Fox with long ears. Pygmy fennec fox
The little fennec fox is really a fox, but very unique, with large ears, almost like those of a hare. This unusual appearance and small size attracts the fox everyone's attention lovers of exotic animals. IN Lately This big-eared fox has gained popularity as a pet, kept in apartments like a cat or dog.
The little fennec fox is really a fox, but very unique, with large ears, almost like those of a hare.
Main characteristics of the species
- the height of this animal at the withers reaches about 20 cm;
- chanterelle length – no more than 40 cm;
- the tail, of course, is fox, and therefore relatively long - about 30 cm;
- the animal weighs no more than 1.5 kg;
- Ears with such small sizes reach 15 cm in length.
Thus, the body of the fox itself is smaller than that of a cat. However, if you take into account the ears and tail, the cat will still seem smaller.
The systematic position of this animal differs from all other foxes. Fenech, like a dog, belongs to the canine family, but has nothing to do with the fox family. Especially for it, zoologists have identified a separate genus - Fennecus, to which only one species belongs - Vulpes zerda.
Fenech, like a dog, belongs to the canine family, but has nothing to do with the fox family
Lifestyle and character
The big-eared fox attracts and surprises everyone with the size of its ears. During strong winds the ears act like a sail and the poor animal has to make great efforts not to fly away along with the desert plants.
The fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa. It got its name thanks to the Arabic word fanak, which is translated as fox.
The small fennec fox hunts alone, mainly at night. She is a predator like all foxes. She only chooses her prey according to size. Its diet includes small lizards, insects, worms, mice, eggs of birds and reptiles, and the birds themselves. Life in the desert does not indulge in an abundance of food, so the bat-eared fox feeds on carrion, fruits and roots. All canines do not disdain such food. She tolerates thirst well, often being content with the water contained in her food.
When talking about a species of animal such as the eared fox, it is important to understand that this breed has some individuality. A pleasant animal, affectionately called fennec, has a rather specific disposition and can even be unsafe if disturbed in natural environment a habitat. Unfortunately, the valuable fur of the animal led to the fact that the fennec was exterminated en masse by poachers, which significantly reduced the number of the species. However, today the long-eared fox, which is protected by law, is doing great.
Fox appearance
In the photo, the fennec is the most amazing and most small animal, belonging to the canine family. This is the size of the animal no bigger than a domestic cat. This cute animal got its name from the Arabic “fanak”, which means “fox”. At the withers it is no more than 22 cm, body length is up to 40 cm, and the length of the tail is about 30 cm. The weight of the animal is up to one and a half kilograms. The fox has a small, pointed muzzle with large eyes.
The muzzle is dotted with small, sharp teeth. Of particular note are the disproportionately large ears. This is the first thing that catches your eye, because their length reaches 15 cm! The fennec's ears break records among predators in terms of the ratio of ear length to head size. But without such ears, the Fenech would not be able to survive in the desert. They perform several important functions:
- detection and determination of the exact location of prey at a considerable distance, including those located at depth (and this taking into account the tiny size of the prey itself);
- implementation of thermoregulation, which is vital for life in the desert. This is due to the saturation of the ears blood vessels, located near the surface of the skin, which promotes intensive removal of excess heat from the body.
Gorgeous appearance and body specificity The animal's feet, densely covered with fur, help in silently “hiding” prey and protect the skin of the paws from the hot sand. The fennec cat's fur is soft, thick, long, and has a camouflage, “desert” color. The upper part is reddish, Bottom part white. Fluffy a long tail with black tail
, complements the uniqueness of the portrait of this small animal. Young fennec cats wear white fur, which darkens with age. The fennec cat, like other canids, lacks sweat glands. Cooling occurs due to breathing and significant assistance is provided by. Like all foxes, the fennec is the owner of a “violet” gland located in the supra-tail region. Its functions have not yet been clarified with sufficient certainty.
Distribution and lifestyle
The total number of these animals is unknown. Average life expectancy in natural conditions - from five to eight years. The main habitat of the fennec cat population is located in the central Sahara. The distribution area of the fennec tree is quite wide. He meets:
- in the north of Morocco;
- in Egypt, in Sinai;
- on the Arabian Peninsula;
- in Sudan;
- in the Republic of Chad;
- in the south of Niger.
Fenechs “living” in desert areas choose habitats among rare thickets of bushes and grass, because the main sources of food are concentrated in them. Animals dig holes with a widespread network of galleries and holes. This makes you feel comfortable shelter from the heat of the day. Fenechs live in families. The number of “family members”, as a rule, does not exceed ten.
