Fennec fox habitat. Fenech is the most amazing animal of the fox family (37 photos)

Fennec fox is the smallest fox. The length of the body including the tail is 42-70 cm, and the weight is up to 1.5 kg. But nature rewarded 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, thick and soft fur of a reddish-cream or fawn color on the back, and the paws and abdomen are usually white. The tip of the tail is black or dark brown. The outside of the ears is colored the same as the fur on the back, and the inside is overgrown with light shaggy hair. Like all foxes, the fennec fox has an elongated, slightly flattened skull with a narrow nose. Wet black eyes stand out in contrast against a light muzzle.

The length of the ears reaches up to 15 cm. The ears are one of the fennec's adaptations to life in the sultry desert. Sensitive locator ears pick up the sounds of prey's location at a distance of up to 1.5 km. They also serve as moisture evaporators, saving the animal from overheating.

The light camouflage color, the color of sand, makes the fox almost invisible in the desert. The soles of the paws are covered with thick fur, which allows the fennec to easily run on soft hot sand without getting stuck in it and without fear of burns. With its strong paws, the animal digs the sand so quickly that it seems as if it is falling underground.

The fennec tree lives in northern Africa. This animal lives only in deserts and semi-deserts, preferring 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. The pack is led by a strong leader who often marks the boundaries of his territory. Family members communicate with each other using a rich set of sounds - howling, yelping, growling and chirping. Over long distances, fennecs call to each other with frequent, mournful barks and howls.

Since fennecs are nocturnal animals, they go out hunting in the evening twilight and rule the desert until dawn. During the day, due to the unbearable heat, chanterelles hide in deep holes dug in the sand. The deeper the hole, the cooler it is. Some burrows form an entire town underground. Underground tunnels can reach several meters in length and have more than one living chamber and many exits to the surface.

The fennec feeds on small vertebrates - primarily rodents, which it preys on its site, digging them out of deep burrows. The animal also feasts on bird eggs, lizards and insects. The fennec hides the leftover food as a reserve, burying it in the sand. Like all foxes, he is unpretentious in food and hunts small animals most of the night, but in case of hunger he can eat berries and fruits. This fox can go without water for a long time, but when he finds a watering hole, he drinks a lot and willingly.

Fennec cats form pairs for life. Their cubs appear in March-May. The female brings from one to five puppies. Babies are born blind and completely helpless. On days 12-20, fox cubs open their eyes, and at three weeks they already try solid food. At one month, the cubs begin to get acquainted with the outside world, and at two they are already separated from their mother.

Fennecs are very sociable. And even adults love to play and lick each other. In some places, people keep tamed fennec cats in their homes.

Its body length is 30-40 cm - less than that of a domestic cat. The tail length is up to 30 cm. Some scientists distinguish this animal as a separate species - “Fennekus”. The reason was the difference in the internal structure of ordinary foxes and desert animals. The main difference is that it has 32 chromosome pairs versus 35-39 in other representatives of the genus. In addition, the desert dweller does not have the musk glands characteristic of other foxes. There are also differences in external structure, V social behavior animals.

Distinctive feature The appearance of the animal is its large ears, relative to the size of the body, reaching a length of 15 cm. The animal has excellent hearing, and large auricles greatly contribute to this. In addition, the animal's ears are an organ of thermoregulation, which is extremely important in the hot desert climate.

Another feature of the animal is its fur-covered feet, which allow it to easily and silently move along the hot sand. The fur on the back of the fennec cat is reddish or fawn, on the belly it is. This makes it inconspicuous against the sandy desert background. However, young animals are almost completely white; they acquire a characteristic reddish color with age.

Fenechs prefer to settle in the sparse thickets of desert vegetation that exist here and there. They are excellent diggers, digging holes with a large number masking tunnels, branches and emergency exits. Capable of digging about 6 m of soil overnight. Unlike other foxes, they live in groups of up to 10 individuals. They hunt alone.

