Keeping a fennec fox at home. Animal - fennec fox: description with photo, where it lives, what it looks like, video, small fennec fox at home. Creating comfortable conditions for the fennec fox

IN Lately domestic fox Fenech began to spread quite quickly in city apartments. Formally, this animal belongs to the same family as dogs, but in size and lifestyle it is a bit like a cat. Before you get one, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the features of caring for, raising and feeding a fox.

In size, the domestic fennec fox is even smaller than an ordinary cat:

• height at withers up to 22 cm;
• body length 35-42 cm;
• The length of the tail is almost the same - up to 30 cm.

The weight of the animal is around one and a half kilograms. With such miniature sizes, the fennec has very large ears, which reach almost half the length of the body (up to 15-17 cm). The coat has pale yellow and milky shades, is mostly fluffy, soft, and pleasant to the touch. The fennec cat has small teeth.

In its natural environment, the fox is most common in the Sahara, as well as in the Arabian and Sinai Peninsulas, in many areas of Chad, Niger and Sudan.

Interesting. It is the ears that give the fennec a unique, original look. appearance. At the same time, such a size is justified from the point of view of the animal’s lifestyle: in the wild, this fox feeds on insects. To hear their slightest rustle, you need very large ears.

Features of keeping at home

It is acceptable to keep a Fenech at home, but it is necessary to raise the animal so that it clearly knows the hierarchy. In captivity, foxes only live in packs, so with the right approach, they will understand what the hierarchy is and become very obedient.

However, the domestication process is not the main problem.

Difficulties in keeping are also associated with the characteristics of the animal’s lifestyle:

1. First of all, your fennec cat needs to be toilet trained. Ideally, he only goes to the litter box, but raising a fox is sometimes very difficult.
2. In terms of veterinary care, vaccination and other important measures, there is also a problem - after all, although fennecs belong to the canine family (like dogs), it is difficult to find a veterinarian for them.
3. The fox loves to dig holes - she needs to build a fairly large cage with sand or even separate a room so that she feels like she is in a natural environment.

Otherwise, care is similar to keeping a regular dwarf dog. The only difference is that it is important to go for walks with this animal all the time, but at the same time it is better to train it to the litter box, because the fenech goes to the toilet quite often due to its increased metabolism. At the same time, in winter time You should not walk with the animal - the fox can catch a cold and even die.

Attention. The cost of a fennec tree ranges from 40,000 to 180,000 rubles.

Feeding diet for fennec cats

In the wild, the fennec is omnivorous, and mainly obtains food from sand and soil, digging it out with its paws. The usual diet is insects and small invertebrates.

And at home, the fennec fox is fed the following foods:

• raw meat (beef, chicken fillet);
• offal and fish - once a week as a replacement for meat;
• vegetables - daily;
• fermented milk, grain products - once a week;
• eggs - can be fed weekly with boiled chicken or 3 quail eggs;
• Figs and dates are the favorite delicacy of the domestic fox, because they are accustomed to eating these fruits in natural conditions.

You can also switch to regular dog food. But it is still advisable to feed daily fresh vegetables and fruits.

Fenech can go without water for a long time because it extracts moisture from vegetables, fruits and insects. Still, it’s better to put a small container - the fox can drink from there.

The fennec fox is one of two fox species that have been successfully domesticated by humans. Those who bred this eared miracle claim that the animal combines the features of a dog and a cat. From the second he took independence, from the first - energy and playfulness. He also has in common with a cat the ability to jump high and far.

Appearance, description of Fenech

The Arabs called this miniature animal from the canine family fanak (translated as “fox”). The fennec fox, which is smaller in size than a cat, is classified as a fox, but not all biologists recognize this relationship, recalling the differences between typical foxes and fennec foxes.

Thus, the fennec DNA consists of 32 pairs of chromosomes, while in other species of foxes it consists of 35-39 pairs. Foxes are considered solitary, while fennec foxes live large families. Taking these features into account, some biologists have identified long-eared foxes as separate genus called Fennecus.

The animal weighs around 1.5 kg with a height of 18-22 cm. The fluffy tail is almost equal in length to the body, reaching 30-40 cm. The ears are so large (15 cm) that, if desired, the fennec could hide his small, sharp muzzle in one of them.

This is interesting! The ears tell the animal where to go for prey (small vertebrates and insects), and are also responsible for thermoregulation. Vessels located close to the epidermis remove excess heat, which is vital in the desert.

