|
The Fennec is a small fox found in the
Sahara Desert of North Africa (excluding the coast) which has distinctive
oversized ears. Its name is derived from the Arabic word for "fox". The
Fennec is the smallest canid, only weighing up to 1.5 kg. The animals are often
a sandy color to blend in with their desert surroundings.
Its ears, which are the largest in the canid family, serve
to help dissipate heat. The coat can repel sunlight during the day and conserve
heat at night. The soles of the feet are protected from the hot sand by thick
fur.
The Fennec is nocturnal. During the night, it will hunt
for rodents, insects (such as locusts), lizards, and birds and only bird eggs.
It also eats a small lizard known as a sandfish. The Fennec gets most of its
water from food, but will sometimes eat berries and leaves as an additional
source of water. Fennecs live in large dens (extending up to 10 meters),
often with several foxes.
""Fennec
Fox" - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
