FENNEC

n.

Desert-dwelling fox ( Fennecus zerda ) found in northern Africa and the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas.

It is small (head-and-body length 14–16 in. [36–41 cm]), weighs about 3.5 lb (1.5 kg), and has large ears (6 in. [15 cm] or more in length). It has long, thick, whitish to sand-coloured fur and a black-tipped tail 7–12 in. (18–31 cm) long. Mainly nocturnal, it spends most of the day underground in its burrow. It feeds on insects, small animals, and fruit.

Fennec ( Fennecus zerda )

Anthony Mercieca

The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers