Sahara fox. Fennec fox - photo and description of the animal - the world of animals. Habitats, geography

Classification

View: Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda)

Genus: foxes

Family: canids

Squad: Predatory

Class: mammals

Type: chordates

Subtype: Vertebrates

Kingdom: Animals

Dimensions: height at the withers - 18-22 cm; body length - 30-40 cm, tail length - up to 30 cm; weight - up to 1.5 kg

Lifespan: 7-8 years, in captivity - up to 20 years

Fenech is a small cute animal that looks exclusively as a home decorative pet.

In fact, this is a predator of harsh deserts, which has almost no enemies.

Fenech is a touching and seemingly fragile animal. In fact, it is a fast, intelligent and highly organized nocturnal predator.

And although its prey rarely exceeds the size of the locust, the fennec fox is an excellent hunter.

Interesting! The word "fennec" comes from the Arabic fanak, which is translated as "fox".

Habitat

Fenechs live in northern Africa: from the northern end of Morocco to the Arabian and Sinai Peninsulas.

Geographically, the main population inhabits the central part of the Sahara desert. Fenech lives in countries other than Morocco in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad.

Sociality is one of the main signs of the behavior of little foxes.

The harsh desert climate is a natural habitat for small foxes. Here they mostly stay close to small oases of grass and sparse shrubs.

This is a shelter from the heat, and some kind of food. Fenech lives in burrows with a complex device: they have a lot of hidden passages. During the day, the animals sleep, and at night they hunt and lead an active lifestyle.

That's why good photo it is difficult to make animals in natural conditions. But we know perfectly well what fenechs look like, what they like to eat and how they behave thanks to domesticated individuals.

Interesting! The pads on the paws of the animal are covered with fur: it protects them from hot sand during the day, helps to keep warm on cold nights and maneuver on soft and loose sand dunes.

Characteristic

Fenechs are not only hunters, but also excellent excavators - they live in minks dug out on their own

In fact, this is the smallest animal from the canine family. Despite the fact that officially this animal belongs to the genus of foxes, it is often included in a separate special genus Fennecus.

This animal takes root well in captivity and in general, with the right approach to it, it turns out to be an excellent pet, just like a cat.

True, there is no point in waiting for cat habits from mini-chanterelles.

Interesting!In relation to the size of the head, the fennec fox's ears are the largest among all predators on the planet.

Appearance

In height, this animal reaches an average of 20 cm, in length - about 35 cm and almost the same tail, which, like all foxes, is distinguished by splendor.

If you happen to pet a fennec fox, do not refuse such a pleasure: its fur is very soft and pleasant to the touch.

It is difficult not to notice the 15-centimeter fennec ears: they are the largest among predators compared to other body proportions.

Interesting! Fenech is smaller than most domestic cats. At the same time, he has a sea of ​​\u200b\u200benergy, which he will definitely find something to spend on.

Another interesting detail is the lowered foot, thanks to which the animal can easily move along the sun-kissed sand.

The animal’s teeth were “unlucky”: too small, especially small size fangs, but for its prey and daily diet, they are no longer needed.

The coat has a protective color in the tone of the desert area: reddish or fawn.

The tip of the fluffy tail is black, while the babies are almost snow-white, but darken with age.

Generally, appearance The fennec fox vaguely resembles its South African relative, the Big-Eared Fox.

But the appearance of the North African animal looks more touching, perhaps that is why it is so loved to be bred in captivity.

It is difficult to take your eyes off the expressive look of these cute animals. For some reason, when asked what a fenech looks like, some answer - with tassels on their ears.

But these animals do not have any brushes.

Big ears, paws completely covered with fur and a fluffy tail, black at the end - these are the main external signs phoenixes

Key Features

The big-eared fennec fox is no joke of evolution. Such large auricles allow you to catch the quietest, barely noticeable rustles.

This is especially true in hunting, because the choice of food in the desert is not so great for chanterelles - you have to track down insects and scorpions.

In addition to such a hunting function, the ears help to hear the approach of enemies and normalize heat transfer on hot days.

Interesting! Fenechs are able to reproduce a large number of different sounds: they howl, whine, chirp, whimper, squeal, bark and grumble.

Like other foxes, fennec foxes have a supratail gland. But in this species, they are hidden under a dark, hard coat.

Phoenixes are very social. They live in families or real clans, in which all relatives.

In the top position here is the older pair, then their older children, and then the younger cubs. In more rare cases, one lair is occupied by several families.

In the midst of the sand dunes, fennec foxes have almost no competition in hunting prey.

In the process of their communication, phoenixes are extremely "talkative" and use a huge number of various loud sounds for this.

This is a real test for those who decide to have a few little chanterelles at home. They will chirp constantly.

