Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a desert fox, a cautious and secretive inhabitant. The animal got its name from the Arabic fenek, which means “fox”. However, not all zoologists classify the fennec fox as a genus of foxes, separating it into a special genus - “Fennecus”. In this case, the following are indicated significant differences with foxes, like fewer chromosomes, lack of musk glands and sociality.
The largest population of these amazing animals inhabits the central Sahara. They are also found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and in the south to Chad, Sudan and Niger.
What does a fennec fox look like?
Fenech is the smallest representative of the fox family. Dimensions adult together with a long (up to 30 cm) fluffy tail - no more than 70 cm, height at the withers - 18-20 cm. At the same time, the animal weighs only about one and a half kilograms.
But it is not its size, but its ears that amazes the fennec at the first glance. These disproportionately huge ears (up to 15 cm) on a small head, large shiny eyes and a sharp, thin muzzle, lined with long black mustaches, give the whole fox an extraordinary strange looking. The ears are so mobile, they take on such diverse shapes that with each new position it seems that you see a new animal in front of you. Without his amazing ears, the fennec would probably lose half of his charm. The ears of a miniature fox, which hear the slightest rustle of a bird or insect at a distance, cannot tolerate sharp sounds.
Since the fennec cat does not have sweat glands and cannot breathe intermittently like a dog, it needs to somehow cool its body. And for this purpose the extensive surface of the ears serves. Since the animal does not sweat, it does not give off a drop of precious moisture. Thus, he manages to be content with the liquid contained in the food. But in places where there are watering holes, he drinks like other animals.
Interesting fact: big ears Many desert inhabitants have it, for example, the sand cat, long-eared hedgehog or the black-tailed hare. Disproportionately large ears protect animals from overheating.
All other parts of the Fennec's body are very beautiful and proportional. The animal's thin legs, like those of all desert animals, will stand up for themselves and compete with the fastest animals in running. Even the Egyptian jerboa, despite all its speed, often ends up on sharp teeth small predator. And this applies equally to his ability to sneak up and to the speed of his movements. The vast expanses of the desert, as well as the scarcity of its plant and animal life, require good, tireless legs. And such legs are especially needed for predators! They need not only to run around huge spaces each time, but to be able to catch up with their prey. And the fennec's legs give him the opportunity to exist and reproduce in sandy deserts. The fox's feet are covered with fur, which allows it to move silently across the hot sand.
Quite thick at first glance, the body is actually very small and light. It appears this way only because of its long, thick, light sand-colored fur. On a light muzzle, black eyes and a nose stand out.
The fennec's tail, no less fluffy than our tail, serves as a good decoration for the entire figurine of the animal.
Lifestyle of a miniature fox in nature
In deserts, the fennec tries to stay in thickets of grass and other low-growing vegetation. He lives in holes. The place for them is chosen where the roots of the plants bind the sandy soil. Here the animal digs long passages in various directions. In the middle of these crossing passages, he makes a lair for himself. The animal loves comfort and warmth and therefore lines its lair with dry herbs, hair and even feathers. In such a hole he is safe from his enemies.
The fennec fox, like most other desert inhabitants, prefers the cool to the heat. He spends the whole day in his nest and only in exceptional cases leaves the hole before dusk. During the scorching heat, it’s stuffy even underground. The dhota from the hot sand penetrates there too. The fennec is looking forward to when the dazzling shine of the sun, reflected by millions of sparkles in the grains of sand, will be replaced by the same sparkles on the dark blue sky south. By night the heat is replaced by coolness, and sometimes very significant. Then, here and there in the silent desert, silent animal life awakens. Foxes peep out of their holes, move their ears, sniff the air, and little by little they lean out of the hole: it’s time to hunt.
How does a fennec fox hunt?
Although desert foxes live in families, they, like their relatives, prefer to hunt alone. During the hunt, the animal completely relies on its hearing, sight and smell. These same feelings serve the Fennec to warn of danger.
Our common fox, polar fox or arctic fox, corsac fox of the steppes of Asia, gray American fox, broad-nosed fox South Africa, - they all have almost the same habits. In most cases, fox hunting comes down to searching for prey by smell and then hiding it.
