Fennec Fox - Five Sisters Zoo

Fennec Foxes are the smallest foxes in the world. Individuals have a thick and silky coat that can be golden yellow to orange on their back and head, a lighter tone across their chest and abdomen and dark brown or black on the tip of the tail. Their ears can be up to 15 centimetres in length. They are primarily nocturnal and will hunt in the cooler night-time hours, spending the day in burrows.

Facts

Diet: Omnivore; plants, small mammals, small reptiles, birds and bird eggs, invertebrates

Weight: 600g-1.6 kg

Length: 30-40 cm

Habitat: Northern Africa, specifically the Sahara Desert; prefers desert areas with sandy areas, grasses and scrub vegetation.

Life Span: 10-12 years

Adapted to Survive

  • Kidneys are specialized to support a diet with less water
  • Large ears help to dissipate heat and to locate prey moving under the sand

Threats

  • Illegal wildlife and pet trade
  • Climate change
  • Habitat loss

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern

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