In nature, fennec foxes are not hunted by predators larger than him. The only enemy in the sky are large birds of prey.

These animals are very agile. Jumping a meter in length is not a problem for them. Due to the color of their coat, the animals easily hide in the middle of the desert landscape.

A serious and agile hunter, whose diet is worth mentioning separately. And this digger, in case of danger, is able to completely burrow into the sand.

Interesting! Fenech is able to jump up to 70 cm in height.

One fenech family can have up to 10 individuals.

Interesting! During the day in zoos, fenechs almost always sleep, because, as in nature, they prefer to be nocturnal, and gain strength during the day.

Nutrition

At home, the daily diet of the fennec fox must include vegetables and fruits.

There is no time for selectivity in food in the desert. Therefore, the fennec fox, although more than once called a predator in this article, is in practice an omnivore.

And everything that he eats, one way or another is dug out of the ground. The ability to dig in general greatly helps foxes in life: from digging holes to chasing some tasty insect or rodent.

Interesting! The main enemy of the fox is the African owl. Scientific observations have not identified larger predators preying on small foxes.

Fenech hunts alone. Almost everything is eaten: fruits, roots, eggs and small vertebrates, insects and even carrion.

Thanks to the ears, the fox catches even the quietest prey. The body of the fennec fox is designed in such a way as to be content only with liquid obtained directly from food.

Therefore, animals can live for a long time without a constant source of water. By the way, Fenech sometimes stocks up on food.

reproduction

January-February is the mating season for phoenixes, which are distinguished by pronounced monogamy, that is, they form stable pairs. Each couple has its own piece of territory.

IN mating season males show aggression and actively mark their territory with urine. Estrus in females lasts only two days. Pregnancy is about 52 days, so by April female fennecs bring from 2 to 6 cubs.

Interesting! Fenechs are very sociable: couples are created once for a lifetime, and grown-up cubs sometimes stay with their parents to help them grow and educate the next generation.

They will grow in a mink, where the ground is covered with grass, wool and bird feathers especially for them. 50-gram foxes are blind for the first 2 weeks.

The male takes care of his family, dragging food into the hole, but the female does not let him inside and behaves aggressively, protecting the puppies from any, even potential danger.

This kid is just starting to explore the endless world around him.

For the first time, small phoenixes come out at 5 weeks of age. At first, they roam only near the burrow.

At the age of three months, the females stop feeding them with milk and the babies, having grown stronger, begin to go far from their lair in search of food.

At the age of six months, many of them are already sexually mature individuals, although some can reach sexual maturity only at 9 months.

Interesting! Fennec fox cubs have an almost white coat and only darkens with age.

Very often Fenechs stay with their parents and help them raise the next brood. Fenech lives in natural conditions up to 7-8 years.

As a pet, fennec foxes are very expensive - they are only slightly cheaper and.

But those who were lucky enough to have these beautiful animals never regretted it.

Is that the constant squealing, with which phoenixes communicate, but those who want to keep them at home know what they are doing.

In captivity, fenechs are able to live up to 14-20 years, that is, at least twice as long as in their natural habitat.

Fennecs are attached to a person, they need his care. However, they do not lose their natural ingenuity and cunning.

It is sometimes difficult for Fenechs to make friends with other pets - in this case, a person can remain the only friend for these animals.

At home, little foxes and their cubs feel great. True, in order to get a soft and docile character, they need some education.

Of course, keeping a fennec fox at home is not so easy. It is especially worth paying attention to nutrition. Since the fennec fox is an omnivore in nature, its diet will be extremely extensive at home.

Usually the owners of fenech pamper them with lizards and small rodents like, locusts and.

The daily diet contains fruits and vegetables, from which the fox receives the moisture necessary for life.

Some owners give fennec foxes fish, grains and dairy products. In general, the animal itself is able to make it clear what it loves and what is not to the liking of its stomach.

Finding a veterinarian who is well versed in the characteristics of small foxes is a great success.

How well a fennec fox will take root at home depends on its age.

With these animals it is necessary to be affectionate, not to raise your voice at them and in communication with them not to make too sudden movements and not to make loud sounds.

The fact is that the animal is shy and very sensitive, it has an extremely sensitive ear, which is easily damaged.

In order for an animal to live a full life in an ordinary apartment, one should rely on information about their natural habits in the original habitat.

For example, phoenixes do not like the bright sun. Living in the desert, they emerge from their burrows around dusk. Therefore, at home, they sleep most of the day, and at night they begin to lead an active lifestyle.

Those who want to get phoenixes need to be prepared for non-stop chirping: this is the main way the animals communicate with each other

There is an experience of retraining phoenixes for a night's sleep, but this is unlikely good idea for animal health.