Feet covered with fur are also adapted to living in the desert: thanks to it, the fox does not get burned while running on the hot sand. The color of the fur on top (fawn or reddish) allows the fennec to blend in with the sand dunes. The coat is abundant and soft. In young animals, the fur has the shade of baked milk.

The fennec cat's teeth, including fangs, are small. The eyes, vibrissae and nose are colored black. Like other foxes, the fennec fox is devoid of sweat glands, but, like them, it has a supra-tail (violet) gland at the tip of the tail, which is responsible for a pungent odor when frightened.

Living in the wild

Fenech has learned to live in semi-deserts and deserts, but is not able to do without low-growing vegetation. Grass thickets and bushes provide foxes with shelter from enemies, a temporary shelter for rest and a place for a den.

Sharp teeth help animals dig out their food from the ground/sand. The foodstuffs for fennec foxes are:

• small birds;
• reptiles;
• rodents;
• locusts and other insects;
• bird eggs;
• spiders and centipedes.

Locator ears catch the barely audible rustle made by insects (even in the thickness of sand). The fennec kills a victim caught far from home by biting the neck, and then takes it to the den to eat. The fennec stores excess provisions in reserve, memorizing the coordinates of the hiding place.

Fenech needs enough moisture from berries, meat and leaves: its buds are adapted to dry climates and do not suffer without water. The diet should always contain tubers, roots and fruits that provide the animal with its daily fluid intake. In nature, animals live 10-12 years.

Habitats, geography

Fenechs have inhabited the desert North Africa: animals can be found over a vast territory from the north of Morocco to the Arabian and Sinai Peninsulas, and in the southern part they have reached Chad, Niger and Sudan.

This is interesting! The most extensive population of mini-chanterelles is believed to live in the central Sahara. Apart from fennecs, there are no carnivores here that can go without thirst for a long time and do without water sources.

The habitat of foxes is both fixed sand dunes and mobile dunes near the Atlantic coast (with an annual rainfall of 100 mm). At the southern border of their range, they are found near regions where no more than 300 mm of precipitation falls per year.

Human activity in the desert zone, including the construction of housing, drives the fennec fox out of habitable places, as happened in southern Morocco.

Lifestyle of a pygmy fox

They are social animals adapted for group life. The family usually consists of parents, their prepubescent cubs and several adolescents. The animals mark the boundaries of their territory with urine and feces, and adult males do this more often and more abundantly.

Fenech adapts to the surrounding world with the help of an excellent sense of smell, acute hearing and excellent vision (including night vision).

Promotes greater family cohesion general games, the nature of which depends on the season and time of day. When playing games, little fennec cats show extraordinary dexterity and agility, jumping up to 70 cm in height and more than 1 m in length.

This is interesting! It is not surprising that Algerian football team lovingly called "Les Fennecs" (Desert Foxes or Fennecs). In Algeria, this animal is immensely revered: even a 1/4 dinar coin has an image of a fennec cat stamped on it.

Him night look life and the habit of hunting alone. The fox needs a cozy place that would shelter him from the scorching sun. Such a place becomes an extended hole (over 6 meters), which he can effortlessly dig overnight under the roots of the bushes supporting the walls.

This structure can hardly be called a hole, since it does not look like a simple recess, but is composed of many cavities, tunnels and emergency exits designed for emergency evacuation of the fennec in the event of an enemy attack.

Often the burrow system is so complex that several family clans can be accommodated in it without interfering with each other at all.

The main enemies of the Fenech

It is generally accepted that these are desert lynxes (caracals) and eagle owls. There have not yet been any eyewitnesses of these predators hunting long-eared foxes, and this is understandable: thanks to its sensitive hearing, the fenech learns in advance about the approach of the enemy and instantly hides in its tangled burrows.

Much big threat fennec cats are born by a person who exterminates them for the sake of beautiful fur and catches them for resale to zoos or private nurseries.

Fennec breeding

Fertility occurs at 6-9 months of age, with males ready to mate earlier than females.

During the breeding season, which usually occurs in January/February and lasts 4-6 weeks, males exhibit increased aggressiveness, intensively “watering” their territory with urine. The fennec race lasts two months, and the sexual activity of females lasts only two days.

A female in estrus declares her desire to mate by moving her tail, moving it horizontally to one side. After mating, the animals form a permanent family unit, as they are monogamous. The fennec couple is entitled to a separate plot of land.

Fennec cats bring litter once a year. The rebirth of puppies is possible only in the event of the death of the litter, especially if food is available in large quantities.

