The Fennec Fox

The North African Fennec fox is a very cute member of the canine family and is the smallest fox in the world. It weighs only 2 to 3 pounds and measures 13 to 15 inches long! These animals are found in sandy deserts in northern Africa. They are best known for their very large ears, which can be used to hear prey underground and to emit heat to keep the animal cool in its hot environment. They also have thick fur, which helps keep them warm on cold nights. Their fur is the color of straw, and their noses and tips of their tails are black. Fennec foxes can live to be 10 to 14 years old. 

Fennec foxes are omnivores that eat insects, rodents, birds, lizards, fruits and tubers. Fennec foxes mate and stay with their families for life. They build large underground dens - sometimes with more than 15 different entrances - that can be connected to the dens of other fennec fox families.  

The African Great Horned Owl is a predator of fennec fox pups. Caracals, jackals and striped hyenas are also predators. But the fennec fox is fast and is known for quickly changing direction, so they can be hard to catch! 

Cool Fact: The Fennec fox isn't the only fox with extra big ears. The bat-eared fox and Blanford's fox also have large ones!