Fenechs are omnivores, feeding on locusts, small rodents, lizards, arthropods, and bird eggs. The animal digs up a significant part of its diet from the ground - roots and tubers of plants. Fenech is able to go without water for a long time. It gets the required amount of moisture from food.

Interesting fact: fennec is a small animal, not very strong and having weak jaw muscles, but on occasion it is capable of “biting” on an ostrich egg, the contents of which are hidden under a strong shell. The animal first rolls the egg close to the stone, and then with a push of its paws makes it collide with the stone. The egg breaks, the fennec's meal is guaranteed.

Fennec cats are monogamous and territorial. Each pair has its own feeding area. Once a year, the female gives birth to 2-6 cubs. The father protects the area and brings prey to the hole. However, the female does not allow him to contact the offspring until the puppies reach the age of 5-6 weeks. Independent kids become at the age of 3 months.

IN wildlife fennecs live up to 12 years, in captivity up to 15. Fenech is the only animal from the genus of foxes that can live next to a person in .

And lastly: the most famous fennec in the world is a fox, which was tamed by the hero of a philosophical fairy tale - the parable “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Who are you? A mi-mi miracle of nature!!!

And this is Fenek - the most amazing animal of the fox family. Fenech got its name from the Arabic fanak, which means “fox”. The scientific name of the fennec fox is "Vulpes zerda" (Vulpes means belonging to the genus of foxes, zerda comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning "dry" and indicates the fennec fox's habitat - the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula).

Desert fennec foxes are considered to have the largest ears in relation to the size of the head among predatory animals. Reaching 15 cm in length, the “locators” of fennecs contribute not so much to sensitive hearing (but that too, of course), but to good thermoregulation, necessary in such a hot and dry climate.

These miniature animals, smaller in size than domestic cats, are very cute. They often become victims of poachers, who catch chanterelles and sell them as pets.

The fenech's homeland is the deserts of Africa (they are most common in the Sahara), which determines the animal's lifestyle and habits. They can also be found in the north - from Morocco to Sinai and Arabian Peninsula, and in the south - to Niger, Chad and Sudan.

However, not all scientists agree that the fennec cat belongs to the genus of foxes, pointing out differences in the structure and behavior of fennec foxes from other foxes. For example, fennec foxes have only 32 pairs of chromosomes, while other fox species have between 35 and 39. Fennec foxes do not have the musk glands characteristic of foxes. Foxes lead a solitary lifestyle, while fennec foxes are social animals. Based on these differences, some scientists classify the fennec tree into a special genus - “Fennecus”.

Fennec inhabits sandy deserts, where it prefers to stay in thickets of grass and sparse bushes, which provide it with shelter and food. He lives in holes with a large number of secret passages, which he digs himself. The presence of grasses and other low-growing vegetation is important, as fennecs use it for resting, shelter from enemies and arranging their den. This is practically the only carnivore of the Sahara that lives permanently away from water sources. The emergence of new human settlements in desert habitats, such as in southern Morocco, leads to the extinction of the fennec tree in these areas.

The fennec is smaller in size than a domestic cat. The height at the withers is 18-22 cm, the body length is 30-40 cm, the tail is up to 30 cm, it weighs up to 1.5 kg. The fennec's ears are the largest among predators in relation to the size of the head; they reach 15 cm in length. The fenech needs such large ears not only because he has to learn from the slightest rustle in the sand about the movements of his main prey - insects and small vertebrates.

Fennec ears are an excellent source of thermoregulation: blood vessels located in the ears and located close to the skin allow fennec cats to remove excess heat from the body, which is vital in the hot desert climate. Another means of adapting the fennec to desert conditions is the feet covered with hair, which allows the fennec to move easily and silently on the hot sand.

The color of the fennec fur is most suitable for camouflage against the background of desert sands: the fur of the fennec is reddish or fawn on top, white below. Young fennecs are almost white. The fennec fox, like other wild foxes, does not have sweat glands. Fenech can go for a long time without water, getting liquid from food. Fennec buds are adapted to limit water loss.