In an apartment for phoenixes, it is necessary to allocate a place where they can play with sand. If this is not done, they can gnaw through the sofa or make a "hole" in another more or less soft piece of furniture.

If you want to start a fennec fox, get ready for things scattered throughout the apartment, building burrows from clothes, scattering loose materials all over the floor, dropping objects from tables.

In the absence of the owners of the house during the daytime, this is solved by purchasing an aviary, spacious enough for the animal to play while no one is at home.

The fox loves to explore the surrounding space, so it is necessary to close windows and doors, hide wires and breakable objects.

Fennecs love heat, so the room should be well heated.

Walking them outside in winter is critically dangerous for the life of animals, and in cold weather in summer they need to be dressed.

These are just a few of the rules to follow when keeping a fennec fox as a pet. In fact, there are many more of them, and for any owner of such an animal, this is a big responsibility.

Fennec big-eared fox - master of survival in the wilderness

Fenech is a small cute animal (photo), which looks exclusively as a home decorative pet. In fact, this is a predator of harsh deserts, which has almost no enemies.

The smallest animal from the canine family, the owner of huge locator ears, the surface of which makes up a fifth of the surface of the entire body of the animal.

Systematics

Russian name - Fenech

Latin name - Vulpes (Fennecus) zerda

English name - Fennec Fox

Squad - Predatory (Carnivora)

Family -Canidae (Canidae)

According to some zoologists, fenech should not be attributed to the genus of foxes, from which it differs in a number of ways, but to a separate genus - Fennecus. The fennec fox has 32 pairs of chromosomes, while other species of foxes have 35–39, and behavior is in many ways different from other foxes.

Conservation status of the species

The exact number of fennecs is unknown, however, apparently, it is declining. The species is listed in the International Red Book as causing the least concern in the next 10 years - IUCN (LC), and is also included in the list of animals whose sale is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - CITES II.

View and person

The animal got its name from the Arabic word fanak, which means fox. IN Latin name there is also the word "zerda", which comes from the Greek "xeros" ("dry"), which means that this fox lives in the desert.

Fennec foxes are hunted mainly for their fur, which is highly valued among the indigenous population of North Africa. IN Lately they began to be captured and sold as exotic pets. Fennec foxes are the only foxes that are quite easily tamed and live close to humans.

These charming creatures are the heroes of many literary works, including the famous character from the fairy tale "The Little Prince" by A. Exupery. The animal is a symbol of the ecology of Tunisia, its figurines are found in almost every city in this country. And in Algeria there is a coin that depicts a fennec fox.

Distribution and habitats

The range of the fenech is quite extensive - it includes the entire semi-desert North Africa from Gibraltar to Sinai, and almost the entire territory of Arabia, with the exception of its southern regions. The southern border of the range reaches Niger, Sudan and Chad, and most of all phoenixes live in the central Sahara.

Fenech inhabits sandy deserts, but keeps, of course, not on open sand, but near thickets of grass and sparse shrubs, where it finds both food and shelter. He spends the heat of the day in a complex, with a large number of moves, a hole that he digs himself. With the onset of dusk, the sand begins to cool, and the animal leaves the shelter and goes hunting.

Appearance and morphology

The appearance of the fennec fox is very memorable - a small, smaller than a cat, fox with huge ears and a long fluffy tail. The height at the withers of this animal is only 18–22 cm, the body length is 30–40 cm, and the tail is 30 cm. At the same time, it weighs no more than 1.5 kg. On a short pointed muzzle - large black eyes, black nose and black whiskers. But the most characteristic and outstanding are the ears. They are the largest among predators in relation to the size of the head - they reach 15 cm in length and make up 20% of the body surface. Thanks to these powerful locators, the animal catches the slightest rustle made by insects moving in the sand.

Fenech's ears are not only an organ of hearing, they help him get rid of excess heat. Very close to the surface of the skin is a dense network of tiny blood vessels, and when the air temperature rises, the vessels in the ears expand, and the air blowing around the ears cools the blood washing around them. The whole organism of the animal is perfectly adapted to living in extreme conditions desert. In addition to remarkable hearing, he has a keen sense of smell and excellent night vision. The feet of the animal covered with wool allow you to easily and silently move along the hot sand. The long and dense fur reliably protects the fennec fox from the heat, and its coloring allows it to perfectly disguise itself against the background of sand: the fur is reddish or fawn on top, and white below.

Fenech is able to do without water for a long time. Remarkable physiological adaptations help him retain water in the body. The fennec fox (as well as other foxes) does not have sweat glands. normal temperature the body of the animal is 38 ° C, but when the air temperature rises above this indicator, it can rise to 40.9 ° C, which significantly reduces the amount of evaporated liquid. This fox receives up to 90% of the necessary moisture from food, and the metabolic rate is only 67% of that expected for a mammal of this size. Fenech is practically the only predator living constantly away from water sources.

