Fennec Fox

So far, our journey through the wonders of the natural world has taken us to the shallow reefs and the depths of the abyss. Now it’s time to leave the ocean for an environment that couldn’t be more different. Get ready to dry off- really dry off- with a stop in the blistering deserts of and a visit to my favorite animal of all, Vulpes zerda, better known as the Fennec Fox.

The Fennec Fox, Vulpes zerda, in all of its fluffy cuteness. Fluffing out its fur coat helps dissipate heat, keeping it cool even in the desert sun

This adorable ball of fluffy, bushy-tailed cuteness makes its home in the dry, arid regions of northern Africa and the Middle East, as far east as the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt and Kuwait, and as far South as Central Niger. The name ‘Fennec’ is take from the Arabic word fanak, which means “fox”. Perhaps not the most original name, but for some reason it just seems to fit. At only 16 inches from nose to rump, with another 12 inches made up of fluffy tail, and no more than three-and-a-half pounds, the Fennec is the smallest canid in the world, about the size of a housecat. In fact, it is so small that owls, a nuisance to most foxes, are mortal enemies; the Fennec’s main predator is a species of eagle owl.

The Eagle Owl is one of the largest predatory birds, and the Fennec Fox's main predator.

The Fennec is most at home in deserts, and in fact does very poorly in more fertile areas where many of its relatives flourish. However, life in such an environment is far from easy. Blistering heat by day becomes freezing cold by night. Rain and standing water are rare, and food supply suffers as a result. Even the landscape is treacherous, as strong winds can pick up and carry huge amounts of sand across vast distances, drowning out oases, smothering glens, and snuffing out entire communities in a phenomenon known as “marching dunes.”

A lonely wanderer in a barren wasteland, a Fennec Fox stands on the sandy flats of its desert home. Its sandy color serves to camouflage it well in this environment

In such a harsh environment, the little Fennec may seem hopelessly out of place, but not so. This animal proves that being small- and cute- doesn’t mean that you can’t be tough as well. The Fennec is, in fact, a survival expert that would put Bear Gryllis to shame. Packed into its tiny little body are multiple anatomical features perfectly designed to deal with the challenges of desert living.

Taking a break from a fast-paced life, a Fennec pauses to take a seat and recharge. Moments of stillness like this are rare for this hyperactive little critter

The most obvious features of the Fennec are its enormous ears. Each one can be almost 6 inches, and their combined width is almost equal to the entire fox’s body length. As one would expect, the Fennec has very sharp hearing, which can detect and triangulate a beetle moving beneath several inches of sand. But the ears also serve another feature; thermoregulation, the animal version of climate control. The Fennec’s ears contain a dense network of blood vessels nestled in the thin skin, which are actually visible if one were to shine a light through them. If the Fennec begins to overheat, it simply turns its ears to face the wind or moves them out of the sun. This cools the blood flowing through them, which then flows through the rest of their body and decreases their internal temperature. Alternatively, if they start to get too cold, they simply hold their ears towards the sun, warming the blood supply in them and raising their internal temperature.

A Fennec stands poised, its ears perked and alert for any sounds of movement. The pink coloration of the ears is due to their rich blood supply

All in all, the Fennec’s ears are pretty remarkable structures. Aside from looking adorable, they can hear sounds no human could ever detect, and are a natural thermostat and air conditioning system. Not only that, but they serve an important role in communication, just like domestic dogs.

The desert is a dry place, especially the sandy expanses of Northern Africa. Here, the moving sands can swallow an oasis within hours, and there can be years or even decades between rainfalls. Water, the most essential element of life, is worth more than gold and fine jewels, and sources are so far apart that some animals migrate hundreds of miles to find them. But not the Fennec. This remarkable little animal is quite content to stay in one place, regardless of whether or not water exists nearby. In fact, some Fennecs go their whole lives without ever encountering a standing pool of water to drink from. 