In deserts, the fennec prefers to stay in thickets of grass and sparse bushes, which provide it with shelter and food. Fenechs live in holes with a large number of secret passages, which they dig themselves. Fenechs usually live in family groups, the number of individuals in which reaches up to ten. Fennecs hunt alone, like other representatives of the fox family. When hunting, fennecs can jump forward 120 centimeters and up to 70 centimeters in height. Fenechs are practically omnivorous. In addition to insects and small vertebrates, fennec cats feed on carrion, plant roots, fruits and bird eggs.

Famous English writer Mine Reed in the story “Young Hunters” describes how the fennec was able to break ostrich egg: “how will the fennec get to the contents of the eggs when he finds them? Their shell is thick and strong. To break an egg, you need to hit it hard with something hard object; How will the fennec, so weak and small, manage to punch a hole in the egg? This was a mystery to everyone, especially to the naturalist Hans. Hans was well acquainted with fennec cats. He often saw them in captivity. I knew a little about their anatomy. He knew that their skulls lacked the groove to which the temporal muscles are attached) and that, consequently, their jaws were weak - much weaker than those of common fox. This means that a fennec cat is unable to crack an ostrich egg. He cannot break an egg with his claws, because, although he lives in a hot zone, the soles of his paws are covered with soft fur, like that of an arctic fox. This one is his amazing feature has not yet been explained in any way by naturalists.

With such a body structure and weakness, Hans argued, it is as difficult for a fennec to get the contents of an ostrich egg as it is to penetrate the middle of a cannonball. Blackie said from hearsay that the fennec feeds on the white and yolk of ostrich eggs, but how he does this, the bushman had never seen and could not explain. However, the young people did not remain unknown for long. A few minutes later the fenech himself revealed his secret to the astonished hunters. (...) He stood with his back to them, and the front part of his body seemed raised, as if his paws were resting on something. This “something” was an ostrich egg. Fennec rolled him in front of him along the sand, pushing him alternately with one paw and then with the other. These are his uniform movements resembled the movements of unfortunate slaves in the fulling mills, with the only difference that the fennec’s labor was not forced. But why did the fennec roll the egg? Did he really think about rolling him to his hole? This would not be an easy job, since his underground dwelling, no doubt, was not at all in the neighborhood. However, rolling the egg into his house was not at all the fennec’s intention. He was going to have lunch right there, or at least nearby.

The spectators soon saw where his table was set. They remembered one curious story about Kaama, which they had once heard and now, looking at the efforts of the Fenech, they immediately guessed why he was doing all this. Three or four yards from the fennec's muzzle lay a small stone, only about twelve inches high, but this was apparently enough for the fennec, because he rolled the egg right on it. A little later the hunters became convinced that their guess was correct. When there were about three feet between the fennec's muzzle and the stone, he suddenly made a quick leap forward, dragging the egg with his paws. The hard shell hit an even harder stone, a distinct sound of “crack!” was heard, and, looking more closely, the young people saw that the egg was broken into pieces. The fenech’s breakfast was in front of him, and he immediately began to eat.”

Fennecs breed once a year. The 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 50 grams at birth. The mother remains with the cubs in the den until they are two weeks old, when their eyes open. The male brings food, but does not enter the den, because the female is very aggressive at this time and drives him away from the puppies. At the age of 5 weeks, the cubs leave the den for the first time and wander around, but only at the age of 3 months do they begin to travel long distances.

The average lifespan of a fennec cat is 12 years.

The main enemies of fennec cats in nature are caracals and desert eagle owls. However, few people have seen how other animals managed to catch fennec foxes. People are much more dangerous for fennecs. Fennec foxes are killed for their fur and are also captured and sold as pets. There is a misconception that the fennec fox is the only tamed representative of the fox order. However, this is not so: there is a breed of domestic foxes bred at the Novosibirsk Institute of Cytology and Genetics from silver-black foxes.