Lifestyle and social organization

Fenech is a desert dweller, and, like many other desert dwellers, it is characterized by a nocturnal lifestyle. During the day, the desert seems lifeless and awakens at sunset. At this time of day, the air becomes more humid, the evaporation of precious water from the body is noticeably reduced, and the animals leave their burrows.

Fenechs live in family groups, the basis of which is a breeding pair. The grown fox cubs stay with their parents for the next year and often do not leave the hole with the advent of new cubs. Perhaps older siblings help parents take care of their babies. At least everyone plays a lot with each other, developing agility and strength. The number of animals in such a group reaches 10.

Small agile fennec foxes have the ability to jump far (more than 1 m) and high (up to 0.7 m) from a place, this helps them to hunt.

Excellent excavators, fenech burrows dig themselves, during the night the animal can dig a hole 5–6 m long. The burrow is a system of extensive tunnels and cavities, equipped with several emergency entrances that allow the fox to escape unnoticed from the enemy. The burrows are usually found under the roots of trees or shrubs that provide support for the tunnel walls. The burrow system is so complex and extensive that sometimes several Fenech families can live together, occupying various parts of it. The burrow is very important to the Fenech. In the area where the family lives, in addition to the main hole, there are also underground shelters, perhaps not so comfortable, but capable of protecting the animal from a suddenly attacked predator.

Observations of fenechs in nature are complex, and information about them is based mainly on the study of these animals in captivity.

Like other representatives of the canine family, the habitat of the family is structured: there are places that are visited often, there are areas where Fenechs go only occasionally. The former are actively marked by secretions of odorous glands, urine and excrement. Marks are applied to bushes, hummocks, and grass that stand out against the background of sand. More often than others marks the main male.

Feeding and feeding behavior

Despite the fact that the fennec fox systematically refers to predators, it is an omnivore. Fenech digs out most of the feed from sand and earth. He hunts alone, like other types of foxes, he hides excess food in reserve, remembering his hiding places well.

Fenech catches small rodents, reptiles, birds, looks for bird nests, eats chicks and eggs. A large proportion of the diet is occupied by insects (primarily locusts) and other arthropods. Huge ears allow the animal to find prey under a thick layer of sand, and dexterity and speed - to catch it. Fruits, roots, tubers of plants are also food for fennec, in addition, they almost completely provide it with the necessary moisture.

Vocalization

Fenechs, like other social animals, are very "talkative". Both adults and puppies can make chirping and whimpering sounds, they howl, growl, squeal, and also bark, whine, grumble. The howl of the fennec fox is loud, but short, it is descending in tonality and repeats many times.

Reproduction and education of offspring

Fenechs live in constant pairs. They breed once a year, the mating season is in January-February. Males at this time become aggressive and begin to intensively mark their territory with urine.

Pregnancy lasts 50–53 days; and in March-April, the female gives birth to 2–6 cubs in a burrow with a nesting chamber lined with grass, feathers and wool. Tiny newborn animals weigh only about 50 g. They are covered with light peach down, their eyes and ears are closed. At the same time, the auricles are folded, like those of dog puppies, and only when the foxes are 2 weeks old do their eyes open and small ears stand up. From now on, the ears are the fastest growing part of the body of little Fenechs: they get bigger and bigger every day, and very quickly take on the appearance of the famous "Fennec" ears.

The mother stays with the cubs in the hole all the time during the first two weeks. The father brings her food and leaves it at the entrance to the den - the female does not let him near the cubs until they start to crawl out of the hole at the age of 5–6 weeks. Male fennec foxes are good fathers and help protect the cubs. Gradually, the puppies begin to move away from the hole farther and farther. Three-month-old fox cubs are almost independent and can leave together with adults for considerable distances from the hole, and at 6–9 months they already reach sexual maturity.

Sometimes young Fenechs stay with their parents and help them raise new offspring. This is the unique "sociality" of desert chanterelles - they can live in large groups, consisting of a married couple and their 7-8 offspring of different ages.

Lifespan

In nature, fennec foxes rarely live longer than 7–8 years; in captivity, life expectancy can be more than 20 years.

Phoenixes in the Moscow Zoo

Fennecs can be seen in the "Bird House" on the Old Territory of the zoo. Their enclosure is designed as a desert area, the animals are always in sight, but if they lie, you need to look closely to see them against the sand. These omnivorous little predators are fed fruits, insects, mice, eggs and cottage cheese at the zoo.

Our phoenixes are called Fenya and Finik, both of them are no longer young, they make up a friendly couple, tame, especially Finik. His appearance at the zoo was dramatic.