And the fennec cat’s acute hearing, vision and sense of smell allow him to hunt not only birds, animals, but even insects. His silent, creeping step allows him to catch the most distant, quietest sounds on the move. If some air vibration gets into his ears, they expand towards the noise. The desert fox pauses for a moment and then begins to approach even more cautiously in the direction of the noise. Her eyes pierce the thick darkness of the desert. From a distance she can see a sleeping hazel grouse (steppe pigeon), a lark or even a fat locust. He eats her too. True, with less pleasure than a bird or animal, but still he will not pass by if he hears its rustling. In the desert you have to put up with everything; there is a lot of sand, stones and heat, but not food and drink.
For all the tirelessness of the fennec, for all the acuteness of his feelings, the enormous space over which the rare animal kingdom of the desert is scattered creates great difficulties for the animal. You can drive in the Sahara for hours, whole days, and not see a single bird. And this rarity of the population serves as the best protection against enemies. It is not so easy and not so often that the fenech manages to feast on the hot blood of sandgrouses or larks. But the hazel grouse is a desirable prey for the fennec. If an animal senses with its nose that it has crossed the trail of a hazel grouse, it will immediately sniff out the entire place and follow the subtle scent that remains from this bird’s daytime walk. There is nothing here to distract the attention of this amazing bloodhound! desert fox will stubbornly follow the footsteps of the hazel grouse right up to its overnight stay or the place from which it flew away. This kind of failure often happens. But she does not discourage the fennec. It happens that during these searches the wind will carry the scent of sandgrouse sleeping nearby, and then the same animal’s nose will lead straight to the desired prey. By smell, the desert fox not only finds sandgrouse, but even desert larks and common larks. It happens that these small birds also fall on the fennec's teeth. They are identified not only by their smell, but sometimes also by the noise they make in their sleep when they change position, or by an involuntary cry, song, or flapping of wings. Once any noise from the movement of the bird fell into the huge ears of the fennec fox, the bird died.
Fenech will lower his body to the ground and will slowly, for a long time, sneak towards the noise. From afar, his eyes will notice somewhere under a bush the tiny figure of a bird, which, unaware of the danger, continues to sleep serenely. The fenech will choose the bush or depression closest to it in order to grab its victim in its teeth in one leap. But he applies this technique of hiding prey to sleeping birds. He hunts jerboas and voles differently. Here he not only hides, but also chases. The Saharan vole and jerboa, like the fennec fox, are nocturnal animals. They also have keen hearing and keen eyes. The animal does not always manage to take them by surprise. However, the fox often catches the jerboa, despite its amazing jumps. The whole thing is spoiled for the jerboa by his hare-like ability to jump in different directions to listen to the enemy. But this technique with the fennec tree does a disservice to the jerboa. The desert fox carefully watches the jumps and runs straight to the place where the jerboa lands. From random jumping and fear, the jerboa soon gets tired and becomes prey to the less dexterous, but more cunning fennec.
It is much easier for the fennec to deal with voles. They have only one salvation: to hide under the roots or crawl into burrows. But this does not save much from a persistent pursuer. The animal digs shallow holes, and a small vole ends up in its stomach.
Family life of fennecs
Foxes are social animals and live family groups ten individuals in branched burrows. Clans usually consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and sometimes several older children. It happens that several families live in one den.
Desert chanterelles breed once a year. Pregnancy lasts about two months, and in March-April, from two to six cubs are born. Newborns weigh only about 50 grams, their body is covered light fluff white. While the female feeds the offspring, the male brings her food. Babies feed on mother's milk for two to three months, but starting from the fourth week of life they begin to slowly get accustomed to solid food. The older the puppies become, the more fiercely they fight for a piece of food. Already at the end of summer, the young animals begin to hunt alone, and by nine months they become independent. Often young fennec cats stay with their parents and help raise new offspring.