This is interesting! The mother bears the offspring for 50 to 53 days. Childbirth, which results in 2-5 babies, usually occurs in March/April.

By the time the pregnancy is delivered, the nest in the hole is lined with feathers, grass and wool. Newborns are covered with weightless peach-colored fluff, are blind, helpless and weigh about 50 grams. At the moment of birth, the ears of fennec cats are curled, like those of dog puppies.

At 2 weeks of age, the puppies' eyes open and their tiny ears begin to puff up.. From this moment on, the ears grow much faster than the rest of the body, becoming larger day by day. In a fairly short period of time, the ears turn into disproportionately huge mugs.

The female does not allow their father near the puppies, allowing him only to get food until they are 5-6 weeks old. At this age, they can get to know their father, get out of the den on their own, play near him or explore the surroundings. Three-month-old puppies are already capable of traveling long distances. By this time, the female stops producing milk.

You can often hear that the fennec fox is the only one from the order of foxes that humans have managed to tame. In fact, there is another domestic fox, obtained as a result of breeding work by scientists at the Novosibirsk Institute of Cytology and Genetics with silver-black foxes.

This is interesting! The very first tamed fennec fox should be recognized as the fox from the famous story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry “The Little Prince”. The prototype of cute fairy tale character became a fennec fox, met by the writer in 1935 in the dunes of the Sahara.

In Russia, you can count on one hand the number of nurseries that breed these long-eared animals. It is logical that fennec is expensive: from 25 to 100 thousand rubles. But even the willingness to pay such a sum for a strange animal does not guarantee a quick acquisition: you will have to sign up and wait many months (sometimes years) for the babies to appear. An alternative way is to look for a private owner or contact a zoo.

Having decided to get a fennec cat, you must provide the necessary comfort for being in captivity, in other words, create conditions that allow it to run and jump freely. It is best if you can provide your pet with a separate warm room.

Care, hygiene

Fenechs are not very burdensome to care for. But like any animal with a thick coat, they will require systematic combing of dying hairs, especially when molting, which occurs twice a year.

These four-legged creatures have almost no smell. In a moment of danger, a musky “aroma” emanates from the fox, which quickly dissipates. You may notice an unpleasant odor from the litter box if there is no litter in it. In this case, change diapers more often or wash the litter box thoroughly.

This is interesting! Great care should be taken with these miniature creatures, especially in puppyhood: they love to run between their legs, doing this unnoticed and quietly.

You can accidentally step on a nimble fennec fox without expecting it to quickly move from the far corner of the room to your feet. That's why it's so important to always control where your little ear is located so as not to cause serious injury to it.

Problems of keeping fennec at home

Friendship with a fennec cat is fraught with many pitfalls; it is better to find out about them in advance.

To communicate with you or express their emotions, fennecs (as social animals) will use a wide range of sounds available to them, including whimpers and chirps, squeals and growls, barks and whines, grunts and howls.

Not all owners complain about the “talkativeness” of their pets: apparently, even among the latter there are many silent ones.

There are a few more details that you will have to pay attention to:

• foxes require a spacious enclosure, ideally an insulated balcony or room;
• Fennecs have great difficulty learning to relieve themselves in a litter tray;
• purchasing live/freshly killed food;
• short duration of night sleep;
• There is a shortage of veterinarians specializing in wild animals.

Owners of fennec cats note that their pets are hypoallergenic, well tamed, but are extremely timid from any unexpected sound.

Nutrition - what to feed a dwarf fox

Fenech needs meals high in protein.

Some of these products should be present in your daily diet:

• mealworms/silkworms, crickets and other insects;
• eggs (quail and chicken);
• mice (newborns and adults);
• raw meat;
• cat food of elite brands (with a high content of taurine and meat).

We must not forget about vegetarian components, which can be frozen vegetables, tomatoes, broccoli and fruits (a little). Fenech will not be harmed by additional taurine (500 mg), which should be mixed with mealworms, vegetables or eggs. All sweets and food from your table are prohibited.

Look at the contents of the tray: there you will see all the undigested (and therefore unhealthy) vegetables. These are usually carrots, corn and all grains. Give your fenech cranberries or cherries: they can neutralize the smell of urine. And don't forget a bowl of fresh water.

Number, population

It is known that fennecs are included in Appendix II of the CITES Convention, which regulates international trade species wild fauna and flora that are on the verge of extinction.

It’s a paradox - scientists have data on the range of populations of dwarf foxes, but still do not have accurate information about their numbers and status.

