What does the Fennec Fox do during its day? Sexual maturity is reached between 9 and 12 months old. While the mother is raising the kits the male will bring them food. They will remain within the territory of their parents until they are ready to breed when they go off to form their own prey. The kits then begin to go hunting with the mother. The kits are weaned from the mother after 61-70 days. The eyes open and the ears lift after their 10th day. They emerge from the mother with their ears folded over and closed eyes. The gestation period is 50-52 days.īetween one and five kits are born at the end of the gestation. Following the mating the male becomes protective of the female up until she finishes lactating. While they usually breed once a year there are recorded cases of two litters per year. The breeding season for this species is between January and February. ![]() They have an ability to dig in sandier soils than other foxes allowing them to exploit a wider range of habitats. Along the Atlantic coast they have been seen to live among sand dunes. The fennec fox is found throughout desert areas. Further research indicates that these likely came from the misidentification of Blanford’s Fox or Rüppell’s Fox. Previous reports of the species range suggested their occurrence in the Middle East. They are found in arid areas of the following countries Algeria Chad Egypt Libya Mali Mauritania Morocco Niger Sudan Tunisia and Western Sahara. The fennec fox comes from northern Africa. Dew also forms in their den which they can drink. They can obtain some of their water from the food they eat. They have specially adapted kidneys allowing them to not drink much. They have been observed to take down prey which is larger than their body size such as rabbits. Prey can be located under the sand using their large ears and they will then burrow under the ground with all four paws. The species has been observed with cultivated plants and plastic within their stool showing that scavenging takes place near human habitation. This is then supplemented with small rodents, birds along with their eggs and plants. Studies have shown that the majority of their diet is insects. For example during locusts outbreaks these become a significant portion of their diet. To help prevent water loss they will dig burrows and they remain within this during periods of warm weather.įennec Foxes are described as opportunistic omnivores with high seasonal variability in their diet based on prey availability. During this time their breathing rate can increase from 23 breaths per minute to as high as 690. If caught in extreme weather they will begin to pant heavily. In to addition to assisting with heat exchange the large ears will also allow them to hear prey which can help with finding their next meal. Their large ears assist them with regulating their body temperature by providing a large surface area with many blood vessels where heat can be exchanged in to the air. How does the Fennec Fox survive in its habitat? They measure between 24 and 41 cm (9-16 in). The fennec fox is the world’s smallest fox and canid species. It makes up 18-31cm (7-12in) of their length. Their bushy tail has a black tip on the end. They have the largest ears relative to body size of any fox. A coat of thick fur across the body helps to insulate them against the extreme cold temperatures which can occur at night. ![]() They have thick fur around their feet to protect them from the hot sand. The fennec fox has a fluffy, cream or sandy coloured coat on the back and white on the underside. Their kidneys are also adapted to retain water which helps to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.ĭespite their large ears this is the world’s smallest species of fox and can be found in arid areas of Africa. The surname Fenwick is still widely found in northern England and has spread through most English-speaking countries.The large ears of the fennec fox help to keep them cool in their desert habitat by facilitating the easy exchange of heat back in to the environment. This name was originally derived from the English fenn which means "marsh" and wic, which means "a farm". ![]() In fact, some bearers of this surname use the horse, a Phoenician symbol, on their crest rather than the rabbit.Īnother variation is an Anglo-Saxon one where it is derived from a family living in Fenwick, which was in Northumberland and the West Riding of Yorkshire. Another variation is formed from the word Phoenicians.
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