Animals >>
Fennec Fox
Fennec Fox Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Mammalia |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Carnivora |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Canidae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Vulpes |
| Scientific Name: Comprised of the genus followed by the species | Vulpes Zerda |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Mammal |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Omnivore |
| Size (L): How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 35cm - 40cm (14in - 16in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 1kg - 1.5kg (2.2lbs - 3lbs) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 40km/h (25mph) |
| Life Span: How long the animal lives for | 12 - 16 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Solitary |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Least Concern |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Sandy, White |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Fur |
| Favourite Food: | Rodents |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Sandy Desert |
| Average Litter Size: The average number of babies born at once | 3 |
| Main Prey: | Rodents, Insects, Plants, Fruit |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Hyena, Eagle, Human |
| Distinctive Features: Characteristics unique to the animal | Small body size and large, pointed ears |
Fennec Fox Location
Map of Africa
Fennec Fox
The fennec fox is a small species of canine found in the dry, sandy regions of the African Sahara Desert. The fennec fox is most well known for it's large ears which can be half as long as the body of the fennec fox.The fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world, with fennec fox individuals ranging from 24 cm to 41 cm in length. The fennec fox also has a remarkably long tail which ranges in length from 18 cm to 31 cm depending on the size of the fennec fox individual.
The fennec fox has thick fur which helps to keep the fennec fox cool in the day and warm during cold nights. The large ears of the fennec fox help to regulate the body heat of the fennec fox helping to keep the fennec fox cool during the hot daytime hours. This is done by blood running near the skin in the ear. This helps dissipate the heat.
The fennec fox is an omnivorous animal and it's diet mainly consists of insects, rodents, plants and fruits along with small reptiles and the occasional egg. The fennec fox has sandy coloured fur which helps to keep the fennec fox camouflaged when it is hunting. The sandy colour of the fennec fox's fur also helps the fennec fox remain unseen from predators.
A female fennec fox is able to breed twice a year but most female fennec foxes only breed once a year. The female fennec fox gives birth to 3 to 4 baby fennec foxes, known as kits. The fennec fox kits feed on the milk from the mother fennec fox for about a month while the mother fennec fox keeps male fennec foxes out of the den. When the kits are old enough they start to hunt with their mother.
Fennec foxes are known to live in small communities together of up to 10 fennec fox individuals. Fennec foxes are nocturnal animals meaning that they sleep in their burrows during the day and hunt for food above ground when it is dark.
Fennec Fox Comments
Post Comment
Article Tools
Update your Fennec Fox phobia filter.
View printer friendly version of Fennec Fox article.
Learn how you can use or cite the Fennec Fox article in your website content, school work and other projects.
First Published: 24th August 2009, Last Updated: 9th January 2017 [View Sources]
1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 24 Aug 2009]
2. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
3. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 24 Aug 2009]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 24 Aug 2009]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 24 Aug 2009]
Are you Safe?
Are you Safe? is an online safety campaign by A-Z-Animals.com. If something has upset you, the Are you Safe? campaign can help you to speak to someone who can help you.
Are you Safe?
"Fennec foxes are really fascinating animals"
"Hey they are so cute i just love them thx it is for a report. "
"its for my homework thx."
"So cute and so ace "
"this is great ur cool ;\ tydude"
Show More Comments