Fennec Fox

Fennec Fox

The Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda previously Fennecus zerda), or fox of the desert, is a small fox, so being an animal of the order Carnivora and the family of canids. Regarding gender, some biologists claim that such animals are the only species of the genus Fennecus foxes, although others claim they are just another kind Vulpes genus, as pointed out in taxocaixa side. Its habitat is the desert regions, semi-desert and mountainous North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Description

Fennec Fox comes from the Arabic "fanak" word for fox, and zerda comes from "xeros", a Greek word which means dry, describing the Fennec Fox habitat. The Fennec Fox is an animal small dimensions, despite the ears of about 15 cm to easily lose heat.

The Fennec Fox is the smallest extant canids. The maximum weight that reaches 1.5 kg. Enough measuring 20 cm in length and 40. The tail can measure up to 15 cm and its by has sand color to help you hide in the desert. Another use for your hair is to help the Fennec Fox to reflect the sun's rays during the day and conserve heat at night. In addition, the fingers of the legs are protected from the sand by a heat by layer.

Their diet is based on insects (eg locusts), lizards, small birds and eggs, and some plants, their only source of water comes from food and it can go long periods without eating any liquid. The food in the desert is rare and therefore almost all forms of desert life are food for the Fennec Fox, except when it comes to a stronger animal he. The Fennec Fox is currently also a pet. In some countries, its captive breeding is allowed.