The fennec fox or fennec 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 فنك, 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 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.
Description
The fennec fox weighs about 1.5–3.5 lb, with a body length of between 24–41 cm;
it is around 20.3 cm tall. It is the smallest species of canid in the world. The tail has
a black tip and is 18–31 cm long, while the ears can be between 10–15 cm long.
The coat is often a cream color and fluffy, which deflects heat during the day and keeps
the fox warm at night. The fennec's characteristic ears are the largest among all foxes relative
to body size, and serve to dissipate heat, as they have many blood vessels close to the
skin. The ears of a fennec are sensitive enough to hear prey that may be underground; the
soles of its feet are protected from the hot desert sand by thick fur.
Taxonomy
The species was previously classified in the genus Fennecus, but has since been reclassified
to the genus Vulpes which includes a variety of other types of foxes. Scientists have noted
that while there are similarities, there are many differences that set the fennec fox apart
from other fox species, including both physical and social traits. This has led to two conflicting
classifications: Vulpes zerda, implying that the fennec fox is a true fox, and Fennecus
zerda, implying that the fennec fox belongs to its own genus.
Physically, the fennec lacks the musk glands of other fox species, and has only 32 chromosome
pairs, while other fox species have between 35 and 39. The species also displays behaviors
uncharacteristic of foxes, such as living in packs while most other fox species are
solitary. Behavior
Social behavior
Information on fennec fox social behavior is mainly based on captive animals. The basic
social unit is thought to be a mated pair and their offspring, and the young of the
previous year are believed to remain in the family even after a new litter is born. Playing
behavior is common, including among adults of the species. Fennec foxes make a variety
of sounds, including barking, a purring sound similar to that of a domestic cat, and a snarl
if threatened. Captive animals engage in highly social behavior,
typically resting while in contact with each other. Males tend to show more aggression
and urine-marking around the time of the females' estrous cycle. They have been seen to bury
feces by pushing soil with their noses or hind feet when in captivity. Much remains
unknown of their basic ecology and behavior in the wild, and a 2004 report by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature stated that "in-depth study of the species, with particular
emphasis on habitat use and population dynamics in the wild, is overdue."
Diet and hunting The fennec fox is an omnivore. Food sources
include plants, rodents, insects, birds, eggs, and rabbits. An individual can jump up to
2 ft high and 4 ft forward, which helps it catch prey and escape predators. When hunting,
large eared foxes such as the fennec, or the bat-eared fox, can seem to stare at the ground
while they rotate their heads from side to side to pinpoint the location of prey, either
underground or hidden above ground. There are reports that fennec foxes climb date palms
while foraging for fruit; however, some experts consider these reports unlikely unless low
branches are available for support. The species is able to live without free water,
as its kidneys are adapted to restrict water loss. A fennec's burrowing can cause the formation
of dew. They are also known to absorb water through food consumption; but will drink water
if available. Reproduction
Fennec foxes are social animals that mate for life, with each pair or family controlling
their own territory. Sexual maturity is reached at around nine months old. In the wild, mating
usually occurs between January and February for litters to be born between March and April.
However, in captivity most litters are born later, between March and July, although births
can occur year round. The species usually breeds only once each year. The copulation
tie has been recorded as lasting up to two hours and 45 minutes. Following mating, the
male becomes very aggressive and protective of the female, providing her with food during
her pregnancy and lactation periods. Gestation is usually between 50 to 52 days,
although there have been 62 and 63 day gestation periods reported from foxes in captivity.
The typical litter is between one and four kits, with weaning taking place at around
61 to 70 days. When born, the kit's ears are folded over and its eyes are closed, with
the eyes opening at around ten days and the ears lifting soon afterward. The life span
of a fennec fox has been recorded as up to 14 years in captivity.
Habitat
The species is found in North Africa and Asia. The range is from Morocco through to Egypt,
as far south as northern Niger and as far east as the Sinai Peninsula and Kuwait.
A fennec fox's typical den is dug in sand, either in open areas or places sheltered by
plants with stable sand dunes considered to be their ideal habitat. In compacted soils,
dens can be up to 120 square meters, with up to 15 different entrances. In some cases
different families interconnect their dens, or locate them close together. In soft, looser
sand, dens tend to be simpler with only one entrance leading to a single chamber.
Population The fennec fox is classified as "Least Concern"
on the IUCN Red List, and as a CITES Appendix II species: species not necessarily threatened
with extinction, but whose trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their
survival. It is often hunted by humans, though it does not cause any direct harm to human
interests, such as livestock. Like other foxes, it is prized for its fur by the indigenous
people of the Sahara and Sinai. Current statistics on population are not known,
but the population is assumed to be adequate based on observations of traders commonly
trapping fennec foxes in Northern Africa for exhibition or sale to tourists. In southern
Morocco, the fennec fox is commonly seen in sandy areas away from permanent human settlements.
Predators The fennec fox's main predators are the various
African varieties of eagle owl. Other possible predators include caracals, jackals, striped
hyenas, and the saluki, a greyhound-like domestic dog local to the area. However, fennec foxes
are considered very difficult to capture, and reports of predators other than the eagle
owl are considered to be anecdotal and questionable. Fennec foxes are commonly trapped for sale
to the pet trade and for fur by the human population of Northern Africa. In southern
Morocco in particular, their meat is not eaten because it is considered to be foul smelling.
As pets
The fennec fox is bred commercially as an exotic house pet. Breeders tend to remove
the young kits from the mother to hand-rear, as owners prefer tamer and more handleable
foxes, thereby making them more expensive. The species is classified a "Small wild/exotic
canid" by the United States Department of Agriculture, along with the coyote, dingo,
jackal, and arctic fox, and is considered the only species of fox, other than the domesticated
silver fox, which can properly be kept as a pet. Although it cannot be considered domesticated,
it can be kept in a domestic setting similar to dogs or cats. A breeders' registry has
been set up in the USA to avoid any problems associated with inbreeding. The legality of
owning a fennec fox varies by jurisdiction, as with many exotic pets.
Algerian national emblem The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria.
It also serves as the nickname for the Algeria national football team: "Les Fennecs".
References
Bibliography Alderton, David. Foxes, Wolves, and Wild Dogs
of the World. London: Blandford, 1998. ISBN 081605715X.
External links About.com Exotic Pets – Entry on fennec
fox Fennec fox at the Encyclopedia of Life