Nose to the grind, a Fennec prowls for food. Training its ears forward, it can triangulate sounds with incredible accuracy

Nose to the grind, a Fennec prowls for food. Training its ears forward, it can triangulate sounds with incredible accuracy

So how do they get the water they need to survive? Simple: their food. Fennecs are omnivores, feeding on insects and small animals as well as eggs and desert fruit. The fruit, in particular, can house a surprising amount of moisture, which Fennecs ingest as they eat. They can also lap moisture that has accumulated on the walls of their tunnels in the form of dew, truly a resourceful method. And as many ways as they have found to collect water, they are not ones to lose it easily. The kidneys of the Fennec fox are designed to retain as much water as possible; while humans can lose a surprising amount of water when they urinate, the Fennec hardly releases a drop, as almost all of its waste is solid and dry.

A stretch after a catnap- or is it "foxnap?" Keeping limber is important for the agile little Fennec

The Fennec’s fluffy cuteness is actually another tool for its survival. One would think that such luxurious fur would be incredibly uncomfortable and contribute to overheating. But not so. The Fennec’s coat is a very pale sandy color, partially for camouflage, but also to deflect heat from the sun. This, coupled with its layered makeup, turns this little fox’s outfit into the ultimate sportswear, designed to prevent heat from passing through from any direction. Even in harsh sunlight, heat simply bounces off the near-white fur, but it also traps the Fennec’s heat inside so that it stays warm and toasty, even in the frigid depths of the desert night.

If you’ve ever tried walking down the sidewalk in the heat of summer without shoes or socks, you’ve probably regretted it. Rock is a natural heat absorber, and can retain it for long periods of time. In the desert, this problem is even worse. Sand is nothing more than ground-up rock, and in the blistering heat of the unimpeded sun, the dunes of Africa are positively scorching. But the Fennec can run across these sweltering lands without any trouble, because they actually have natural shoes! Their paws are thickly-furred, which covers their soft pads like protective booties to shield the sensitive skin from hot sand. But the fur is not so thick that it impedes their grip, so they can still scamper along rocks with speed and confidence. This is one reason why they are so difficult to catch, or even find in the wild.

Sweltering sun, wind-tossed sand, and scorching dunes are no problem for this little trekker! Squinting its eyes allows the fennec's long lashes to block out any debris

The Fennec’s simplest answer to dealing with heat, however, is just to avoid it. The Fennec is nocturnal, and spend most of the day sleeping in deep burrows or basking in the shade. It is not until night falls that they become active, and their thick fur helps protect them from the chill that overtakes the deserts with the setting of the sun. By this time, many larger animals have retreated to their own dens, which also helps these diminutive foxes avoid the majority of predators.

Fennecs are hunters themselves, and while they are too small to attack anything larger than a small rabbit, they are still effective in their own right. Their eyes are better-suited to low light conditions than some of their cousins, but their true means of locating prey are their ears. When foraging, Fennecs will periodically stop and stare at the ground, slightly tilting their heads from side to side. This seemingly-perplexed posture is actually a state of intense concentration, when they strain their ears to pick up the faint sounds of prey from beneath the sand or under cover of brush.

A Fennec fox out and about on a hunting foray. In the glow of a human lamp, the reflective layer in its eyes causes them to shine

Under the ground is no safe place for prey. Fennecs are accomplished diggers, able to tunnel twenty feet in one night, and down to a buried insect in mere moments. Burrowing beetles and their larvae are a favorite snack. They are also accomplished above-ground predators. A Fennec can leap two feet high and forward twice as far, allowing them to pounce on prey from a distance before they are aware of its presence. This trait also serves them well in escaping their own predators. Fennecs have been known to take mice, birds, and even small rabbits, and also store any leftovers in their dens for later. However, they are not entirely carnivorous, and will also feed on fruits, soft leaves and grasses, and even some nuts when they can find them.

A Fennec forages amidst the scrub. While it will happily capture any small prey it finds, the leaves of plants are just as welcome for this little opportunist

The Fennec has its own predators to avoid. Although hunting at night lets its avoid some of the more obvious killers in the African desert, it puts this little fox in the sights of its most common enemy, eagle-owls. These predators belong to the same genus as the horned owls of America, and are easily strong enough to carry a little fox to their deaths. But these brutes are the only predatory species that seems to pose a true threat; the Fennec is so quick on its feet and hides so well that few other animals are capable of catching it!