Fenech's enemies
However, the fennec itself sometimes, during a hunt, becomes a victim of hyenas, caracals, and sometimes leopards, jackals and eagle owls. The animal has the only way to escape from all these predators: to bury itself in the sand, or even better, to climb into its own or someone else’s hole. Burrowing in the sand is common for many desert animals and lizards; The fennec also disappears in front of the eyes of the enemies pursuing him. But he does not always succeed in deceiving hyenas, jackals and people. Hyenas and jackals will not be deceived by their instincts, and they will dig up the animal. In the same way, it is not difficult for a person to rake out a layer of sand and remove the fennec. Much more reliable way saving the desert fox in her holes, where she is safe from all her enemies, with the exception of the terrible asp - a snake, terrifying not only on animals, but also on people.
Fenech practically does not react to changes environment and cannot adapt to other living spaces. Sand foxes do not harm humans, but they have always been actively hunted and continue to be hunted.
Fennec foxes are small desert-dwelling foxes that have large ears and an attractive appearance. These foxes, like all others, are predators, although their habits are considered softer. The name "fennec" with Arabic That's how it's translated - "fox".
Habitat of foxes with big ears and their description
The habitat of these cute eared foxes is desert areas. North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In Algeria, the fenech is its national symbol and is even depicted on one of the national coins.
fennec fox does not reach large sizes . At the withers it is only eighteen to twenty-two centimeters. The weight of these babies reaches up to one and a half kilograms on average. If you compare the animal’s ears with its head, they may turn out to be gigantic in relation to it. They can be up to fifteen centimeters in length.
Foxes living in the desert are perfectly adapted to similar climatic conditions:
- they have fur on the soles of their paws to hot sand did not burn them;
- Their coat color is reddish-fawn, which allows them to camouflage in desert areas;
- long ears allow you to perfectly hear any rustle of even a small insect.
The latter, it must be said, can be eaten by fennec. Although these foxes can feed on roots and fruits of plants, carrion, and eggs.
Ears, in addition to hearing, also help improve thermoregulation, because the animal lives in a very hot desert climate.
How does an animal cope with desert climate?
As mentioned above, the fennec fox, thanks to its large ears, can easily carry hot climate deserts. The thing is that the skin on the ears of foxes is quite thin and can be seen through it. blood vessels, thanks to which excess heat is removed from the body.
Even internal structure foxes allows them to live in the desert. Fennec fox can eat dry food and get by for a long time without water. Therefore, the kidneys of this species of fox work differently than those of other representatives of this family. Thus, this allows you to retain more moisture in the animal’s body. The fennec fox does not have sweat glands.
During the daytime, foxes do not come out often, preferring to stay in burrows. If they find themselves on the surface, they prefer to stay in the shade of bushes or thickets of grass. More time they hide from the scorching sun and emerge from their burrows as dusk approaches. At the same time they prefer to hunt.
It should be noted that this is a fairly smart animal and it is very interesting to watch them from the outside. For example, if a fennec fish has obtained an egg and the hard shell is difficult to crack, then it will roll the egg towards a stone. And what games they play among themselves!
Fennec fox breeding
The mating season for foxes begins in January. After the end of the mating season, the female is waiting for offspring. The wait lasts approximately 1.5-2 months, and cute little animals appear around March-April. That is, the duration of gestation for a fennec fox is about fifty days.
When born, the tiny foxes weigh only fifty grams. The female does not leave the cubs alone until they begin to open their eyes. During this time the male is not allowed near them, however, he continues to feed and obtain food for the entire family.
At five weeks of age, little foxes begin to gradually emerge from the hole and explore the territory. When they are three months old, they are ready to travel quite long distances. It should be noted that these animals are practically not afraid of anyone. They very fast and can easily escape from any danger.
IN Lately The domestication of wild animals became very popular. Due to their cute and rather cute appearance, it has become popular to keep fennec foxes as exotic pets at home. But like everyone else wild animals, The pet fennec tree is not that easy to care for. There's something for that whole line reasons:
- The eared fox is an animal that prefers night image life, therefore, due to this, it can cause a lot of trouble to the owner;
- The fennec animal can be very naughty, so it simply needs training.
