What is this Fennec fox? Its size, where it lives, and other information about this animal. Photo and video. Fenech is the smallest chanterelle. The length of the body, including the tail, is 42-70 cm, and the weight is up to 1.5 kg. But nature has endowed him with prohibitively large ears. Living in dry deserts, this animal has perfectly adapted to life under the scorching sun.
Fenech has the lightest fur coat among all foxes. Long, dense and soft fur is tan or fawn in color on the back, and the legs and abdomen are usually white. The tip of the tail is black or dark brown. The ears on the outside are colored in the same way as the fur on the back, and on the inside they are overgrown with light shaggy wool. Like all foxes, the fennec fox has an elongated, slightly flattened skull with a narrow nose. Wet black eyes stand out in contrast on a light muzzle.
The length of the ears reaches 15 cm. Ears are one of the Fenech's adaptations to life in the sultry desert. Sensitive ear-locators pick up sounds of the location of prey at a distance of up to 1.5 km. They also serve as moisture vaporizers, saving the animal from overheating.
The camouflage light color of the sand makes the chanterelle almost invisible in the desert. The soles of the paws are covered with thick fur, which allows the Fenech to easily run on the soft hot sand, without getting stuck in it and without fear of burns. With its strong paws, the animal digs sand so quickly that it seems as if it is falling into the ground.
Fenech lives in North Africa. This animal lives only in deserts and semi-deserts, giving preference to flat areas with soft soil or sand dunes, where it is easy to dig holes. These foxes usually live in family groups of 10-15 individuals. At the head of the pack is a strong leader who often marks the boundaries of his territory. Family members communicate with each other with a rich set of sounds - howling, yapping, growling and chirping. At long distances, fennecs echo with frequent mournful barking and howling.
Since fennecs are nocturnal animals, they go out to hunt in the evening twilight and dominate the desert until dawn. During the day, chanterelles hide from the unbearable heat in deep holes dug in the sand. The deeper the burrow, the cooler it is. Some burrows form a whole town underground. Underground tunnels can be up to several meters in length and have more than one living chamber and many exits to the surface. Fenech feeds on small vertebrates - primarily rodents, which it hunts in its area, digging them out of deep holes. The animal also feasts on bird eggs, lizards and insects. Fenech hides the remains of food in reserve, burying them in the sand. Like all foxes, it is unpretentious in food and hunts for small animals most of the night, but in case of hunger it can feed itself with berries and fruits. This fox can do without water for a long time, but, having found a watering hole, he drinks a lot and willingly.
Fennec foxes are coupled for life. Their cubs appear in March-May. The female gives birth to one to five puppies. Babies are born blind and completely helpless. On days 12-20, the cubs open their eyes, and at three weeks they already try solid food. At a month, the cubs begin to get acquainted with the outside world, and at two they are already weaned from their mother.
The Fenecs are very sociable. And even adults love to play and lick each other. In some places, people keep tamed Fenechs in their homes.
