Fennec Fox pictures

Fennec Foxes are the cutest animals. These animals have bodies about 6 inches long and a tail about 10 inches long. They are 10 inches tall, and 16 inches lengthwise and can grow to an average of 3 pounds.

Fennec Foxes - General Appearance

Ears: Their ears are catlike and erect. These animals have the largest ears in relation to their body size. Their structure and size help the animals to hear the smallest sound; they can hear small insects walking over the sand. The other advantage of such big ears is that they also help to protect an animal from the heat. What's more, the larger ears serve as radiators for animals that live in hot climates.

Color and Coat: The Fennec Foxes' fur can be: cream to sandy yellow with white "edges" and some black ticking, the animals blend with the desert sand. The fur of the animal is rather thick, which is actually not expected for desert animals. These foxes are nocturnal animals and they have to hunt in the night when it is rather cold. The color of the coat is reflective and that also helps to keep the animal cool in the desert. The light color camouflages Fennec Fox against the desert sands.

Feet: The feet of the Fennec Foxes are adapted to the hot sand of the harsh Sahara desert as they are covered with thick fur all over their pads. This helps to insulate the feet from the hot sand.

Fennec Foxes - Reproduction:

The time of mating for the Fennec Foxes is from January to February although, if the litter is lost, they may mate later. A pair of Fennec Foxes may remain together for a number of years. The young foxes are raised in the den, which can become a series of tunnels where a number of foxes live together.

The litter is born every year. The gestation period lasts about 50-52 days. There are usually 2 pups born although there may be as much as 4 or 5. The lactation period lasts 9-10 weeks. Both parents share duties in raising the young. The eyes of the pups open at about 2 weeks and they begin eating the prey that the parents bring. The animals become sexually mature at an age of 6-11 months.

Fennec Foxes - Enemies

As a matter of fact the Fennec Foxes have very few enemies. Among the enemies, snakes and desert cats really pose the most threat. The Fennec Fox runs to escape predators. Other possible enemies are animals such as vultures, hyenas and jackals. The only thing that saves foxes from being captured is their excellent senses.

Another enemy of this creature is man. Nomadic Arabs of the Sahara dig out young Fennec Foxes and sell them in villages and towns, where they are kept in cages and fattened for the table. To Westerners it may seem disgusting to eat carnivorous animals, but dogs are eaten in several parts of the world.

Fennec Foxes - Population Nowadays

The Fennec Fox is much less common now than it used to be due mainly to hunting by man. Hunting has led to the local rarity of the Fennec fox or even extinction in parts of its range. Now, Fennec Foxes are protected under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna.

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Fennec Foxes - Pictures

Fennec Foxes - General Appearance

Fennec Foxes - Reproduction:

Fennec Foxes - Enemies

Fennec Foxes - Population Nowadays