- It is difficult for them to get used to the tray and have a rather unpleasant and specific smell that will not please the owner much.
- In order to keep such a person at home exotic pet required big cage or even a separate room, the floor of which must be filled with sand to bring it closer to the original habitat. This way the pet can dig a hole for itself.
In addition to all this, care should be taken to so that the room is warm enough, and perhaps it is worth making heated floors. Since the animal is accustomed to very hot climates, it is susceptible colds which can cause the death of a pet. Sudden fluctuations in temperatures, as well as their value should not be allowed to be too low.
Not every veterinarian will be able to help such an exotic pet, because the fennec fox is an unusual patient. In addition, it is better not to get a fox if you have other pets or small children, because it is not known how a wild animal might react to such a neighborhood at home.
fennec fox becoming increasingly popular as a pet. What kind of animal is the fennec fox and is it possible to keep a fennec fox at home?
Fennec fox - who is it?
The fennec fox is probably the most amazing representative of the genus of foxes in the canine family.
The name "Fennec" translates as "fox" (Arabic word fanak). However scientific name This animal is Vulpes zerda, that is, literally “dry fox.” This gives a clue as to the fennec's habitat. These animals live in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.
Scientists are still arguing about whether the fennec cat can be called a fox. After all, the behavior and structure of the fennec fox differs from other types of foxes. Even the number of chromosomes is different: the fennec fox has 32 pairs of chromosomes, while other fox species have 35 to 39. The fennec fox does not have the musk glands characteristic of a fox. And unlike foxes, which live alone, fennec foxes are social animals. Therefore, a number of scientists have identified the fennec tree as a separate genus "Fennecus".
What does fennec look like?
Fennec fox is a small animal, a fox, smaller in size than a domestic cat. The height at the withers of the fennec is from 18 to 22 cm, the body length is from 30 to 40 cm, the tail reaches a length of 30 cm. The fennec weighs no more than 1.5 kg.
The fennec muzzle is pointed and short. The eyes of this fox are quite large.
Fennec's ears are his distinctive feature. The fennec fox has the largest ears relative to the size of its head among predators - the fennec's ears can reach a length of 15 cm. Such ears are not a luxury; the animal is forced to catch the slightest rustle in order not to miss its prey - small animals and insects. In addition, the fennec's large ears are excellent for thermoregulation and remove excess heat from the little fox's body, which is necessary in a desert climate.
The fennec's feet are covered with fur, and thanks to this, the animal runs across the hot desert sands silently and easily.
Fennec cats have small teeth.
The fennec cat's fur is soft and thick.
The fennec's color allows it to blend in with the sand: the fennec's fur is fawn or reddish on top and white below. The young fennec fox is almost white. The tip of the fluffy tail is black.
Like others wild foxes, the fennec does not have sweat glands.
The fennec fox can endure thirst for a long time if it is possible to obtain liquid from food. Fennec's kidneys work in such a way that they do not allow dehydration for a long time.
In nature, the fenech chooses sparse bushes or thickets of grass, where it finds both food and shelter. The fennec lives in a hole, which is equipped with many secret passages.
Fenechs form family groups (up to 10 animals). However, they go out hunting one at a time.
The fennec fox jumps well: up to 120 cm forward and up to 70 cm up.
Can we say that the domestic fennec is an interesting pet?
If you create good conditions for the fenech, he can become a rather interesting pet, smart and affectionate. However, keeping a fennec cat at home is quite difficult, since it is still wild animal, not a pet.
Success in taming a fennec cat depends on the age at which it came to you. It is best to purchase a fennec cat at the age of 6 - 9 months (before puberty).
At first, give your pet maximum attention, communicate with him and feed him by hand. However, avoid sudden movements and loud sounds - the fennec fox is very sensitive and timid.
How does Fenech behave at home?
A tame fennec at home behaves friendly, playful and inquisitive. The fennec fox loves to sleep next to its owner or sit in his arms.
Fenech at home is a very active animal, looking for something almost all the time, running around, and easily jumping onto a bedside table, sofa or computer desk. So it’s better not to leave a cup of tea or coffee near your laptop!