Fenech (lat. Vulpeszerda) is a small animal from the genus, family Canidae, order Carnivora, class Mammals. Previously, this view had a slightly different appearance systematic position, he was allocated to a separate genus Fenech (lat. Fennecus) with only one view Fennecuszerda, however, subsequently the similarities with other foxes were recognized as stronger than the differences, and the genus was united.

International scientific name:Vulpeszerda(Zimmermann, 1780)

Synonyms:

Canis cerdo Gmelin, 1788

Canis fennecus Lesson, 1827

Fennecus arabicus Desmarest, 1804

Fennecus brucei Desmarest, 1820

Fennecus zerda(Zimmermann, 1780)

Megalotis Cerda Illiger, 1811

Viverra aurita F. A. A. Meyer, 1793

Vulpes denhamii Boitard, 1842

Vulpes saarensis Skjoldebrand, 1777

Vulpes zaarensis Gray 1843

English name: Fennec fox.

German name: Fennec, Wüstenfuchs.

Security status: The fennec is listed as a species of least concern in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (version 3.1). This fox is quite widespread, but its exact numbers are unknown.

Etymology of the name

The name "fenech" came from European languages from the Arabs: fanak in one of the Arabic dialects it simply means “fox”. It’s more interesting to figure out where the species name came from zerda. According to one version, this word comes from the Greek xeros, which means “dry” - a hint that fennec lives in the desert. According to another version, this word also came from Arabic or the Berber language. Brem writes: “The Moors call it “cerda,” and the Arabs call it “fenech.” Arabic zerdāwa, in turn, could come from Farsi or one of the African languages. This word refers to the yellowish color of the animal.

Fenech: description and photo. What does this fox look like?

Fenech is the smallest representative of the family. The dimensions of the beast have been studied in sufficient detail, and they differ somewhat in different parts range. On average, the height at the withers of an adult animal is up to 22 cm, the body length is 30-41 cm, the length of the tail can reach 30 cm, that is, the size of the fennec's tail is only slightly smaller than the size of its body.

In West and North Africa average length the body of a small fox including the head is 36.2 cm (from 33.3 to 39.5 cm), tail length is 16.9 cm (12.5 - 18.7 cm); ear size – 9.1 cm (8.6 – 9.7 cm).

In Egypt, fennecs are slightly larger: the length of the body and head is 36.8 cm (33.7–38.7); tail length – 20.6 cm (18.6–23.0); ear dimensions – 9.6 cm (8.8–10.4).

The male and female, which emerged from parents caught in northern Africa, have the following dimensions: body length is 40.2 and 39.0 cm, respectively; tail length – 21.4 and 20.2 cm; ear sizes – 11.0 and 9.2 cm.

The weight of a fennec fox does not exceed one and a half kilograms - this small fox is even smaller in size. The average weight of African fennec cats from Egypt is 1.05 kg (from 0.8 to 1.15).

But the main distinguishing feature of the fennec cat is not its miniature size and long fluffy tail. His " business card" - huge ears that allow you to pick up the most insignificant sound vibrations produced by insects and small animals, its main prey. They can be more than 10 cm in length - for such a small animal this is an impressive size! In terms of the relative size of the ears to the width of the head, fennecs take first place among all representatives of the order Carnivores. In addition to the fact that the fennec's ears are highly sensitive locators, they are of considerable importance in thermoregulation, allowing the body to cool even in Saharan conditions.

The rest of this miniature fox's features are more standard. Fennec foxes have a short, pointed muzzle and big eyes. The pupil is round, surrounded by a brown iris.

The teeth are small, even the fangs are not particularly noticeable in size. Long whiskers stick out on its muzzle, helping the animal navigate in space.

The fennec cat's body is slender, slightly elongated, its legs are thin, its paws are pubescent. The fur is thick, yellowish-reddish in color, allowing it to hide in the sand. The fennec cat has a white belly and a black-tipped tail.

The supra-caudal gland is covered with dark hair. Young animals are first very light, almost white, and only then darken. Adult and elderly fennecs begin to lighten again.

Fennec foxes are quite easy to distinguish from other species of foxes living in these places:

• compared to the sand fox (V. rueppelli) it is smaller, the fennec fur is not so bright, long and thick, the tail is shorter, and the tip of the tail is not white, but black;
• African fox (V. pallida) also larger than the fennec, and the fur on the back and sides has a blackish tint;
• with an Afghan fox (V. cana) Fenech does not live in one territory; The Afghan fox has a longer tail, shorter ears, and is larger.