Interestingly, they prefer to hunt individually. If we imagine the small size of the prey, then this behavior is the most rational (there is simply nothing to share). This little fox is capable for a long time do without water. The required amount of liquid is extracted from food. Fennec's kidneys are designed in such a way that the body retains required amount water.
Fennec foxes are also indiscriminate in their food, omnivores, and this is understandable - the desert... This animal obtains its main diet by rummaging in the sand. Production objects are:
As already mentioned, the huge size of the ears contributes to happy hunting. Fennecs have learned to put food aside for a rainy day. Fennecs need camouflage coloring (as can be seen in the photo) to hide prey rather than to hide, because the fox has no natural enemies. Fennec is very agile and playful. Acute night vision and an excellent sense of smell help him in hunting.
During the breeding season, which occurs once a year, males fiercely defend the boundaries of their territory. They constantly mark her and lead desperate fights with all the “violators” of boundaries. After 50 days of gestation, the female gives birth to up to 5-6 cubs, which stay with the mother for up to 3 months in a mink carefully prepared for this purpose. At birth, puppies weigh about 50 grams. The young grow quickly. At two weeks they begin to see clearly, and at three they are already interested in the world outside the hole.
When the pets are growing up, it is the male who plays the role of the main and only provider of food. At the age of about 3 months, babies become accustomed to hunting independently. At 9 months they are ready to create their own families. However, there have been cases when matured individuals stayed with their mothers and acted as “nannies.” Fenechs are extremely sociable in relation to their relatives, very “talkative”. The range of voice information transmission is quite wide. This is barking and howling, grumbling and growling, squealing and whining.
Fennec fox in your home
Fennec fox, because of its cute face, unusual appearance and small size (as confirmed by the photo), is the object of close attention of poachers. It is intensively caught both for its unusual fur and for sale, for the purpose of further keeping in captivity. The eared fox has become fashionable and popular. Everyone wants to have her at home larger number pet lovers.
However, keeping this fox at home is not an easy task. And there are several reasons for this. First of all, fennecs accustomed to being nocturnal, which, naturally, causes understandable inconvenience to the owners. Secondly, fennecs need training from a specialist, because they have a rather bad character. Thirdly, this animal will need a separate room, with the temperature being maintained in it at a temperature familiar to a small fox.
Failure to comply with the above circumstances can lead to the animal feeling discomfort, catching colds frequently, and if not properly cared for, may die. In addition, the fennec is an animal with an unpleasant, pungent odor. One of negative factors keeping a fennec fox at home is also due to the fact that veterinarians are unfamiliar with this exotic fox and are not always able to provide qualified assistance. We should not forget that Fennec - wild animal, and therefore it is difficult to predict how the little fox will behave with children. Although, oddly enough, there is evidence that the fennec gets along well with domestic cats. They enjoy frolicking together.
Physiologically, the fox is designed in such a way that it can “perform” phenomenal tricks that other animals cannot do. Such dexterity and speed of movement are not just the virtues of an animal, but instincts that preserve life and have been developed over centuries. For fans of this type of fox, you should be aware of the following features of the animal:
This article, of course, cannot, in to the fullest and comprehensively describe this wonderful animal exotic looking, his unusual lifestyle, behavior, but the main characteristics of the fennec cat are small desert chanterelle with exorbitantly large ears are presented. If you are still planning to purchase this fox for home care, then you, according at least, the main difficulties and possible inconveniences associated with the lifestyle of this wonderful animal will already be known.
Fenech (lat. Vulpeszerda) is a small animal from the genus, the Canidae family, the order of Carnivores, the class of Mammals. Previously, this view had a slightly different appearance systematic position, he was allocated to a separate genus Fenech (lat. Fennecus) With the only kind Fennecuszerda, however, subsequently the similarities with other foxes were recognized as stronger than the differences, and the genus was united.
International scientific name:Vulpeszerda(Zimmermann, 1780)
Synonyms:
Canis cerdo Gmelin, 1788
Canis fennecus Lesson, 1827
Fennecus arabicus Desmarest, 1804
Fennecus brucei Desmarest, 1820
Fennecus zerda(Zimmermann, 1780)
Megalotis Cerda Illiger, 1811
Viverra aurita F. A. A. Meyer, 1793
Vulpes denhamii Boitard, 1842
Vulpes saarensis Skjoldebrand, 1777
Vulpes zaarensis Gray 1843
English name: Fennec fox.
