The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is the smallest member of the dog family, yet it has some of the largest ears in proportion to body size of any canid. Adults usually weigh between 0.8 and 1.5 kilograms (1.8 to 3.3 pounds) and measure about 24 to 41 centimeters (9.4 to 16 inches) long, not counting their bushy tail. Those ears can be over 15 centimeters (6 inches) long, about a third of their body length.

Fennec foxes live in the deserts and semi-arid regions of North Africa, especially the Sahara. Their pale, cream-colored fur blends with the sand, reflecting sunlight during the day and helping conserve heat at night. Under that fur, thick hair covers the soles of their feet, protecting them from scorching sand and giving them better traction when running.

Those huge ears help the fox release excess body heat, working like built-in radiators to keep it cool in the intense desert sun. They also work as powerful listening devices. A fennec can hear insects moving underground or the faint rustle of a lizard slipping through the sand. This sensitivity allows them to detect prey even when it’s hidden, similar to how owls use hearing to hunt in darkness.

Fennec foxes spend the hottest parts of the day in underground burrows. A single burrow may have several entrances and stretch for meters, sheltering a pair and their offspring. In some areas where the soil is suitable, neighboring burrows connect to form small “fox neighborhoods.”

This underground lifestyle is shared with other desert specialists. Jerboas, small hopping rodents, also dig burrows to escape the heat, though theirs are much smaller and simpler. Meerkats in southern Africa use a similar social den system, but unlike fennecs, they live in open scrub rather than shifting dunes.

Fennec foxes are omnivores. They hunt insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds, but also eat fruit, roots, and leaves. After rainfall, insects like locusts can make up a large part of their meals. They get most of their water from food and can go for long stretches without drinking, much like kangaroo rats in North America.

Fennec foxes are monogamous, with pairs forming strong lifelong bonds. Mating season begins in January or February, and after a gestation of about 50 days, females give birth to litters of two to five kits. The male provides food for the mother and kits, and the young stay in the family group for several months before dispersing.