The best known of the remaining vulpine foxes seems to be the fennec fox, Fennecus zerda (there is some discussion about reclassifying it into the genus Vulpes). The fennec�s range stretches from the Sahara Desert in North Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.
Fennec Fox
The diminutive fennec, Fennecus zerda, is the smallest fox in the world. The smallest of all the foxes, fennecs stand 20cm at the shoulder, their mass rarely exceeding 1.5kg. Being a desert species, convergent evolution has made it similar to the kit fox in several ways. Its thick coat serves to insulate it from the desert sun, and its light sandy colour reflects excessive heat. It also share�s the kit fox�s heavily furred feet for protection from the hot desert sand. The fennec�s ears are even larger than those of the kit�s, sometimes measuring up to 15cm in length. Like other desert foxes, the fennec is primarily nocturnal. Urine is extremely concentrated to prevent water loss, and the animal can obtain all the moisture it needs from the food it eats. Diet is composed primarily of insects, but also rodents, lizards, plants, and the occasional bird. Fennecs have been kept as pets in Arab nations, and are probably the only fox species marginally suitable as such. Life span is ten to twelve years. The Blanford�s fox, Vulpes cana, is a close relative to the fennec that has evolved to live in the rockier terrain of Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, and Pakistan.
Topic: Cat-Like Fennec Foxes (Read 5934 times)