Fennec fox is a very active and agile fox, which allows it to hunt birds, insects and nimble animals. The ability to jump high, up to 70 cm, also helps her. Thanks to her huge ears, fennec cats have very sensitive hearing, which they mainly use when hunting. They also have a well-developed sense of smell and night vision.

Fennec cats make a variety of sounds, including barks and yelps, menacing growls and purrs similar to those made by a cat. Brem writes that fennecs emit “a quiet squeal that is difficult to describe,” and Akimushkin writes that “his cry is not animal, but some kind of dry frog chatter.”

The fennec also readily preys on birds (steppe lark, hazel grouse), their chicks and eggs. The fox also eats carrion.

Fenech also does not disdain plant foods. Miniature foxes visit date palms to feast on the fruits; they eat watermelons, berries, and plant roots.

The fennec comes out to hunt in the evening, when the sun sets and the desert becomes cooler. The dwarf fox hunts and feeds alone - this makes it easier to catch small prey. Sensitive ears help her hear the movement of insects even underground. If the prey is close to the surface, it digs through the ground very quickly. Hearing the barely noticeable sounds made by jerboas, lizards or steppe larks, the fennec creeps up to them, then jumps - and the trembling victim is in his teeth.

“Mousing” (a characteristic upward jump), common to other foxes, was not observed in the fennec fox. These representatives of the genus Vulpes capable of killing prey bigger size than themselves, but they start eating it from the head. What is not eaten is hidden (usually buried) and can be eaten later when the hunt is unsuccessful.

If there is a watering hole near the hole, the fenech visits it regularly. But the animal can do without water for quite a long time, being content with the liquid that comes with fruit juices and animal food. His kidneys are well adapted to conserve water and produce very concentrated urine. Water evaporation is also reduced: there are no sweat glands on the fox's skin, and body temperature is regulated so that moisture loss is minimal.

By the way, the fennec is the only representative of the Carnivora order that is able to live permanently away from a watering hole.

Where does fennec live?

The big-eared fox lives on African continent, widely found in sandy deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and Sinai; distributed throughout the Sahara Desert. In the south, encounters with it were recorded up to 14°N. This miniature fox can be found in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including Southern Sahara), Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. In Russia, the fennec fox can only be found in captivity - our climate is too cool for it.

Fennec fox is a typical desert and steppe fox. Its habitat is the zone of deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. These are vast spaces covered with sand and stones, with sparse vegetation and rare meager precipitation (from 100 to 300 mm per year). The ideal landscape for the light fennec fennec is sand dunes, where the animals are the only canids.

The predominant herbaceous plants in such places are triocerium ( Aristidaspp), satiate ( Cyperusspp), bushes – Ephedraalata or with ornulaca monacanth. In small sand dunes they can live among vegetation such as fat wheat ( Triticum turgidum) and parnofolia ( Zygophyllum spp.), as well as rare acacias, occasionally meeting there with such canids as the sand fox and the common jackal. Fenech is a sedentary animal, and with the change of seasons it does not change its habitat.

The number of fennec cats in the wild

The status of the animal in the IUCN Red Book (rev. 3.1) is of least concern. Its numbers have never been accurately estimated. Judging by the frequency of occurrence of the beast and the number of animals caught by local residents, their number is significant, and the population is in a stable condition. About 300 fennec cats are kept in zoos around the world.

There are currently no serious reasons for a possible decline in numbers, not least because fennecs live in inaccessible and unattractive areas of Africa for development. However, the areas around the Sahara and other arid regions are beginning to be developed by humans. Construction of new roads and new settlements increase risks for some populations of these foxes.

Additional pressure is created by geological exploration, development oil fields and development of commercial transport. Thus, in the area of ​​four new settlements in southern Morocco, fennecs disappeared.

The developed road network also creates direct risks. Fennec foxes are hunted for their fur, miniature foxes are caught local residents for sale.

Fennec cat lifestyle

Fenech leads a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle. Lives like other members of the genus Vulpes, in burrows. The fennec digs extensive shelters with deep passages on its own, quickly and skillfully. During the night, the animal can dig a passage 5-6 m long. As a result, the home for a family group is a system of passages and chambers with several exits to the surface, which allow them to hide from danger.