German name: Fennec, Wüstenfuchs.
Security status: To the Red Book International Union Nature Conservancy (version 3.1) fennec is listed as a species of least concern. This fox is quite widespread, but its exact numbers are unknown.
Etymology of the name
The name “fenech” came to European languages from the Arabs: fanak in one of the Arabic dialects it simply means “fox”. It’s more interesting to figure out where the species name came from zerda. According to one version, this word comes from the Greek xeros, which means “dry” - a hint that fennec lives in the desert. According to another version, this word also came from Arabic or the Berber language. Brem writes: “The Moors call it “cerda,” and the Arabs call it “fenech.” Arabic zerdāwa, in turn, could come from Farsi or one of the African languages. This word refers to the yellowish color of the animal.
Fenech: description and photo. What does this fox look like?
Fenech is the most small representative families. The dimensions of the beast have been studied in sufficient detail, and they differ somewhat in different parts range. On average, the height at the withers of an adult animal is up to 22 cm, the body length is 30-41 cm, the length of the tail can reach 30 cm, that is, the size of the fennec's tail is only slightly smaller than the size of its body.
In West and North Africa average length the body of a small fox including the head is 36.2 cm (from 33.3 to 39.5 cm), tail length is 16.9 cm (12.5 - 18.7 cm); ear size – 9.1 cm (8.6 – 9.7 cm).
In Egypt, fennecs are slightly larger: the length of the body and head is 36.8 cm (33.7–38.7); tail length – 20.6 cm (18.6–23.0); ear dimensions – 9.6 cm (8.8–10.4).
The male and female, which emerged from parents caught in northern Africa, have the following dimensions: body length is 40.2 and 39.0 cm, respectively; tail length – 21.4 and 20.2 cm; ear sizes – 11.0 and 9.2 cm.
The weight of a fennec fox does not exceed one and a half kilograms - this small fox is even smaller in size. The average weight of African fennec cats from Egypt is 1.05 kg (from 0.8 to 1.15).
But the main distinguishing feature of the fennec is by no means miniature sizes and a long fluffy tail. His " business card" - huge ears that allow you to pick up the most insignificant sound vibrations produced by insects and small animals, its main prey. They can be more than 10 cm in length - for this small animal This is an impressive size! By relative size ears to the width of the head, fennecs occupy first place among all representatives of the order Carnivora. In addition to the fact that the fennec's ears are highly sensitive locators, they are of considerable importance in thermoregulation, allowing the body to cool even in Saharan conditions.
The rest of this miniature fox's features are more standard. Fennec foxes have a short, pointed muzzle and big eyes. The pupil is round, surrounded by a brown iris.
The teeth are small, even the fangs are not particularly noticeable in size. Long whiskers stick out on its muzzle, helping the animal navigate in space.
The fennec cat's body is slender, slightly elongated, its legs are thin, its paws are pubescent. The fur is thick, yellowish-reddish in color, allowing it to hide in the sand. The fennec cat has a white belly and a black-tipped tail.
The supra-caudal gland is covered with dark hair. Young animals are at first very light, almost white, and only then darken. Adult and elderly fennecs begin to lighten again.
Fennec foxes are quite easy to distinguish from other species of foxes living in these places:
- compared to the sand fox (V. rueppelli) it is smaller, the fennec fur is not so bright, long and thick, the tail is shorter, and the tip of the tail is not white, but black;
- African fox (V. pallida) also larger than the fennec, and the fur on the back and sides has a blackish tint;
- with an Afghan fox (V. cana) Fenech does not live in one territory; The Afghan fox has a longer tail, shorter ears, and is larger.
Fenech is a very active and agile fox, which allows it to hunt birds, insects and nimble animals. The ability to jump high, up to 70 cm, also helps her. Thanks to her huge ears, fennec cats have very sensitive hearing, which they mainly use when hunting. They also have a well-developed sense of smell and night vision.
Fennec cats make a variety of sounds, including barks and yelps, menacing growls and purrs similar to those made by a cat. Brem writes that fennecs emit “a quiet squeal that is difficult to describe,” and Akimushkin writes that “his cry is not animal, but some kind of dry frog chatter.”
The fennec also readily preys on birds (steppe lark, hazel grouse), their chicks and eggs. The fox also eats carrion.
Fenech also does not disdain plant foods. Miniature foxes visit date palms to feast on the fruits; they eat watermelons, berries, and plant roots.