Fenechs can go without water for a long time, obtaining liquid from meat, berries and leaves.

The fenech's hole is a system of extensive tunnels and cavities, and is equipped with several emergency entrances, thanks to which the fenech can escape unnoticed when an enemy tries to overtake him in the hole.

Fenech is depicted on the Algerian coin - the dinar.

The fennec fox met by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in the African desert became the prototype of the fox from the fairy tale “The Little Prince”.

The fennec fox is the only fox that can be kept indoors, but taming it requires a lot of effort. In Russia, such chanterelles are rarely found as pets. For a normal existence, this animal needs quite a lot of space - it should be either a very spacious enclosure, or (ideally) a whole room equipped for a fox cub. If you decide to keep a fennec at home, like a cat or a dog, then get ready for the fact that at night the animal’s natural instincts will manifest itself, and it will stubbornly dig holes in walls and sofas, rush around tables, throwing things on the floor, and make an incredible noise. Fenech will happily gnaw on electrical wires, and if he finds a bag with something loose, it will be incredible luck for him; the animal will definitely gnaw through the bag and steal the contents throughout the house.

How difficult it will be to tame an animal depends primarily on the age at which you take it. At first, a new pet needs to be given maximum attention, try hand-feeding, and under no circumstances shout at the animal or make sudden movements, since the fennec is a very timid animal. Be sure to ensure that the animal does not become hypothermic, since colds in Fennec foxes are very difficult to treat and often lead to death, so in winter period A fox can only be kept in a heated room.

The cost of fennec is high. In Russia, the price of a domestic fennec fawn ranges from 25 thousand to 100 thousand rubles. However, even if you have enough money to buy a fennec, you will also have to create living conditions for it that are as close to natural as possible, otherwise the fennec will dig a much-needed hole for itself in your sofa. Pet fennec You need at least a spacious enclosure, ideally a whole room, always with heating.

Today we will talk about an unusual representative of the canine genus - the little Fennec fox, which is increasingly being kept as a pet. A cute face, curious eyes and big beautiful ears are what attract people’s attention to these animals.

Natural place habitat - the deserts of North Africa, but due to their tiny size they are an excellent alternative. The height at the withers of the Fennec fox ranges from 18-22 cm, the body length is about 30-40 cm, and the total weight is only up to 1.5 kilograms.

The tail of this fox is almost the same length as the body - about 30 cm. It is covered with fluffy hair and is black at the tip.

Prices for domestic Fennec fox

Although the Fennec fox is small in size, the price of this pet is quite considerable - about 150 thousand rubles (2 thousand dollars) per puppy.

• Nursery in Moscow - “Exotic Family” www.exotic-family.com
• Nursery in Kyiv - unknown;
• Nursery in Minsk - unknown.

Photos of the Fennec fox and video with her

Fennec fox at home, photo by Kzoop.
Fennec Fox - photo by Tambako The Jaguar.

Desert fennec fox, photo by Roger Smith.
domestic fox Fennec fox, photo by Tom Thai.


Eared fox Fennec fox, photo by Michele W.

Of course, the Fennec fox in the photo turns out simply excellent, but best of all is her charming appearance will broadcast the video, so we recommend watching the following video:

These foxes have thick fur, but it is not very long and easy to care for. The animals themselves are very active and playful, they love to constantly run and look for something, while jumping onto the sofa, bedside table and even the windowsill without any problems. They also know how to talk: barking, snorting, whining, grumbling and even howling - all this is in their sound arsenal.

The diet of a fox is similar to that of small dogs:

• meat (chicken, veal, rabbit, lamb);
• fish (only boiled or frozen, without bones);
• vegetables and fruits (the first ones should be boiled).

Like cats and dogs, your pet Phoenix can be trained to go to the toilet on a special tray or.

It is very important to protect the Fennec fox from hypothermia; the apartment should always be warm, and in winter you cannot walk outside!

