It mainly eats insects, small mammals and birds. Its coat, ears, and kidney functions have adapted to the desert environment with high temperatures and little water. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat and listen for underground prey. Little is known about the status of wild fennec fox populations.The fennec fox ( Vulpes zerda) is a small crepuscular fox native to the deserts of North Africa, ranging from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. Their adorable appearance makes them favorites of the captive pet trade, and local peoples also hunt the fennec fox for its fur. These foxes are cream-colored with black-tipped tails. Like most desert dwellers, the fennec fox has developed the ability to go for long periods without water. They forage for plants but also eat rodents, eggs, reptiles, and insects. Like other canids, male fennecs mark their territory with urine and become aggressive competitors when mating season arrives each year.įennec foxes are opportunistic eaters. These foxes dwell in small communities, each inhabited by perhaps ten individuals. The fox's feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging-fennec foxes live in underground dens. Even the fox's feet are hairy, which helps them perform like snowshoes and protects them from extremely hot sand. They also have long, thick hair that insulates them during cold nights and protects them from hot sun during the day.

Their distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat of the desert environment, and some physical adaptations help as well.

Desert Adaptationsįennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and elsewhere in North Africa. The fennec fox is the smallest of all the world's foxes, but its large ears, measuring 6 inches, appear to be on loan from a bigger relative.

Fenec fox predators