The fennec comes out to hunt in the evening, when the sun sets and the desert becomes cooler. The dwarf fox hunts and feeds alone - this makes it easier to catch small prey. Sensitive ears help her hear the movement of insects even underground. If the prey is close to the surface, it digs through the ground very quickly. Hearing the barely noticeable sounds made by jerboas, lizards or steppe larks, the fennec creeps up to them, then jumps - and the trembling victim is in his teeth.
"Mouseing" ( characteristic jump up), usual for other foxes, was not noted in the fennec fox. These representatives of the genus Vulpes capable of killing prey bigger size than themselves, but they start eating it from the head. What is not eaten is hidden (usually buried) and can be eaten later when the hunt is unsuccessful.
If there is a watering hole near the hole, the fenech visits it regularly. But the beast can do quite well without water long time, being content with the liquid that comes with fruit juices and animal food. His kidneys are well adapted to conserve water and produce very concentrated urine. Water evaporation is also reduced: there are no sweat glands on the fox's skin, and body temperature is regulated so that moisture loss is minimal.
By the way, the fennec is the only representative of the Carnivora order that is able to live permanently away from a watering hole.
Where does fennec live?
The big-eared fox lives on African continent, widely found in sandy deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and Sinai; distributed throughout the Sahara Desert. In the south, encounters with it were recorded up to 14°N. This miniature fox can be found in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including Southern Sahara), Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. In Russia, the fennec fox can only be found in captivity - our climate is too cool for it.
Fennec fox is a typical desert and steppe fox. Its habitat is the zone of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. These are vast spaces covered with sand and stones, with sparse vegetation and rare meager precipitation (from 100 to 300 mm per year). The ideal landscape for the light fennec fennec is sand dunes, where the animals are the only canids.
The predominant herbaceous plants in such places are triocerium ( Aristidaspp), satiate ( Cyperusspp), bushes – Ephedraalata or with ornulaca monacanth. In small sand dunes they can live among vegetation such as fat wheat ( Triticum turgidum) and parnofolia ( Zygophyllum spp.), as well as rare acacias, occasionally meeting there with such canids as the sand fox and the common jackal. Fenech is a sedentary animal, and with the change of seasons it does not change its habitat.
The number of fennec cats in the wild
The status of the animal in the IUCN Red Book (rev. 3.1) is of least concern. Its numbers have never been accurately estimated. Judging by the frequency of occurrence of the beast and the number of animals caught by local residents, their number is significant, and the population is in stable condition. About 300 fennec cats are kept in zoos around the world.
There are currently no serious reasons for a possible reduction in numbers - not in last resort because fennecs live in inaccessible and unattractive areas of Africa for development. However, the areas around the Sahara and other arid regions are beginning to be developed by humans. The construction of new roads and new settlements increases the risks for some populations of these foxes.
Additional pressure is created by geological exploration, development oil fields and development of commercial transport. Thus, in the area of four new settlements in southern Morocco, fennecs disappeared.
The developed road network also creates direct risks. Fennec foxes are hunted for their fur, miniature foxes are caught local residents for sale.
Fennec cat lifestyle
Fenech leads a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. Lives like other members of the genus Vulpes, in burrows. The fennec digs extensive shelters with deep passages on its own, quickly and skillfully. During the night, the animal can dig a passage 5-6 m long. As a result, the home for a family group is a system of passages and chambers with several exits to the surface, which allow them to hide from danger.
In addition to the large main burrow, fennecs sometimes dig small underground shelters in their area. During the day, the fennec sits in the nesting chamber, lined with dry grass, feathers and wool. When dusk comes, he climbs to the surface, goes to a watering hole or begins hunting. Night look life is the fennec's adaptation to its habitat.
Fennecs are not loners, they live large family groups, which usually contain up to 10 individuals. As a rule, this is a founding couple (male and female) and their offspring.
Puppies from previous litters can stay with their parents and take part in raising younger foxes. Such an extended family is found among representatives of the genus Vulpes. Sometimes there are burrows of several families nearby, and their representatives often call each other.
The “dictionary” of the fennec cat is very diverse: it includes different types sounds that the animal uses when communicating.
Fenech cats have developed play behavior; even adults willingly play with puppies and among themselves. They often rest in contact with each other.
Friendly social displays usually include tail wagging, crouching, wallowing, and yelping. Males may show some aggressiveness and increased marking activity during estrus (estrus) of females. Despite such sociability, fennecs prefer to hunt alone: this is probably more effective in hunting small animals and birds.
