Sahara Desert
– Fennec Fox (Vulpes Zerda)
Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Carnivora
Family - Canidae
Genus - Vulpes
Species - Zerda
The fennec fox has some very unique adaptations which make it successful in the desert environment which it manages to survive in. They have extremely large ears compared to the size of the rest of the body, these ears can be up to six inches in length. The ears are so big so that they are able to dissipate the excess heat during hot days in the desert where temperatures can soar to the point where they are no longer bearable. One of the most amazing adaptations of the fox is that it is the only known carnivore which is living in the Sahara desert which is able to survive without water, they do this using their kidneys. Their kidneys are adapted so that they are able to restrict water loss. Their extensive burrowing may reveal dew in the ground, they will use this is a source of water but other than this the fennec fox will get its moisture from the prey which they eat. Due to their extensive burrowing and the fact that they are nocturnal means that extensive water loss is minimised. Their fur is another adaptation which helps them to survive, the thickness of it helps to keep them warm on a night, although during the day deserts are some of the hottest places on the planet during the night they can become bitterly cold. Their fur also helps to reflect heat away from them as well as providing them with excellent camoflauge. They, like the arctic fox have fur on their feet, for the fennec fox it is for protection from the scorching heat of the sand, the feet insulate the foot from the heat and like the arctic for it gives them traction on the loose sand as the arctic foxes does on the ice.
The feet of the fennec fox act as effective shovels to help them for frequent digging, this is essential for them as they live in underground dens. Seen as though they do not often drink they use vegetation nearby to gain some water. Not enough is known about the fennec fox to be sure if it is sexually dimorphic or not but it is suggested that it is. The large ears help it to locate prey which may be moving under the surface of the sand. Not a lot is known about the population of the fennec fox currently. Fennecs breed throughout their whole lives and are very known for been monogamous, older siblings also often look after the young in a group of fennec foxes. They do not have as large litters as the arctic fox, the fennec fox only usually has between 2 and 4 young in a litter but it can be up to 6. Due to the small litters which they only have once a year and the slow reproductive recovery before mating again means the population will decrease much quicker than many other animals, this means that they make a high investment in their pups. They will be very alert in watching for anything which may endanger their pups, care for them and bring them food at often intervals ensuring their survival.
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Mammalia
Order - Carnivora
Family - Canidae
Genus - Vulpes
Species - Zerda
The fennec fox has some very unique adaptations which make it successful in the desert environment which it manages to survive in. They have extremely large ears compared to the size of the rest of the body, these ears can be up to six inches in length. The ears are so big so that they are able to dissipate the excess heat during hot days in the desert where temperatures can soar to the point where they are no longer bearable. One of the most amazing adaptations of the fox is that it is the only known carnivore which is living in the Sahara desert which is able to survive without water, they do this using their kidneys. Their kidneys are adapted so that they are able to restrict water loss. Their extensive burrowing may reveal dew in the ground, they will use this is a source of water but other than this the fennec fox will get its moisture from the prey which they eat. Due to their extensive burrowing and the fact that they are nocturnal means that extensive water loss is minimised. Their fur is another adaptation which helps them to survive, the thickness of it helps to keep them warm on a night, although during the day deserts are some of the hottest places on the planet during the night they can become bitterly cold. Their fur also helps to reflect heat away from them as well as providing them with excellent camoflauge. They, like the arctic fox have fur on their feet, for the fennec fox it is for protection from the scorching heat of the sand, the feet insulate the foot from the heat and like the arctic for it gives them traction on the loose sand as the arctic foxes does on the ice.
The feet of the fennec fox act as effective shovels to help them for frequent digging, this is essential for them as they live in underground dens. Seen as though they do not often drink they use vegetation nearby to gain some water. Not enough is known about the fennec fox to be sure if it is sexually dimorphic or not but it is suggested that it is. The large ears help it to locate prey which may be moving under the surface of the sand. Not a lot is known about the population of the fennec fox currently. Fennecs breed throughout their whole lives and are very known for been monogamous, older siblings also often look after the young in a group of fennec foxes. They do not have as large litters as the arctic fox, the fennec fox only usually has between 2 and 4 young in a litter but it can be up to 6. Due to the small litters which they only have once a year and the slow reproductive recovery before mating again means the population will decrease much quicker than many other animals, this means that they make a high investment in their pups. They will be very alert in watching for anything which may endanger their pups, care for them and bring them food at often intervals ensuring their survival.
Fennecs are the smallest of the foxes, weighing up to 1.5kg and 40cm in body length. The fennec fox will start to shiver from getting cold when it drops below 20 degrees Celsius but will only start to pant when temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, when they do start to pant their breathing rate increases rapidly from 23 breaths per minute to up to an amazing 690 breaths per minute.
http://www.arkive.org/fennec-fox/vulpes-zerda/video-08b.html - This is a link to a video showing a little bit more about what the fennec fox gets up to.
http://www.arkive.org/fennec-fox/vulpes-zerda/video-08b.html - This is a link to a video showing a little bit more about what the fennec fox gets up to.
Above are images/x-rays which show the skeletal structure of the tiny fennec fox.