Besides the main hole big size, fennecs sometimes dig small underground shelters in their area. During the day, the fennec sits in the nesting chamber, lined with dry grass, feathers and wool. When dusk comes, he climbs to the surface, goes to a watering hole or begins hunting. The nocturnal lifestyle is an adaptation of the fennec to its habitat.

Fennecs are not loners; they live in large family groups, usually consisting of up to 10 individuals. As a rule, this is a founding couple (male and female) and their offspring.

Puppies from previous litters can stay with their parents and take part in raising younger foxes. Such an extended family is found among representatives of the genus Vulpes. Sometimes there are burrows of several families nearby, and their representatives often call each other.

The fennec cat’s “vocabulary” is very diverse: it includes different types of sounds that the animal uses when communicating.

Fenech cats have developed play behavior; even adults willingly play with puppies and among themselves. They often rest in contact with each other.

Friendly social displays usually include tail wagging, crouching, wallowing, and yelping. Males may show some aggressiveness and increased marking activity during estrus (estrus) of females. Despite such sociability, fennecs prefer to hunt alone: ​​this is probably more effective in hunting small animals and birds.

Fennec foxes are strictly territorial animals. Each family has a separate area with an internal structure: there is a core located around the hole where the animals spend a large number of time, there are other frequently visited places, and there are those where foxes appear less often. The boundaries of the area are marked with scent marks: these are secretions of special glands, urine, excrement. Usually prominent objects are marked: hummocks, clumps of grass, bushes. As a rule, the main male is engaged in walking around the territory and marking, but other members of the family group also contribute to the protection of the borders.

Classification

Fennec ( Vulpeszerda)– monotypic species. There are no subspecies identified in it. Hybrids with other species were also not observed.

Reproduction

Fennec cats reach sexual maturity at approximately 6-9 months, and the first mating occurs at the age of 9 months to a year. Fennec foxes are monogamous, permanent pairs last for several breeding seasons.

Mating season migration of animals begins in January-February. The female's estrus (estrus) is very short: 1-2 days, the pre-estrus period (proestrus) is mainly expressed in swelling of the vulva (external genitalia) and is also short-lived. The activity of the testes in males is synchronized with the cycle of females: their productivity is maximum when the female is in estrus, then decreases.

Courtship behavior during the mating season in fennec fennecs has been better studied in captivity, since observations in natural conditions(in the desert at night) is extremely difficult to organize. A typical ritual preceding mating consists of noisy flirtations and usually lasts from one to one and a half days. Mating lasts more than an hour, sometimes several times with an interval of several hours.

Data on crossing vary: some sources say that it occurs quite rarely, others say that it occurs frequently and can take up to 165 minutes. In nature social mechanisms inbreeding is prevented, but in captivity fennecs of both sexes can mate with their own offspring.

Inbreeding is inbreeding.

Pregnancy in fennec cats usually lasts 50-52 days, although there is evidence from zoos of successful births after 62- and 63-day pregnancies. In the wild, puppies are usually born in March-April. In captivity, mating, pregnancy and birth can occur at any time of the year.

However, even in captivity, most pups are born between March and July. Fennecs give birth to one litter per year, but if it is lost, the female may come into heat and become pregnant again. Thus, fenechs cannot be called truly monoestrous animals.

Monoestrous are animals that come into heat once per season.

Before, during and after birth, the male protects the hole, but does not enter the nesting chamber: the female at this time is aggressive and selflessly protects the cubs. A female usually gives birth to two to five blind, fur-covered puppies weighing 40-45 g (however, litters with one or six cubs are less common).

The length of the body and head of a one-day-old puppy is 10-12 cm, the length of the tail is 4 cm, the length of the ear is 1 cm. After 8-11 days, the fennec fox opens its eyes, and its weight doubles after 11-12 days. After two weeks, the baby is already able to move, however, it does not immediately leave the hole.

© Florence Perroux/La Palmyre Zoo, France

Until the puppies are 4 weeks old, the male actively defends the area near the burrow and brings prey. At this time, the fennec cubs begin to leave the hole, first for a short time, then for an increasingly longer time. By the middle of the 3rd week, milk feeding is also transferred outside. At this time, the babies are teething, and for the first time they try adult food that the male brings them. After the 4th week, the male brings more and more food to the puppies and female, and meat begins to occupy a significant place in the diet of small fennec cats, although feeding with milk continues until 60-70 days.

The simplest hunting behavior appears approximately 7 weeks after birth, as it is trained it becomes more complex and skillful, but until 13 weeks the male brings prey to the burrow. Only at the age of 3 months do puppies begin to move away from the hole, first together with their parents, and then alone. Fenechs reach sexual and physiological maturity at 9-11 months.