Fennec foxes are strictly territorial animals. Each family has a separate plot with internal structure: there is a core located around the hole where animals spend a large number of time, there are other frequently visited places, and there are those where foxes appear less often. The boundaries of the area are marked with scent marks: these are secretions of special glands, urine, excrement. Usually prominent objects are marked: hummocks, clumps of grass, bushes. As a rule, the main male is engaged in walking around the territory and marking, but other members of the family group also contribute to the protection of the borders.
Classification
Fennec ( Vulpeszerda)– monotypic species. There are no subspecies identified in it. Hybrids with other species were also not observed.
Reproduction
Fennec cats reach sexual maturity at approximately 6-9 months, and the first mating occurs at the age of 9 months to a year. Fennec foxes are monogamous, permanent pairs last for several breeding seasons.
The mating season of animals begins in January-February. The female's estrus (estrus) is very short: 1-2 days, the pre-estrus period (proestrus) is mainly expressed in swelling of the vulva (external genitalia) and is also short-lived. The activity of the testes in males is synchronized with the cycle of females: their productivity is maximum when the female is in estrus, then decreases.
Courtship behavior in mating season in fennecs it is better studied in captivity, since observations in natural conditions (in the desert at night) are extremely difficult to organize. A typical ritual preceding mating consists of noisy flirtations and usually lasts from one to one and a half days. Mating lasts more than an hour, sometimes several times with an interval of several hours.
Data on crossing vary: some sources say that it occurs quite rarely, others say that it occurs frequently and can take up to 165 minutes. In nature social mechanisms inbreeding is prevented, but in captivity fennecs of both sexes can mate with their own offspring.
Inbreeding is inbreeding.
Pregnancy in fennec cats usually lasts 50-52 days, although there is evidence from zoos of successful births after 62- and 63-day pregnancies. IN wildlife puppies are usually born in March-April. In captivity, mating, pregnancy and birth can occur at any time of the year.
However, even in captivity, most pups are born between March and July. Fennecs give birth to one litter per year, but if it is lost, the female may come into heat and become pregnant again. Thus, fenechs cannot be called truly monoestrous animals.
Monoestrous are animals that come into heat once per season.
Before, during and after birth, the male protects the hole, but does not enter the nesting chamber: the female at this time is aggressive and selflessly protects the cubs. A female usually gives birth to two to five blind, fur-covered puppies weighing 40-45 g (however, litters with one or six cubs are less common).
The length of the body and head of a one-day-old puppy is 10-12 cm, the length of the tail is 4 cm, the length of the ear is 1 cm. After 8-11 days, the fennec fox opens its eyes, and its weight doubles after 11-12 days. After two weeks, the baby is already able to move, however, it does not immediately leave the hole.
© Florence Perroux/La Palmyre Zoo, France
Until the puppies are 4 weeks old, the male actively defends the area near the burrow and brings prey. At this time, the fennec cubs begin to emerge from the hole, first for a short time, then for an increasingly longer time. By the middle of the 3rd week, milk feeding is also transferred outside. At this time, the babies are teething, and for the first time they try adult food that the male brings them. After the 4th week, the male brings more and more food to the puppies and female, and meat begins to occupy a significant place in the diet of small fennec cats, although feeding with milk continues until 60-70 days.
The simplest hunting behavior appears approximately 7 weeks after birth, as it is trained it becomes more complex and skillful, but until 13 weeks the male brings prey to the burrow. Only at the age of 3 months do puppies begin to move away from the hole, first together with their parents, and then alone. Fenechs reach sexual and physiological maturity at 9-11 months.
The fennec fox is the smallest member of the canine family. Habitat in the wild is the deserts of North Africa. The fennec fox has large ears, almost the same as the big-eared fox, weighing about 1.5 kg. How long can a fox live? Currently, in captivity, life expectancy is on average 9-12 years, but they can live up to 15-18 years with proper diet and care. These exotic pets require much more attention and care than ferrets, but less than large foxes.
The fennec fox is the smallest member of the canine family.
How to get a fennec cat? First you need to check legal side question, since in some countries it is prohibited to keep foxes at home, and it does not matter who it is: a big-eared fox, an ordinary one, or one as small as a fennec fox. You should purchase an animal from a licensed breeder and obtain a passport. Don't forget about the vet. He will give vaccinations, examine and treat your pet.
