FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a small crepuscular fox that is the native of the Sahara Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. It has large ears which is to dissipate heat that makes one of the most distinctive features. The fennec fox is one of the smallest canid species and thrives in North Africa region of the Sahara desert. They can live up to 10 years in the wild while the age in captivity live up to 13 years. It is one of the most adored fox species, thanks to its large ears and cute appearance. Like other fox species, fennec foxes are opportunistic eaters and can consume meat as well as veggies. Usually, you will find two fennec foxes living together in the desert. They mark their territory by urinating, much like dogs.
They dwell in the sandy parts, and their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat. It is known to possess cuteness and charm for the way it looks like. It is the world’s smallest fox. It is considered an exotic pet in some parts of the world. The foxes are adapted to live their life in the desert. Let’s have a look at some of the facts about the fennec fox.
Fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world and is native to the Sahara Desert. It is a small crepuscular fox.
Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) belongs to the class of mammals as they give birth directly to the offspring instead of laying eggs. They have adapted well to the wild desert life and can live without water for considerable durations.
There is no accurate number so as to how many fennecs are there in the wild . The number of fennecs differs according to the different parts of the world. There are different factors that are responsible for the conservation of fennec foxes such as harsh environment, elusive nature, and nocturnal behavior.
Fennec foxes usually prefer living in the wild sandy deserts and arid regions, which have desert grasses or scrub vegetation. As they are native to the Sahara Desert, they most like to live in an environment comprising desert areas and arid regions.
Fennec foxes like to live in the sandy areas as they are native to the Sahara Desert and also want to live in the arid regions with the desert grasses. Fennec foxes mark their terrain with urine and feces in order to understand that it’s their place.
Fennec foxes live in a family that comprises family units of males and females living with their kits. They love to stay in a family with their little ones.
Fennec foxes have a lifespan of up to 11 years. The lifespan of a fennec fox also depends on different factors such as its surroundings and other environmental factors. They may live for more years if they are given the proper nutrition that is needed by their body.
Fennec foxes are monogamous and mate for life. Their litter size is two to five kits and has a gestation period of about 50 days. Once the kits are born, the female stays with the kits until they are weaned, and once they become mature enough then the male ventures to hunt for food. The kits get sexually matured at 10 months old.
The conservation status of fennec foxes is said to be of the 'Least Concern'. The fennec foxes need to be taken care of as they belong to the category of least concern.
Fennec foxes have their fur coats which are long and thick along with being super soft to allow them the much needed protection against the elements. The color of the fur coat ranges from cream to white. The undersides of the fennec foxes are shiny white in color, with black tips on their tail which is bushy in appearance. The distinctive feature in fennecs are the large ears. These large ears help fennecs regulate their body temperature as well as give them a heightened sense of hearing to detect underground prey.
Fennec foxes are cute as they look like miniature foxes. Their ears and fur coat make them look cute and also help them survive in one of the harsh climates in the world. The one main difference is their ears as they are huge.
Fennec foxes complete the process of communication through various types of calls including barks, growls, and squeaks. They use a variety of sounds in order to communicate with their fellow partners.
Fennecs are regarded as the smallest foxes in the world and are in fact are just around 7-16 in long. They are regarded as the smallest canids.
Fennec foxes have the ability to run about 20 miles per hour.
The weight of a fennec fox is 1.50-3.52 lb. The weight also differs according to their diet and what they eat so as to keep themselves healthy.
The male name of the fennec fox is called reynard and the female name of the fennec fox is called vixen.
The baby fennec foxes are called kits. The baby fennec fox looks very cute when they are born as they are small in size.
Fennec foxes prey on a wide variety of insects and animals. Their preferred prey are lizards, grasshoppers, locusts, birds, and bird eggs. They also eat fruits and plant leaves as they are opportunistic eaters and are omnivore in nature.
No, fennec foxes are dangerous but they are also not domesticated. It depends on how you treat them. If you treat them with love and care, then there is no harm to human beings.
Yes, fennec foxes make a good pet as some of the people do keep rear fennec foxes as pets. It is legal to keep them as pets in most U.S states. They are kept as pets as they have playful nature like little dogs. They are social animals and if they are given a proper and playful environment, then they can be a good house pets. However, they like to live in sand dunes.
Fennec foxes have the ability to hear to locate underground prey. They have long ears which are four to six inches long. Their kidneys are specially adapted to conserve water and can obtain moisture from the food that they eat.
Fennec foxes are known to have a dedicated family life as they stay together with their little ones. They have a rich social life and like to be in tight-knit social circles. Fennec foxes are skilled communicators and use an array of different vocalizations. They are so well adapted to the desert life that they can live without water for a long period of time.
One of the most unique features of the fennec fox is its distinctive ears that radiate body heat and keep them cool.
They also have long and thick hair that helps them during cold nights and also protects them from the hot screeching sun.
The fox’s feet are hairy to help them protect themselves from the extremely hot sand.
They do not need to drink water as they are adapted to living a life in the desert.
They love their nightlife as they spend most of their afternoon time in their underground burrows to keep themselves cool during the day and keep them out of the heat.
Yes, fennec foxes are kept as pets by some people as they are playful and are cuddly with people. You should make sure that you provide them with enough space to perform activities. The cost of having a fennec fox as a pet ranges between $2500-$3500.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our fennec fox coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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