Classification

View: Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda)

Genus: Foxes

Family: Canids

Squad: Predatory

Class: Mammals

Type: Chordata

Subtype: Vertebrates

Kingdom: Animals

Dimensions: height at 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 like a decorative pet.

In fact, it 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 even though its prey rarely exceeds the size of a locust, the fennec is an excellent hunter.

Interesting! The word “fenech” comes from the Arabic fanak, which is translated as “fox”.

Habitat

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

Geographically, the main population inhabits central part Sahara desert. By country, fennec lives besides Morocco in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad.

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

Harsh desert climate - habitat habitat for little foxes. Here they mostly stay close to small oases of grass and sparse bushes.

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

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

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

Characteristic

Fenechs are not only hunters, but also excellent diggers - they live in burrows dug on their own.

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

This animal adapts 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 expecting cat-like habits from mini-foxes.

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

Appearance

This animal reaches an average height of 20 cm, a length of approximately 35 cm and an almost identical tail, which, like all foxes, is distinguished by its splendor.

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

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

Interesting! The fennec cat is smaller than most domestic cats. At the same time, he has a lot of energy, which he will definitely find something to spend on.

Another interesting detail is the lowered foot, thanks to which the animal can move without problems on the sun-kissed sand.

The animal was “unlucky” with its teeth: the fangs are too small, especially small ones, but they are no longer needed for its prey and daily diet.

The coat has a protective color to match the desert area: reddish or fawn.

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

In general, the appearance of the fennec fox is vaguely reminiscent of its South African relative, the Big-eared fox.

But the appearance of the North African animal looks more touching, perhaps that is why they love to breed it in captivity.

It’s hard to take your eyes off the expressive look of these cute animals. For some reason, when asked what a fennec tree looks like, some answer - with tassels on its ears.

But these animals do not have any brushes.

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

Key Features

The fennec's big ears are no joke of evolution. Such large ears allow you to catch the quietest, barely noticeable rustles.

This is especially true in hunting, because chanterelles in the desert do not have much choice of food - they have to hunt down insects and scorpions.

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

Interesting! Fennec cats are capable of producing a large number of different sounds: they howl, whine, chirp, whine, 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.

Fennec cats are very social. They live in families or real clans, in which everyone is relative.

The eldest couple is in the top position, followed by their older children, and then the younger cubs. In more rare cases, one den is occupied by several families.

In the middle of the sand dunes, fennec cats have almost no competitors in the hunt for prey

During their communication, Fenechs are extremely “talkative” and use a huge number of different loud sounds for this.

This is a real test for those who decide to have several little foxes at home. They will squeal constantly.

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

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

A serious and agile hunter, whose diet is worth talking about separately. And this digger, when in danger, is capable of completely burying himself in the sand.

Interesting! Fenech is capable of jumping up to 70 cm.

One fennec family can consist of up to 10 individuals.

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

Nutrition

At home, the fennec cat's daily diet must include vegetables and fruits.

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

And everything he eats is somehow 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 eagle owl. Scientific observations have not revealed more large predators hunting small foxes.

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

Thanks to its ears, the fox catches even the quietest prey. The Fennec cat's body 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, fennec foxes sometimes stock up on food.

Reproduction

January-February is the mating season for fennec cats, which are characterized by pronounced monogamy, that is, they form stable pairs. Each pair has its own piece of territory.

During the mating season, males show aggression and actively mark their territory with urine. Estrus in females lasts only two days. Pregnancy lasts about 52 days, so by April, female fennec foxes give birth to 2 to 6 cubs.

Interesting! Fennecs are highly sociable: pairs are created once for a lifetime, and matured cubs sometimes stay with their parents to help them raise and raise the next generation.

They will grow in a hole where the ground is specially covered with grass, wool and bird feathers. 50 gram fox cubs are blind for the first 2 weeks.

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

This baby is just beginning to explore the vast world around him.

For the first time, small fennecs come out at 5 weeks of age. At first they wander only near the hole.

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

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

Interesting! Fennec babies have almost white wool and only with age does it darken.

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

As a pet, the fennec is a very expensive luxury - they cost only a little less and.

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

Except for the constant squealing with which fennecs communicate, but whoever wants to keep them at home knows what they are getting into.

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

Fenechs become attached to a person and need his care. At the same time, they do not lose their natural intelligence and cunning.