Foxes are not omnivores. Some people think otherwise, but this is a harmful myth. The raccoon is an omnivore, and the fennec fox is a predator! Moreover, it is one of the rare carnivores of the Sahara. It has a weak dentofacial apparatus, similar to that of the bat-eared fox. This is due to an insectivorous diet. Of course, in the wild where an animal lives, it consumes a certain amount of plants. But for the most part, this is done because plants contain the water they need.
Thus, the home diet should include: celery, boiled sweet potatoes, various tubers and plant roots. Food plant origin should not exceed 10% of the total diet.
The basis of the diet for the fennec cat is 90% rabbit and insects and 10% vegetables and other products. You can give other types of meat, sometimes eggs and fish, sometimes berries and fruits. Wild fennec, living in the desert, eats insects, lizards and rodents, but "Russian" rodents contain too much retinol. Its increased amount causes damage to the liver and kidneys. The good news is that foxes, unlike cats, can synthesize beta-carotene into retinol, so there is no need to worry about a possible deficiency.
Rabbit is ideal as a staple food compared to other types of meat. There are many cases where sick and old foxes recovered and began to feel better after switching to this diet.
Avoid foods that even your dog would not eat without harm to their health: grapes, raisins, chocolate. This affects the kidneys, and foxes are prone to kidney problems.
Fennec in our house (video)
Conditions for keeping a fennec fox
Fennec foxes should only be kept indoors. In warm climates, they can be placed in enclosures where they cannot escape. Pets must be protected from birds of prey. If a fox is kept outdoors, then its housing should not allow snow and rain, as well as direct sunlight.
Close any openings where the animal could crawl through or fall through. Please note that foxes are very good at digging tunnels. They like to climb high, so multi-level cages are ideal.
You can put a box of sand in which the animal can play and dig holes. Fenech loves to run, so it is important to make the cage spacious and install a large wheel. Desert inhabitants love warmth, but it should not be too hot. Animals raised in captivity often adapt less well to their environment than their wild counterparts. The European climate is humid for them, in contrast to desert conditions, so the humidity makes thermoregulation difficult.
Gallery: fennec fox (25 photos)
Walking with caution
Many people want to take their pets for a walk. They may be scared in another environment, so the animal should only be taken outside with a harness. Get used to walking in a harness gradually, first in a closed yard where there are no strangers. Gradually increase the time until you understand that the animal is not stressed and is accustomed not only to the place where it lives, but also for walks. To prevent escape from home, when leaving the house, you need to make sure that the pet is in. Insect screens on the windows are not an obstacle for the fox.
An animal may not show interest in it for several months or even years, but at one point it can jump onto the window, tear the mesh and run away. A small fennec fox can jump 120 cm even at risk, this is higher than a bat-eared fox can jump, so dog fences may be low.
The levels in a cage or enclosure should not be located far from each other, as there are cases where fox cubs were injured during unsuccessful jumps. In this case, their front legs or spine break.
Fox behavior and socialization
Foxes are often compared to ferrets, but they are much more active. The little fennec fox can hardly be called clean. You need to be prepared that she will not take the litter box seriously and may leave excrement while playing or even while sleeping.
If the fennec has sand to play with, then you will have to clean it up there too. Despite this, you should maintain cleanliness in the animal’s enclosure so that there are no skin problems or a dangerous infection develops.
Like other foxes, they can bite a person if he tries to take something away, but they do not do it as strongly. You should not disturb the animal while eating or playing, or frighten it in a cage or enclosure. If you need to take something away, you should offer your pet something that can distract his attention. From all this the conclusion follows: the fennec as a pet is quite capricious.
Fennec foxes should only be kept indoors
If the owner is away for some time during the first year (for example, on vacation), this may result in a loss of contact with the animal.
Most love affection, but you need to distinguish between whining and a desire to be petted and a desire to be left alone to eat or sleep. Some of these animals love to meet new people, but most are very shy.
If your pet needs to be accustomed to other family members, it is better to do this from the very beginning. But there is no guarantee that the animal will love everyone. You can spend a lot of time, but the animal will still remain aggressive towards some people.
Funny fennec fox (video)
- If you are interested in the smallest fox that you can keep at home, then you should not confuse the two species: there is a fennec fox, and there is a big-eared fox.
- Make sure keeping a pet fennec fox is legal where you live.
- Be prepared that the animal may be unclean.
- Make a cage and cover any holes through which the animal can escape.
- Get a pet in own home, but not in an apartment or housing shared with someone who does not accept the phoenix as a pet.
- Ask the breeder about vaccines and find a good veterinarian.
Expect lots of energy, demandingness, talkativeness, loudness, independence, and potential chaos. A domestic fennec fox is for energetic and patient people.