Fenech is very talkative: he whines, snorts, barks, grumbles and howls. Moreover, it voices not only during the day, but also at night - you need to know about this before getting such a pet.
The fennec fox won't refuse to play pranks either. For example, if he finds a bag of sugar or cereal, he will be delighted and instantly take the contents to every corner.
Please also note that everything electric wires you'll have to hide them - the fennec loves to chew them.
In the photo: fennec at home
How does the fennec fox get along with other animals and with children?
Some owners say that a fennec cat and a cat can easily become friends and even play together. However, small animals can provoke aggression in the fennec fox. In addition, when living together with other animals, you need to take into account the timidity of the fennec fox. You should not stress your existing animals and your new pet if you are not sure that they will get along.
And no matter how much effort you make to tame a fennec cat, it is still not a dog. So you shouldn’t bring a fennec into a family with small children.
Is it possible to walk with a fennec cat?
If you train your fennec cat to take walks, he will be happy to keep you company. However, do not forget that the fennec fox is a heat-loving and gentle animal, for which hypothermia can be deadly. That's why cold autumn, in winter and in the first half of spring it is better to refrain from walking with a fennec.
It is better to lead a fennec cat not in a collar, but on a harness. A fennec fox can wriggle out of a collar and run away, and in addition, any accidental, even weak, tug on the leash in this case can cause injury to the cervical spine or larynx.
When walking with a fennec cat, you will have to be vigilant - oncoming dogs may show aggression.
It is better to walk with the fennec early in the morning and late in the evening - this way you will be in unison with the natural biorhythm of the fox.
There is an opinion that fennec - sole representative a kind of fox that can be kept at home. But a breed of domestic foxes has already been bred, which also live in families.
Nevertheless, it is the keeping of fennec at home, although it has not yet become commonplace, that is gaining more and more popularity. However, is it easy to keep a fennec fox at home?
The domestic fennec fox is not as easy an animal to keep as some people think.
First of all, fennec is a nocturnal animal. This means that he is awake while we are sleeping, running around and making noise, causing a lot of anxiety.
Secondly, the fennec is neither a dog nor a cat; it is not easy to train him and it is not always easy to accustom him to a diaper or litter box. At the same time, the fennec fox does not smell like violets.
Thirdly, the fennec will not live in a cramped cage. He needs an enclosure or a separate room (and it must be heated).
The floor in the room where the fennec fox lives should be covered with sand or blankets should be provided for the pet’s use so that the animal can dig holes and bury itself.
You will have to maintain a temperature of +20 degrees or higher. If it gets colder, the fennec will quickly catch a cold. And a fennec cold often ends in death.
In addition, it must be taken into account that only a few veterinarians are willing to advise on the health of exotic animals such as the fennec fox. And it is very likely that if your pet gets sick, you will have no one to turn to for help.
Therefore, before deciding to keep a fennec fox at home, you should once again weigh the pros and cons.
What to feed your fennec cat?
Many potential owners wondering “what to feed a fennec cat at home.” To find the answer, you need to consider that natural conditions The fennec fox is practically omnivorous. Fenech feeds on insects, small vertebrates, bird eggs, fruits and roots of plants, and does not disdain carrion.
So at home, the diet of a fennec fox is similar to that of a small dog.
Fenech can be fed:
- Meat (lamb, rabbit, veal, chicken).
- Fish (boneless, boiled).
- Vegetables (boiled).
- Fruits (raw).
Fennec cat lifespan
The average lifespan of a fennec in nature is about 12 years. At home, the fennec fox usually lives 10 - 13 years, but when good care can live up to 15 years.
How much does a fennec fox cost?
The fennec fox is a rare animal, so its cost is quite high. In Russia home fennec costs 65 - 200 thousand rubles.
And even despite the high cost, it is not easy to buy a fennec fox both in Belarus and in Russia, so these animals are often brought from America or Western Europe. But if you choose this option, be careful and use the services of a specialist: you need to know the rules for the export and import of such animals, prepare the necessary package of documents and make sure that the fennec fox is healthy.