Fennecs are outwardly similar to many other vulpines around the world, but there are actually many differences between them. The Fennec has fewer chromosome pairs than other foxes (32 as opposed to the 35 to 39 in others), so interbreeding is impossible. It also lacks the musk glands other species possess, and as such does not have as pungent of an odor. But it is in their behavior where Fennecs stand out. Most fox species are solitary, only interacting during breeding season. But Fennecs are actually quite social, and have complex group structures.

A Fennec stands watch at the entrance to its burrow, calling loudly to advertise its ownership. This den may extend far below the surface

Fennecs mate for life, and they can live up to fourteen years in captivity, though lifespan in the wild is unclear. Groups (also called ‘skulks’ or leashes’) are usually based around a mated couple and their offspring, sometimes from different litters. Male Fennecs, or ‘reynards’, grow more aggressive towards others near the mating season when the females, or ‘vixens’, start to show signs of readiness, but for the rest of the year they are quite tolerant of one another. Young Fennecs (‘kits’) are slow to leave their parents, often remaining well after the next litter is born. This is in sharp contrast to other fox species, where the kits often leave as soon as they are able, and adults only take a mate for a season before moving on the following year. Fennecs can construct very elaborate tunnel systems to house their families, with those dug into properly-sturdy ground encompassing well over 100 square meters with more than a dozen entrances. If conditions are favorable, different family groups may even start to intersect their underground ‘mansions’ if they are close enough together. However, if the sand is too loose to support such elaborate matrixes, the burrows are much simpler, usually just deep holes with a single chamber and entrance.

Two Fennec kits test their wobbly new legs in the big, big world. At this young age, their ears have yet to grow to the extreme proportions of their parents

Fennecs are highly-vocal, and use a wide variety of sounds to communicate. Their most common, and well-known, vocalization is a high-pitched squeaking, generally used to communicate excitement or happiness. They can also bark, though it is much higher in pitch compared to other foxes and can sound more like a chirping. Purring like a cat when contented is common, and when threatened they can actually produce rather intimidating snarls and growls for such a small animal. Visual cues also make up a good part of communication, especially revolving around the ears and tail. Flattening of the ears shows fear or submission, pinning them back indicates aggression, and perking them up and forward is a sign of curiosity and excitement.

Baring its small- but sharp!- teeth, this young Fennec's message is clear; "Get back! This is my hole! Mine!!!"

Fennecs also hold the distinction of being the only fox species that is considered truly suitable for domestication. With their small size and timid nature, they get along well with many other domestic animals and are unlikely to show aggression, preferring to hide from confrontation instead. Tidy animals by nature, they are easily litter-trained, and their lack of a musk gland means that they do not give off the pungent and offensive odors that other vulpines are known for. Being so small (and positively adorable to boot) adds a real charm to these animals. They are highly active when they grow comfortable, and they love to dig, so exercise and a properly-fortified enclosure are key.

Fennecs can adapt well to captivity, although this one seems a bit unsure about the feel of new carpet under its paws. Though timid at first in new homes, their boundless energy makes itself apparent once they grow comfortable

As small and elusive as it is, studying Fennecs in the wild can be difficult. The frequency of sightings indicates that they are in no danger of extinction for the foreseeable future, though they are trapped for their fur and for the pet trade. With the limited number of studies made into observing Fennecs in their natural habitat, most of what we know about their behavior is based on individuals in captivity. And while it is likely that the behaviors exhibited in zoo enclosures mimic their behavior in the wild, it is difficult to say for certain. Many people consider proper studies into the species to be long overdue.

A tender moment between a Fennec reynard and vixen. Displays of affection between these little animals are common sights

Regardless of whether or not any extensive research into wild Fennecs is ever undertaken, several things are plain. Fennecs are obviously fascinating little animals. They thrive in an environment that would test any human to the limit. They are intelligent and sociable animals, and enjoy the company of others. They are inquisitive, playful, and eager to explore their environment, but temper it with a healthy dose of caution that helps them to survive in a world filled with danger. And they are without a doubt one of the most adorable creatures on the planet!

It's not easy being so cute! But a patch of soft sand makes for a perfect resting place!

The Fennec is truly a beautiful testament to the creativity and beauty of God’s creation. And, God willing, it will be around to entertain and delight us for a long time to come.