Titles: fennec
Previously, the fennec cat was classified as a special genus Fennecus. This animal got its name from Arabic fanak, which means "fox". Scientific species name zerda comes from Greek xeros, "dry", which indicates their habitat: dry and waterless.

Area: The largest population of fennec cats is found in the central Sahara, although they are found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and as far south as Niger, Chad and Sudan. Both in southern Morocco and in other parts of its range, fennecs are usually found in all sandy habitats, but only away from permanent human settlements.

Description: Fenech is the smallest member of the canine family. This miniature fox of a peculiar appearance with a short and pointed muzzle is smaller in size than a domestic cat. The eyes are big. Fennec ears are their most distinctive feature- they (in relation to the size of the head) are the largest among predators and reach 15 cm in length. The foot is pubescent, which allows the fennec to move along the hot sand. Its teeth are small (especially the canines), and are generally similar to the teeth of a bat-eared fox. The fennec cat's hair is tall, thick and soft. The tail is fluffy, with a black tip.

Color: The fennec cat's hair color is protective: reddish or fawn on top, white below. The eyes, nasal pad and vibrissae are entirely black. The so-called “violet” or supra-tail gland, characteristic of all foxes, is hidden under dark (black or dark brown) coarse hair. Young fennecs are almost white.

Size: Height at withers 18-22 cm, body length - 30-40 cm, tail - up to 30 cm.

Weight: from 0.8 to 1.5 kg; on average 1.5 kg.

Lifespan: 10-12 years.

Voice: Fenechs are very "talkative", their gregarious social nature is manifested in frequent and varied vocalizations. Both adults and puppies may make chirping and whimpering sounds when communicating, they will howl, growl and squeal, as well as bark, whine and grumble. The fennec's howl is short and loud, descending in tone and repeated many times.

Habitat: Fenech is extremely specialized for life in sandy, waterless and deserted deserts, where it prefers to stay in thickets of grass and sparse bushes. The presence of grasses and other sparse, low-growing vegetation is important, as fennecs use these habitats for resting, hiding from enemies and arranging their den. Fenech is practically the only carnivore of the Sahara that lives permanently away from water sources. The emergence of new permanent human settlements in desert habitats, such as in southern Morocco, is leading to the extinction of the fennec tree in these areas.
Fixed sand dunes are thought to be an ideal habitat for them, although they also live in shifting sand dunes near Atlantic coast, where the amount of annual precipitation is less than 100 mm per year. On the southern border of their range, fennecs are found up to areas that receive up to 300 mm of precipitation per year.

Enemies: The protective coloration allows the animal to blend into the sandy landscape; data that more large predators hunt fennecs, absent. Excellent hearing undoubtedly allows fennec cats to detect a potential enemy in advance and avoid encounters with predators by hiding in their lair.

Food: The fennec is omnivorous, it has small teeth and gets most of its food by digging from the sand and earth. Fenech feeds on small vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles), eggs, insects (especially locusts - the most popular prey) and other arthropods. They catch rodents, lizards and other prey, and then kill it with a “bite” on the neck, and carry it back to their lair, where it will be eaten.
Huge ears allow him to catch the slightest rustle made by his victims, even under a thick layer of sand. Fenechs do not need watering places: they have adapted so well to the climate of the Sahara Desert that they can go without water for a long time, obtaining the fluid necessary for the body from meat, berries and leaves. Fruits, roots and tubers of plants are an important part of the fennec cat's diet, as they provide almost 100% of the moisture they need.
It has been established that fennecs can hide excess food in reserve, memorizing their hiding places well.