However, buying a fennec is only small part cost of keeping a fennec fox. It is necessary to create conditions for the pet that are close to natural. Otherwise, your furniture and other property will suffer, and living together with a fennec cat will turn into a living hell for both you and the animal.
- The most famous fennec fox is the same fox from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is he who owns the phrases “You are responsible for those you have tamed” and “Only the heart is vigilant - you cannot see the most important thing with your eyes.”
- In Algeria, the fennec fox is revered, where the fennec fox is the national animal. Even the football team of this country is called “Fennecs”. In addition, the image of a fennec fox adorns the Algerian ¼ dinar coin.
- The fennec fox also symbolizes the ecology of Tunisia, and in every city you will find an image of a fennec fox dressed in blue and white.
- Fennec is the codename and logo of Firefox for mobile.
- The popularity of the fennec cat as a pet jumped sharply after the appearance of the cartoon Zootopia.
- Mentions of the fennec are found in the following works:
- Mine Reid "Young Hunters" (although there is no fennec fox in Kalhari).
- Henri Troyat "The Crash" and "City of Lions".
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "Planet of Men".
- Felix Krivin "Fennec Fox".
- Sergey Lukyanenko “Transparent stained glass windows.”
- Frank Herbert "Dune".
In the photo: fennec
Exotic animals in the house are no longer uncommon. Greater preference is given to wild animals. Fennecs are becoming more and more popular, but due to the high cost, few can afford such a miracle. The main thing is to understand that the animals will not behave like domestic cats. Yes, they are partial to affection and games, but those living in the wild have their own rules. Before you get a fox cub, information about where and how it lives in nature will be useful.
Fenech: what kind of animal is this?
Fennec fox is a small fox that lives in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Compared to a cat, this animal is smaller in size. The weight of the animal reaches 1.5 kg, grow up to 40 cm in length.
Among predators, the fennec has the largest ears in relation to the volume of the head. Foxes need ears of this size to survive in the desert. Firstly, the animal hears any movements and rustles well of his prey. Secondly, the ears serve as a thermostat: blood vessels are close to the skin and relieve the body of excess heat. And the fluff on the feet helps the fenech to move along the hot sand.
Fennecs live in families in burrows, digging out many moves for himself. After the birth of the cubs, the mother fox takes care of them without letting the male into the hole. All he has to do is provide them with food.
They feed on plant roots and their fruits, insects, carrion, bird eggs and small vertebrates. Animals can survive without water for a very long time., getting the necessary moisture from food.
This is how fennecs live in the wild. And for anyone who wants to keep such a fox at home, it will be useful to learn how to behave with the animal, what to feed it and how to care for it.
Creating comfortable conditions for the fennec fox
To properly care for a fennec fox at home, it is important to know about its natural features. They can't stand bright things sunlight, and in the desert they hide in holes and come out only closer to dusk.
They sleep quietly during the day, and at night they are capable of causing a real pogrom. They run around, constantly looking for something, and show increased interest in everything. Besides fennecs are excellent diggers, and sensing danger, they quickly bury themselves in the sand as if they were not there.
For this reason, you will have to allocate a place where your pet can frolic with the sand. If this is not done, he will try to dig a tunnel in the sofa and in the floor. And he can even build a hole out of the owner’s things. And if he finds a bag of something loose, he will try to take it throughout the house. Moreover, this fox loves to climb onto the table and throw things off there, thereby causing a lot of noise and chaos.
The fennec fox is still a wild animal and leaving it alone in an apartment is not always safe. A good solution would be to buy a cage. Let it be a spacious enclosure so that there is somewhere to frolic in the absence of the owner.
The restless fox wants to explore everything that surrounds her. Here are the main caveats:
- By locking the windows and doors, a runaway fennec cat will not be easy to find.
- Remove breakable objects as high as possible.
- Hide the wires, the little fox will not be able to resist chewing them.
- Heat the room as best as possible; a heat-loving animal can easily get sick, and it is not easy to treat.