November, slight frost. Builders from Istra are calling: “We caught a fennec fox here!” - "Who-whom?" - "Fenech, such a small one!" - “There are no fennecs in our area ...” - “Maybe he ran away from someone ...?” - “Maybe it's a cat?” - “You offend! There's something wrong with his leg! Take it away, it will freeze!” They brought a fox in a shoe box, which was clearly too big for him, despite the fact that the animal was an adult. Huge ears, big black eyes - not to be confused. The back leg was broken. Zoo veterinarians cured the animal, but a slight lameness remained. Now he lives at the exposition and he has a girlfriend.

The length of her body is 30-40 cm - less than that of a domestic cat. The tail length is up to 30 cm. Some scientists distinguish this animal as a separate species - "Fennekus". The reason was the difference internal structure ordinary foxes and desert animals. The main difference is that it has 32 chromosome pairs versus 35-39 in other members of the genus. In addition, the desert dweller does not have the musky glands found in other foxes. There are also differences in the external structure, in the social behavior of animals.

A distinctive feature of the appearance of the animal is its large - relative to body size - ears, reaching a length of 15 cm. The animal has excellent hearing, and large auricles greatly contribute to this. In addition, the animal's ears are a thermoregulatory organ, which is extremely important in the hot desert climate.

Another feature of the animal is the feet covered with fur, allowing it to easily and silently move along the hot sands. The hair on the back of the Fenech is reddish or fawn, on the belly -. This makes it hardly noticeable against the sandy background of the desert. However, young animals are almost completely white, they acquire a characteristic reddish color with age.

Fenechs prefer to settle in the sparse thickets of desert vegetation that are available in some places. They are excellent diggers, dig holes with a large number of camouflage tunnels, branches and emergency exits. Able to dig about 6 m of soil per night. Unlike other foxes, they live in groups of up to 10 individuals. They hunt alone.

Fenechs are omnivorous, feed on locusts, small rodents, lizards, arthropods, bird eggs. The animal digs out a significant part of its diet from the ground - the roots and tubers of plants. Fenech is able to do without water for a long time. He gets the necessary amount of moisture from food.

Interesting fact: Fenech - a small animal, not distinguished by strength and having weak jaw muscles, nevertheless, on occasion, it is able to “bite” with an ostrich egg, the contents of which are hidden under a strong shell. The animal first rolls the egg close to the stone, and then with a push of its paws makes it collide with the stone. The egg breaks, the fenech's meal is provided.

Fenechs are monogamous and territorial. Each pair has its own feeding area. Once a year, the female gives birth to 2-6 cubs. The father protects the site and brings prey to the hole. However, the female does not allow him to contact the offspring until the puppies reach the age of 5-6 weeks. Babies become independent at the age of 3 months.

IN wild nature phoenixes live up to 12 years, in captivity up to 15. Fenech is the only animal from the fox genus that can live next to a person in.

And the last thing: the most famous Fenech in the world is the fox, which was tamed by the hero of a philosophical tale - the parable "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Speaking of such an animal species as the eared fox, it is important to understand that this breed has some individuality. A pleasant animal, which is affectionately called a fennec fox, has a rather specific disposition and can even be unsafe if disturbed in natural environment a habitat. Unfortunately, the valuable fur of the animal led to the fact that the fennec fox was massively exterminated by poachers, this significantly reduced the population of the species. However, today the eared fox, which is under the protection of the law, feels great.

The appearance of a fox

In the photo, the fennec fox is the most amazing and smallest animal belonging to the canine family. This animal is the size no more than a domestic cat. This cute animal received such a name from the Arabic "fanak", which means "fox". At the withers, it is no more than 22 cm, the body length is up to 40 cm, and the length of the tail is about 30 cm. The weight of the animal is up to one and a half kilograms. The fox has a small, pointed muzzle with large eyes.

The muzzle is dotted with small, sharp teeth. Of particular note are the disproportionately large ears. This is the first thing that catches your eye, because their length reaches 15 cm! Fennec fox ears break records among predators, in terms of the ratio of the length of the ears to the size of the head. But without such ears, the fennec fox would not have survived in the desert. They perform several important functions:

• detection and determination of the exact location of prey at a considerable distance, including those located at depth (and this is taking into account the scanty size of the prey itself);
• the implementation of thermoregulation, which is vital for life in the desert. This is facilitated by the saturation of the ears with blood vessels located at the very surface of the skin, which contributes to the intensive removal of excess heat from the body. ​

Gorgeous appearance and specificity of the body

The feet of the animal, densely pubescent with hair, help with silent “stealing” of prey, save the skin of the paws from hot sand. The coat of the fennec fox is soft, thick, long, has a masking, "desert" color. The upper part is reddish shades, the lower part is white. Fluffy long tail with black tail complements the uniqueness of the portrait of this small animal.