Behavior: Fennec perceives environment primarily through a well-developed sense of smell, hearing and good night vision. Night vision acuity is increased due to the presence of a special retina called tapetum. This adaptation creates the illusion of hot, fiery red eyes, which is also characteristic of a number of other species of nocturnal animals. Big ears Fenech also needs it to better cool its body during the heat of the day.
Fenechs often participate in games, and despite their short stature, demonstrate remarkable agility and liveliness. The fennec cat is characterized by the ability to jump high (up to 0.7 m in height) and far from a standstill (more than 1 m). All this helps him instantly capture detected prey.
Fenech leads night image life and, like all foxes, prefers to hunt alone. He also needs to have a place at his disposal to rest during the day, in which he will find shelter and protection from the hot sun. For this purpose, he digs holes: fennecs are excellent diggers! Local residents say that the animals can literally disappear into the sand while standing still. It has been established that during the night a fennec can dig a hole more than 6 m long without any visible effort!
The fenech's hole is a system of extensive tunnels and cavities, equipped with several emergency entrances, thanks to which the fenech can escape unnoticed when an enemy tries to overtake him in the hole. Burrows are usually dug at the bottom of uninhabited beams, under the roots of trees and shrubs that provide support for the tunnel walls.
The system of burrows can be so complex and extensive that sometimes several families of fennec foxes can live together, occupying different parts of such a complex den. Even when such cohabitation is observed, fennecs, like other foxes, hunt separately.

Social structure: Fennec foxes are social animals; they live in family groups, the number of individuals in which reaches 10, occupying certain territory. Fennec cats mark the boundaries of their family territory with urine and feces, with dominant males urinating more and more often than other members. family group. Clans usually consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and perhaps a few older children who help raise the younger generation. Fennec foxes are strong and active defenders of both their territory and their puppies.
As social animals, they use visual and tactile communication to communicate with each other. Importance in maintaining social structure have a variety of games: hunting, catching up, etc. At the same time, the nature of the games changes both during the day and by season.

Reproduction: These animals are monogamous, each pair has a family area. During the 4-6 week mating season, males become especially aggressive and actively mark their territory with urine. They normally breed only once a year. If the young die for some reason, they can re-give birth to other puppies, especially if the food supply is plentiful.
Although the rutting period in fennec cats lasts for two months, estrus in females lasts only two days. During this time, the female signals to the males that she is ready for mating by the position of her tail, moving it to one side in a horizontal position.
Male fennec cats are good fathers and will help the mother protect their young, but the female does not allow the father to have contact with the pups until they begin to play at the entrance to the den at about 5-6 weeks of age. Therefore, the male only brings food to the hole, but does not enter the den, because the female is aggressive and protects the pups from him.

Breeding season/period: January-February.

Puberty: Occurs at 6-9 months; in males slightly earlier than in females.

Pregnancy: Lasts 50-53 days, average 50 days.

Offspring: In March - April, the female gives birth to 2-5 cubs, on average - 3. Puppies are born in a hole with a nesting chamber lined with grass, feathers and wool. Puppies at birth are blind and helpless, weigh only 50 grams, their body is covered with light peach fluff. At about 12-14 days of age, their eyes open for the first time. At birth, their ears are curled just like those of dog puppies. At about 2 weeks of age, puppies develop very small ears. From this time on, it seems that the ears are the fastest growing part of their body: they change in size daily. Within a short time, they take on the appearance of large, full-fledged ears.
At the age of 5 weeks, the cubs first leave the den and wander around the surrounding area, but only at the age of 3 months do they begin to travel significant distances. At the same time, females stop lactation (1-3 months).

Benefit/harm for humans: Fennec foxes are hunted: they are killed for their fur, and they are also caught and sold as pets. This is the only fox that is easily tamed and can be kept in the house.
Fennecs are predators, they are reducing the number small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and other invertebrates found within their family territory, playing a role in regulating their numbers.

Population/Conservation Status: Fennecs are widely distributed in sandy deserts and semi-deserts northern Africa and northern Sinai, but the exact number of fennecs is unknown, and there is no detailed information regarding its abundance or status. Currently, fennec cats live in protected areas in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Niger and Tunisia. The species is listed in the CITES Convention in Appendix II (2000).

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