- Avoid sudden movements and screams in the presence of a pet (fenechs are shy and sensitive, and loud sounds will damage his hearing).
What to feed your fennec cat?
Healthy appearance foxes is impossible without good nutrition. Fenech is a picky animal, its menu is quite varied. Vegetables and fruits are an essential part of the daily diet. It is better not to feed your pet from the common table, but to prepare cereals with lean meat for it. Already adult pets can be given a little boiled chicken breast. And don’t forget to indulge in insects, small rodents and lizards.
Experienced breeders know one more thing favorite treat fox cubs – figs and dates. Suitable as a main complementary food dog food with vegetables.
Over time, it will become clear what kind of food the animal loves. By the way, quail eggs they eat with great pleasure.
6 notes for the future owner
We must also be prepared for the fact that these foxes squeal almost non-stop. So, they communicate with each other. A loving owner will get used to this over time, and will never regret that such restless and cheerful animals live in his house.
In the hot deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula lives dwarf foxfennec- a charming and touching creature smaller in size domestic cat, with huge ears and expressive eyes, which causes everyone to fall in love at first sight.
Unfortunately, The fennec fox is an endangered species in nature and is included in the documentary photo project for animal rescue “Photo-Ark”(“The Photo Ark, National Geographic”).
The goal of this project is to document endangered species of animals, tell as much as possible more people about their unique abilities survival in harsh natural conditions and make people give their all possible efforts to their salvation.
I hope that this story will convince you that this friendly, cheerful and sweet creature has amazing qualities, and it is simply absolutely impossible to do without it on our planet :)
The fennec got its name from the Arabic word fox (fanak), and the scientific name of this miniature animal is “Vulpes zerda” (Vulpes means belonging to the genus of foxes, zerda comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning “dry” and indicates the fennec’s habitat - the hot deserts of the North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
This animal belongs to the carnivorous order, the canine family, the fox genus, and the fennec species.
There has been much scientific debate as to whether this peculiar animal can be attributed to the genus of foxes, since the fennec fox is very different from them in its structure and behavior.
The fennec fox has 32 pairs of chromosomes (in other fox species it ranges from 35 to 39) and does not have the musk glands characteristic of all foxes.
Foxes lead single image life, while the fennec is a social animal.
Based on all these differences, some scientists prefer to classify the fennec special genus "Fennecus."
And he really SPECIAL, this elegant animal is smaller than a cat (the body length of the fennec fox is 30-40 cm, the height at the withers is only 18-22 cm), which weighs no more than 1.5 kg.
The first thing that attracts attention is the fennec's huge ears, reaching a length of 15 cm. These are the largest ears among predators in relation to the size of the animal's head.
Ears are extremely important for living in hot desert climates - they are perfect source of thermoregulation, because the blood vessels in the ears are located very close to the skin and allow excess heat to be removed from the body. Besides, ears are huge locators, allowing the fennec to detect the movement of its main prey in the sand - insects and small vertebrates - by the slightest rustle.
Another unique means of adapting the fennec to desert conditions are its feet covered with thick hair, which allow the animal to easily and silently move along the hot sand (and its temperature at midday can exceed 75 degrees, the egg will surely boil!!!).
Thick coat color The fennec cat (fawn-red above, almost white below) has adapted during its evolution to camouflage itself as much as possible against the background of sand.
Young fennecs are very light, almost white, and they are almost lost against the background of the desert landscape.
The fennec fox, like other wild foxes, does not have sweat glands and can go without water for a very long time, obtaining liquid only from meat, berries and leaves. The fennec tree's tiny buds have also adapted to limit water loss.
In deserts, the fennec prefers to stay in sparse bushes or thickets of grass, which provide the animal with shelter and food.
Fenechs usually live in family groups of up to a dozen individuals and dig holes for their homes with many secret passages.
Clans usually consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and several older children. Sometimes several families settle together in one den.
Fenechs are very sociable and “talkative” animals; they are capable of making many sounds: barking, whining, grumbling and howling.
