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fennec fox

The fennec weighs less than a domestic cat and lives in the Sahara. Almost every feature of it answers one of two questions: how do I get rid of heat, and how do I avoid losing water doing it?

These articles cover the ears that work as radiators before they work as ears, the kidneys that make drinking optional, the burrow systems that make daytime survivable — and the honest version of the pet question.

What these articles will let you do

  • Explain how an animal meets its water needs from food alone
  • See why the fennec's ears are the mirror image of the Arctic fox's
  • Understand what keeping one actually involves, legally and practically

1 article on fennec fox

Fennec fox: common questions

How big is a fennec fox?
0.7–1.6 kg, with a body of 35–40 cm and ears of 10–15 cm. It is the smallest canid in the world.
Do fennec foxes drink water?
They will if it is available, but they do not need to — they get enough moisture from food and conserve it with highly efficient kidneys.
Do fennec foxes make good pets?
No. They are nocturnal, loud, compulsive diggers, hard to house-train, skilled escapers and dependent on specialist veterinary care.

Related topics

  • adaptation

    How foxes survive extremes — the Arctic fox at −50 °C, the fennec in the Sahara, and the physics behind both.

  • species

    The twelve true foxes of the genus Vulpes, plus the grey fox and other animals that carry the name.

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