Attention, TODAY only!
Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a desert fox, a cautious and secretive inhabitant. The animal got its name from the Arabic fenek, which means “fox”. However, not all zoologists classify the fennec fox as a genus of foxes, separating it into a special genus - “Fennecus”. At the same time, such significant differences with foxes are indicated as smaller quantity chromosomes, lack of musk glands and sociality.
The largest population of these amazing animals inhabits the central Sahara. They are also found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and in the south to Chad, Sudan and Niger.
What does a fennec fox look like?
Fenech is the smallest representative of the fox family. Dimensions adult together with a long (up to 30 cm) fluffy tail - no more than 70 cm, height at the withers - 18-20 cm. At the same time, the animal weighs only about one and a half kilograms.
But it is not its size, but its ears that amazes the fennec at the first glance. These disproportionately huge ears (up to 15 cm) on a small head, large shiny eyes and a sharp, thin muzzle, lined with long black mustaches, give the whole fox an extraordinary strange looking. The ears are so mobile, they accept such various forms that with each new position it seems that you see a new beast in front of you. Without his amazing ears, the fennec would probably lose half of his charm. The ears of a miniature fox, which hear the slightest rustle of a bird or insect at a distance, cannot tolerate sharp sounds.
Since the fennec cat does not have sweat glands and cannot breathe intermittently like a dog, it needs to somehow cool its body. And for this purpose the extensive surface of the ears serves. Since the animal does not sweat, it does not give off a drop of precious moisture. Thus, he manages to be content with the liquid contained in the food. But in places where there are watering holes, he drinks like other animals.
Interesting fact: many desert inhabitants have big ears, for example, sand cat, long-eared hedgehog or black-tailed hare. Disproportionately large ears protect animals from overheating.
All other parts of the Fennec's body are very beautiful and proportional. The animal's thin legs, like those of all desert animals, will stand up for themselves and compete with the fastest animals in running. Even the Egyptian jerboa, despite all its speed, often ends up on sharp teeth small predator. And this applies equally to his ability to sneak up and to the speed of his movements. The vast expanses of the desert, as well as the scarcity of its plant and animal life, require good, tireless legs. And such legs are especially needed for predators! They need not only to run around huge spaces each time, but to be able to catch up with their prey. And the fennec's legs give him the opportunity to exist and reproduce in sandy deserts. The fox's feet are covered with fur, which allows it to move silently across the hot sand.
Quite thick at first glance, the body is actually very small and light. It appears this way only because of its long, thick, light sand-colored fur. On a light muzzle, black eyes and a nose stand out.
The fennec tail, no less fluffy than our tail, serves good decoration for the entire animal figurine.
Lifestyle of a miniature fox in nature
In deserts, the fennec tries to stay in thickets of grass and other low-growing vegetation. He lives in holes. The place for them is chosen where the roots of the plants bind the sandy soil. Here the animal digs long passages in various directions. In the middle of these crossing passages, he makes a lair for himself. The animal loves comfort and warmth and therefore lines its lair with dry herbs, hair and even feathers. In such a hole he is safe from his enemies.
The fennec fox, like most other desert inhabitants, prefers the cool to the heat. He spends the whole day in his nest and only in exceptional cases leaves the hole before dusk. During the scorching heat, it’s stuffy even underground. The dhota from the hot sand penetrates there too. The fennec is looking forward to when the dazzling shine of the sun, reflected by millions of sparkles in the grains of sand, will be replaced by the same sparkles on the dark blue sky south. By night the heat is replaced by coolness, and sometimes very significant. Then here and there in the silent desert a silent one awakens animal life. Foxes peep out of their holes, move their ears, sniff the air, and little by little they lean out of the hole: it’s time to hunt.
How does a fennec fox hunt?
Although desert foxes live in families, they, like their relatives, prefer to hunt alone. During the hunt, the animal completely relies on its hearing, sight and smell. These same feelings serve the Fennec to warn of danger.
Our common fox, arctic fox or arctic fox, corsac fox of the steppes of Asia, gray American fox, broad-nosed fox South Africa, - they all have almost the same habits. In most cases, fox hunting comes down to searching for prey by smell and then hiding it.