Young fennec foxes wear white fur, which darkens with age. The Fenech, like other canids, lacks sweat glands. Cooling occurs due to breathing and huge ears provide significant assistance. Like all foxes, the fennec is the owner of the "violet" gland, located in the supratail region. Its functions have not yet been elucidated with sufficient certainty.

Distribution and lifestyle

The total number of these animals is unknown. Average life expectancy in natural conditions - five to eight years. The main range of the fenech population is located in the central Sahara. The distribution area of ​​​​the fenech is quite wide. He meets:

• in the north of Morocco;
• in Egypt, in Sinai;
• on the Arabian Peninsula;
• in Sudan;
• in the Republic of Chad;
• in the south of Niger.

Fenechs, "living" in the desert, choose habitats among rare thickets of shrubs, grass, because the main food sources are concentrated in them. Animals dig holes with a widespread network of galleries and burrows. This makes you feel comfortable shelter from the heat of the day. Fennecs are kept by families. The number of "family members", as a rule, does not exceed ten.

Interestingly, they prefer to hunt individually. If we imagine the smallness of prey, then such behavior is the most rational (there is simply nothing to share). This little fox is able to do without water for a long time. The required amount of liquid is extracted from food. Fenech kidneys are designed in such a way that the required amount of water is retained in the body.

The fennec fox is also illegible in food, omnivorous, and this is understandable - the desert ... This animal obtains the main diet by rummaging in the sand. The objects of production are:

As already mentioned, the huge size of the ears contributes to a successful hunt. Fenechs have learned to save food in reserve, for a rainy day. Camouflage coloration (as seen in the photo), fenech is necessary, rather for hiding prey than for hiding, because the chanterelle has no natural enemies. Fenech very agile and agile. In hunting, he is helped by sharp night vision and an excellent sense of smell.

During the breeding season, which occurs once a year, males fiercely defend the boundaries of their territory. They constantly mark it and conduct desperate fights with all the "violators" of the borders. After 50 days of gestation, the female brings into the world up to 5-6 cubs, which stay with their mother for up to 3 months, in a mink carefully prepared for this. At birth, puppies weigh about 50 grams. The young are growing up quickly. At two weeks they see clearly, and at three they are already interested in the world outside the hole.

During the growing up of pets, it is on the male that the role of the main and only earner of food lies. At the age of about 3 months, kids are accustomed to independent hunting. At 9 months they are ready to create their own families. However, there have been cases when matured individuals stayed with their mothers and performed the role of "nannies". Fenechs are extremely sociable in relation to relatives, very "talkative". The range of voice information transmission is quite wide. These are barking and howling, grumbling and growling, squealing and whining.

Fennec fox in your house

The fennec fox, because of its cute face, unusual appearance and small size (which is confirmed by the photo), is the object of close attention of poachers. She is intensively caught both for the sake of unusual fur and for sale, in order to further keep in captivity. Eared fox has become fashionable, popular. An increasing number of pet lovers want to have it at home.

However, keeping this fox at home is not an easy task. And there are several reasons for this. First, phoenixes accustomed to nocturnal lifestyle, which, of course, gives the owners understandable inconvenience. Secondly, fennec foxes need training from a specialist, because they have a rather nasty character. Thirdly, this animal will need a separate room, with the maintenance in it of the usual temperature for a small fox.

Failure to comply with the above circumstances can lead to the fact that the animal will feel discomfort, often catch a cold, and with improper care, may die. In addition, the fennec fox is an animal with an unpleasant, pungent odor. One of the negative factors of keeping fenech at home is the fact that veterinarians are unfamiliar with this exotic fox, and are not always able to provide qualified assistance. We should not forget that Fenech - animal wild, and therefore it is difficult to predict how the little fox will behave with children. Although, oddly enough, there is evidence that Fenech gets along well with domestic cats. They enjoy playing together.

Physiologically, the fox is designed in such a way that it can "perform" phenomenal tricks that are beyond the control of other animals. Such dexterity and speed of movements are not just the dignity of the animal, but the instincts that preserve life and have been developed over the centuries. For fans of this type of fox, you should be aware of the following features of the animal:

This article, of course, cannot fully and comprehensively describe this wonderful animal of an exotic species, its unusual lifestyle, behavior, but the main characteristics of the fennec fox - a small desert fox with exorbitantly large ears, are presented. If you are still going to buy this fox for home keeping, then at least you will already know the main difficulties and possible inconveniences associated with the lifestyle of this wonderful animal.

Price

These animals are not affordable for every family. The cost of one animal fluctuates from 10,000 to 50,000 thousand rubles. Moreover, females are valued much higher due to their ability to give birth to cubs.

