The desert fox, commonly known as Fennek, from the Latin “Vulpes zerda” is a species of fox from the sandy deserts of North Africa.
With a shoulder height of about 20 cm, a head-torso length of 30-40 cm and a weight of 0.8-2 kg, the Fennek is the smallest and most delicate representative of the canine species. It has an elongated body, a roundish skull with a pointed muzzle, in relation to its size huge ears up to 18 cm long, in contrast to other foxes a round pupil, a brown iris and a bushy tail. The ears also serve to regulate temperature, as he has no sweat glands. The coat is thick, soft and long, the lightest colored of all foxes.
As its name suggests, the desert fox inhabits dry areas, especially sandy and semi-deserts. It is mainly crepuscular and nocturnal and lives in groups of up to 10 animals. It can burrow very quickly and inhabits shallow burrows several meters long in the sand.