And the fennec cat’s acute hearing, vision and sense of smell allow him to hunt not only birds, animals, but even insects. His silent, creeping step allows him to catch the most distant, quietest sounds on the move. If some air vibration gets into his ears, they expand towards the noise. The desert fox pauses for a moment and then begins to approach even more cautiously in the direction of the noise. Her eyes pierce the thick darkness of the desert. From a distance she can see a sleeping hazel grouse (steppe pigeon), a lark or even a fat locust. He eats her too. True, with less pleasure than a bird or animal, but still he will not pass by if he hears its rustling. In the desert you have to put up with everything; there is a lot of sand, stones and heat, but not food and drink.
For all the tirelessness of the fennec, for all the acuteness of his feelings, the enormous space over which the rare animal kingdom of the desert is scattered creates great difficulties for the animal. You can drive in the Sahara for hours, whole days, and not see a single bird. And this rarity of the population serves better protection from enemies. It is not so easy and not so often that the fenech manages to feast on the hot blood of sandgrouses or larks. But the hazel grouse is a desirable prey for the fennec. If an animal senses with its nose that it has crossed the trail of a hazel grouse, it will immediately sniff out the whole place and set off along subtle smell, which remained during the daytime walking of this bird. There is nothing here to distract the attention of this amazing bloodhound! The desert fox will persistently follow the footsteps of the hazel grouse right up to its overnight stay or the place from which it flew away. This kind of failure often happens. But she does not discourage the fennec. It happens that during these searches the wind will carry the scent of sandgrouse sleeping nearby, and then the same animal’s nose will lead straight to the desired prey. By smell desert fox not only finds sandgrouse, but even desert larks and common larks. It happens that these small birds also fall on the fennec’s teeth. They are identified not only by their smell, but sometimes also by the noise they make in their sleep when they change position, or by an involuntary cry, song, or flapping of wings. Once any noise from the movement of the bird fell into the huge ears of the fennec fox, the bird died.
Fenech will lower his body to the ground and will slowly, for a long time, sneak towards the noise. From afar, his eyes will notice somewhere under a bush the tiny figure of a bird, which, unaware of the danger, continues to sleep serenely. The fenech will choose the bush or depression closest to it in order to grab its victim in its teeth in one leap. But he applies this technique of hiding prey to sleeping birds. He hunts jerboas and voles differently. Here he not only hides, but also chases. The Saharan vole and jerboa, like the fennec fox, are nocturnal animals. They also have keen hearing and keen eyes. The animal does not always manage to take them by surprise. However, the fox often catches the jerboa, despite its amazing jumps. The whole thing is ruined for the jerboa by his hare’s ability to jump into different sides to listen to the enemy. But this technique with the fennec tree does a disservice to the jerboa. The desert fox carefully watches the jumps and runs straight to the place where the jerboa lands. From random jumping and fear, the jerboa soon gets tired and becomes prey to the less dexterous, but more cunning fennec.
It is much easier for the fennec to deal with voles. They have only one salvation: to hide under the roots or crawl into burrows. But this does not save much from a persistent pursuer. The animal digs shallow holes, and a small vole ends up in its stomach.
Family life of fennecs
Foxes are social animals and live in family groups of ten individuals in branched burrows. Clans usually consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and sometimes several older children. It happens that several families live in one den.
Desert chanterelles breed once a year. Pregnancy lasts about two months, and in March-April, from two to six cubs are born. Newborns weigh only about 50 grams, their body is covered with light white down. While the female feeds the offspring, the male brings her food. Babies eat for two to three months mother's milk, but already from the fourth week of life they begin to slowly get used to solid food. The older the puppies become, the more fiercely they fight for a piece of food. Already at the end of summer, the young animals begin to hunt alone, and by nine months they become independent. Often young fennec cats stay with their parents and help raise new offspring.
Fenech's enemies
However, the fennec itself sometimes, during a hunt, becomes a victim of hyenas, caracals, and sometimes leopards, jackals and eagle owls. The animal has the only way to escape from all these predators: to bury itself in the sand, or even better, to climb into its own or someone else’s hole. Burrowing in the sand is common for many desert animals and lizards; The fennec also disappears in front of the eyes of the enemies pursuing him. But he does not always succeed in deceiving hyenas, jackals and people. Hyenas and jackals will not be deceived by their instincts, and they will dig up the animal. In the same way, it is not difficult for a person to rake out a layer of sand and remove the fennec. Much more reliable way saving the desert fox in her holes, where she is safe from all her enemies, with the exception of the terrible asp - a snake, terrifying not only on animals, but also on people.
Fenech practically does not react to changes environment and cannot adapt to other living spaces. Sand foxes do not harm humans, but they have always been actively hunted and continue to be hunted.