It will take a little money for Lisa to live. The animal is quickly tamed to the tray, finds mutual language with people and animals and practically does not neglect any food. However, remember that the fennec fox is a nocturnal animal. In order not to have to spend money on buying new furniture or interior items, give the animal an aviary or room so that it can show its hunting instincts there.

What does a fennec fox look like?

Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is a desert fox, a cautious and secretive inhabitant of it. The animal got its name from the Arabic fenek, which means "fox". However, not all zoologists attribute the fennec fox to the genus of foxes, highlighting it in a special genus - "Fennecus". At the same time, such significant differences with foxes as a smaller number of chromosomes, the absence of musk glands and sociality are indicated.

The largest population of these amazing animals inhabits the central Sahara. They are also found from northern Morocco to the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, and in the south to Chad, Sudan and Niger.

Fenech is the smallest representative of the fox family. The size of an adult, together with a long (up to 30 cm) fluffy tail, is no more than 70 cm, the height at the withers is 18-20 cm. At the same time, the animal weighs only about one and a half kilograms.

But not in size, but with its ears, the fennec fox strikes at the first glance at it. These disproportionately huge ears (up to 15 cm) on a small head, large shiny eyes and a sharp, thin muzzle, seated with long black whiskers, give the whole fox an unusually strange look. The ears are mobile to such an extent, they take on such various forms that with each new position it seems that you see a new animal before you. Without their amazing ears, the fennec fox would probably lose half of its charm. The ears of a miniature fox, hearing at a distance the slightest rustle of a bird or insect, cannot bear sharp sounds.

Since the fennec fox does not have sweat glands and does not know how to breathe intermittently like a dog, it needs to somehow cool the body. And for this, the vast surface of the ears serves. Since the animal does not sweat, it does not give out a single drop of precious moisture. In this way he manages to be satisfied with the liquid contained in the food. But in places where there are waterholes, he drinks like other animals.

An interesting fact: many desert inhabitants have big ears, for example, a dune cat, an eared hedgehog or a black-tailed hare. Disproportionately large ears protect animals from overheating.

All other parts of the fennec's body are very beautiful and proportional. Thin, like all the animals of the desert, the legs of the animal will stand up for themselves and compete in running with the fastest animals. Even the Egyptian jerboa, despite all its speed, often falls on the sharp teeth of a small predator. And this applies equally to his ability to sneak up, and to the speed of his movements. The vast expanses of the desert, like the scarcity of its plant and animal life, require good, indefatigable feet. And especially such legs are needed for predators! They need not only to run around huge spaces every time, but to be able to catch up with their prey. And the legs of the fennec fox give him the opportunity to exist and breed in the sandy deserts. The feet of the chanterelle are covered with wool, which allows it to move silently on hot sand. Rather thick, at first glance, the torso is actually very small and light. It seems so only because of the long, thick coat of light sand color. On a light muzzle, eyes and a black nose stand out.

The fennec tail, no less fluffy than the tail of our common fox, serves as a good decoration for the whole figurine of the animal.

Behavior and nutrition

Fenech inhabits sandy deserts, where he prefers to stick to thickets of grass and sparse shrubs, which provide him with shelter and food. He lives in holes with a large number of secret passages that he digs himself; leads a nocturnal lifestyle.

Fennecs are social animals; they live in family groups of up to 10 individuals. Clans usually consist of one married couple, their immature offspring, and possibly several older children. Sometimes several families settle together in one lair. The borders of the fenech's home area are marked with urine and feces. They are very "talkative": barking, whining, grumbling and howling.

Fenech is omnivorous and digs out most of the feed from sand and earth. Prefers to hunt alone, like all foxes. The fennec fox feeds on small vertebrates, eggs, insects (including locusts), carrion, plant roots and fruits. Its huge ears allow it to catch the slightest rustle made by its victims. It can go without water for a long time, getting liquid from meat, berries and leaves. Stores food.

Fenech reveals great agility and liveliness, the ability to jump high and far - up to 0.7 m up. The protective coloration allows it to blend into the sandy landscape; data that more large predators hunt fenech, absent. He has a well-developed sense of smell, hearing and good night vision.

reproduction

Fenechs breed once a year. The mating season is in January-February, but females are in heat for only two days. These animals are monogamous, each pair has a home plot. During the breeding season, males become aggressive and actively mark their territory with urine.

Pregnancy lasts 50–53 days; in March - April, the female brings 2-6 cubs in a hole with a nesting chamber lined with grass, feathers and wool. The puppies weigh only 50 g at birth. The mother stays with them in the den until they are two weeks old, when their eyes open. The male brings food, but does not enter the den, because the female is very aggressive at this time and drives him away from the puppies. At the age of 5 weeks, the cubs leave the den for the first time and roam in the surroundings, but only at the age of 3 months they begin to leave for considerable distances. At the same time, lactation stops in females.