Fennec foxes are almost omnivorous, they feed on insects and small vertebrates, carrion and bird eggs, and even the fruits and roots of plants. Most They dig up their prey from the sand and earth.
Like other representatives of the fox family, fennecs prefer to hunt alone, making, if necessary, huge jumps for their tiny size - up to 70 cm in height and up to 120 cm in length.
Fennec cats have well-developed senses of smell, hearing and night vision.
If conditions for hunting are favorable, the fenech stores food for future use.
These fearless, agile and dexterous creatures risk entering into a fight even with a dangerous scorpion.
Fennecs breed once a year. Their mating season takes place in January-February. Pregnancy lasts about 50 days. In March-April, the female gives birth to two to six cubs. Fennec puppies weigh only about 50 grams at birth.
The mother remains with the cubs in the nesting chamber of the den, lined with warm and soft wool, feathers and grass, until the age of two weeks, when the babies' eyes open. The fennec father brings food to the family, but does not enter the den, since the female is very aggressive at this time and drives him away from the puppies.
At the age of about 5 weeks, the cubs first leave the den and wander nearby, but only at the age of 3 months do they begin to travel long distances.
The average lifespan of a fennec in nature is 7-8 years, but in good conditions in captivity, animals can live up to 15 years.
The main enemies of fennecs in nature are caracals and desert eagle owls. But people are much more dangerous for fennecs. Fennec foxes are killed for their fur and are also captured and sold as pets.
The exact number of fennecs in nature is not known.
Despite the high cost, everything more people are eager to have this miniature big-eared fox as a pet.
Proper breeding of endangered exotic animals is one of the important ways conservation of species on our planet.
However, this is also a big responsibility! Fragile, flexible and easily tamed, the fennec is not the dog and cat we are used to.
Important when home care create suitable conditions for your exotic pet, as close to natural as possible, otherwise you will only torment it sweetest creature, of which there are only a few left.
What is vital for a fennec cat when kept artificially?
You need to give the animal a spacious enclosure, or better yet, a separate room. without upholstered furniture and valuable items, otherwise the little fox will gnaw and dig a hole with secret passages in your sofa :) Fenechs tend to dig holes! Everywhere.
It is important to maintain indoors high temperature , since fennecs are very heat-loving and catch cold easily. They must have always dry.
Fennecs are very active and make noise at night. You need to think about it so that the animal does not interfere with your family’s sleep, otherwise it will not cause love, but irritation. It will be your own fault for not organizing its content correctly. Experienced breeders say that if you take a fox cub small, you can gradually transfer it from a nocturnal lifestyle to a day one.
Fenech needs a varied diet of meat, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruits.
Need a competent veterinarian , who would understand exotic animals and their health characteristics. And this, alas, is very rare.
The Fenech needs a lot of toys and objects to chew on.
The animal needs to be walked regularly in a safe place and let them run and move around fresh air, but only in warm summers.
Fenechs are very gentle and timid animals; they absolutely cannot stand rough treatment, screams and scandals.
For 12 years, Geo magazine reporter Uwe Georg lived at home in Hamburg with a fennec fennec brought from the Sahara, which was given to the journalist by nomads in exchange for a bag of sugar. The fox was kept in a separate spacious room filled with stones and sand brought from the Sahara!
The most famous fennec in literature is the well-known fox in the fairy tale for adults by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry “ A little prince" Remember: “We are responsible for those we have tamed”? Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was inspired to create this character after encountering a live fennec cat in the Sahara in 1935.
The fennec is especially revered in Algeria, where it is the national animal. The Algerian national football team is nicknamed "Les Fennecs" (Fennecs or Desert Foxes). In addition, the fennec is depicted on the Algerian ¼ dinar coin.
Fenech is a symbol of Tunisia's ecology. Figures of this animal in a blue and white suit are ubiquitous in almost every city in this country.
Note. This article uses photographic materials from open sources on the Internet, all rights belong to their authors, if you believe that the publication of any photograph violates your rights, please contact me using the form in the section, the photograph will be immediately deleted.
Fennec fox, a dwarf desert fox with unique capabilities
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