Puberty in fennec foxes occurs at 6-9 months. Sometimes young Fenechs stay with their parents and help raise new offspring. Life expectancy is 10–12 years.

How to create comfortable conditions at home?

Before you start a fox, you should learn that the fennec fox is primarily a predator. It is possible to grow and tame it at home, but this will require some effort and patience. In addition, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the animal to live, provide him with a correct, balanced diet and proper care.

The cage and your corner

Since the hours of biological activity of a person and a fennec fox do not coincide, it is better to give the animal a separate room or arrange a corner outside your bedroom so that you can sleep at night. A very important point in the content of these eared ears is the air temperature in the room where they live. The room should be very warm or even hot, otherwise the fox will start to get sick, and this can turn into a big problem, as the animals get sick for a long time, and it’s not so easy to find a veterinarian who knows how and how to treat them.

Since the animal loves to dig very much, it is advisable to organize a playing area with sand for it; if this is not done, he will lay tunnels in things and furniture, so ensuring the pet's leisure time is clearly in the interests of the owners. The safety of the Fenech plays a big role, his excessive curiosity and activity can play with him. bad joke. Therefore, always close windows and doors, hide all fragile things. Make sure that the wires are not accessible to the domestic fox, as the fennec fox will definitely be interested in them.

To avoid unpleasant situations, it is better to equip an aviary or cage for the animal, and let it go for walks around the apartment only under the supervision of the owners. Of course, this will require additional costs, but then your home will be in order and you can safely go about your business without worrying about what your pet has done.

Feeding the animal

In order for the fox to feel good, he needs to provide balanced diet. In food, he is not picky; you can use dog food, which contains everything that an eared animal needs. If you prefer natural nutrition, then the diet should contain fruits and vegetables, eggs, chicken meat and cereals. A real delicacy for them are lizards, insects and small rodents, as well as dates and figs.

It is best to observe the animal for a while, offering him to taste different foods, and identify his taste preferences, as they can be individual.

pet care

One of important points care is to accustom the fox to the tray. The fact is that animals can mark the territory and after that they can concentrate indoors bad smell. So from childhood, you need to teach the animal to go to the toilet in a certain place. The opinions of breeders regarding the complexity of such training are ambiguous: someone says that the cubs learn to go to the tray very quickly, someone says that there are certain problems with this, but in the end everyone overcomes them. In no case do not forget that the eared has the finest hearing, in this regard, it is better to avoid loud sounds and conversations in his presence. The fluffy fur coat of the animal requires special attention - the wool must be combed regularly with a special brush, which brings great pleasure to the fennec fox. Every year, the animal must be vaccinated against rabies.

Fenech at home: pros and cons

From the above description and characteristics of the fenech, we can conclude what advantages and disadvantages are inherent in this animal.

Let's start with the pros:

• Decorative and exotic look.
• The animal is active and playful.
• Ease of maintenance.
• Not fussy about food.
• Easy to get along with cats and dogs.
• With proper maintenance, they live for a long time (up to 15 years).

Among the minuses are the following:

• The high cost of the animal and high costs at the initial stage (cage and toys).
• To tame an animal, it will take a lot of time and effort.
• Marking territory.
• They don't sleep at night.
• They love to throw things.
• It is very difficult to find a doctor for Fenech.
• Are aggressive; you can’t start such an animal if there are small children in the house.

• During his expedition, Uwe George fell in love with the charming Fenech so much that he decided to take it with him to Hamburg. The fox, whom the reporter settled in, lived in a separate room filled with stones and sand brought from the Sahara. Numerous jerboas lived under the surface layer of sand; from time to time they would come out of their hiding places and begin to hop, gracefully, like tiny kangaroos. Small holes served as the entrance to their burrows, through which special tubes passed - heating channels. Although the fennec fox used all his cunning during the hunt to grab the jerboa: he hid, sat motionless for hours in ambush near the mink, pretending to be asleep or completely indifferent, he rarely managed to catch the jerboa. According to Uwe George, these scenes played out by the Fenech were very similar to the ups and downs of the famous cartoon "Tom and Jerry".
• The most famous tame fennec is the fox in Antoine de Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery was inspired to create this character by meeting a Fennec fox in the Sahara in 1935.
• The fennec fox is especially revered in Algeria, where it is the national animal. The Algerian national football team is nicknamed "Les Fennecs" (Fennecs or Desert Foxes). In addition, the fennec fox is depicted on the Algerian ¼ dinar coin.
• Fenech is a symbol of the ecology of Tunisia. Figures of this animal in a blue and white suit are found everywhere in almost every city in this country.
• Fennec is the logo and codename for Firefox for mobile.