Fenech cats sometimes find it difficult to make friends with other pets - in this case, a person may remain the only friend for these animals

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

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

Usually, fennec owners 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 its life.

Some owners give fenechs fish, grains and dairy products. In general, the animal itself is able to make it clear what it likes and what its stomach does not like.

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

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

It is necessary to be affectionate with these animals, not to raise your voice at them and not to make too sudden movements or make loud sounds when communicating with them.

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

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

For example, fennecs don’t like bright sun. Living in the desert, they emerge from their burrows around twilight. That's why at home most They sleep during the day, and at night they begin to lead an active lifestyle.

Those who want to have fennec foxes need to be prepared for non-stop squealing: this is the main way the animals communicate with each other.

There is experience in retraining fennec cats to night sleep, but it's unlikely good idea for animal health.

It is necessary to allocate a place in the apartment for fennec cats where they can play with sand. If this is not done, they may chew through the sofa or make a “burrow” in another more or less soft piece of furniture.

If you want to get a fennec cat, get ready for things scattered throughout the apartment, making holes out of clothes, scattering loose substances all over the floor, throwing objects off tables.

In the absence of the owners of the house in daytime This can be solved by purchasing an enclosure large enough for the animal to play while no one is home.

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

Fenechs love warmth, so the room should be well heated.

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

It's just small part rules that should be followed when holding a fennec cat as pet. In fact, there are many more of them, and for any owner of such an animal this is a great responsibility.

Fennec big-eared fox - desert survival master

Fennec is a small cute animal (photo) that looks exclusively like a decorative pet. In fact, it is a predator of harsh deserts, which has almost no enemies.

The fennec fox is the smallest and most unusual representative of the Canidae family. The fennec animal has a very unique appearance. This eared fox looks funny and very cute. The fennec fox is a nimble and active animal. Below you will find a description of the fennec fox and a photo, and also learn a lot of interesting things about this unusual animal.

The description of the fennec can begin with the unusual appearance of this animal. Fenech looks very miniature and is no larger than normal in size domestic cat. The body length of the animal is 30-40 cm, with a height at the withers of no more than 25 cm and a tail length of about 30 cm. The fennec fox weighs approximately 1.5 kg.

Fenech looks charming, he has a very cute pointed muzzle, large black eyes and simply huge ears. By the way, the fennec's ears reach up to 15 cm in length and are the largest among other predators in relation to the size of the head.

The fennec cat needs such large ears for successful hunting. They allow you to catch the slightest rustle in the sand and accurately recognize the movement of prey. In addition, the fennec cat's large ears help him better cool his body during the heat of the day. This desert fox's body is adapted to hot climates.

The fennec animal can walk on hot sand without any problems thanks to the abundant fur on its feet. Despite its touching appearance, the fennec is a predatory animal. He has sharp teeth, small fangs and strong claws. The description of the fennec cat places it in the Canidae family, but it has practically nothing in common with wolves or dogs.

The fennec fox has thick and soft fur. Typically, the fennec animal has a light red color, with almost white fur on its belly. The animal's tail is fluffy and black at the end. Juveniles look lighter and have almost White color wool, which turns red with age.

Where does fennec live and how?

Fennec fox lives in the deserts of North Africa. The largest number of individuals lives in the central Sahara. The fennec fox also lives in the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, northern Morocco, Sudan, Chad and Niger.

The fennec fox lives in sandy deserts, preferring to stay close to thickets of grass or bushes. Such conditions provide the animal with shelter and food. Fenech lives in burrows. During the night he can dig a hole 5 meters deep. Fenech burrows have many different passages and always several emergency exits. They can compete in the construction of burrows only with badgers, which are capable of building entire underground cities. Sometimes the fennec fox makes its home in rock gorges and caves.

Fenech is a social animal that lives in family groups of up to 10 individuals. Such groups usually consist of a male and female, their immature offspring and several adult children. Young fennecs often help raise new offspring. It happens that several families unite and live together in one den. The fennec fox is a very sociable and noisy animal that makes many different sounds. Fennec cats can howl, whine, bark and even grumble.

The fennec animal is very fast, active and agile. These foxes, despite their small stature, can perfectly jump almost 1 meter both in height and in length. The fennec fox has excellent hearing, good night vision and a developed sense of smell. The fennec fox's color allows it to blend into the landscape and remain undetected by both predators and prey. The fennec fox is usually nocturnal.

The exact number of fennecs is unknown. Because of their fur, these animals are often hunted. In addition, they are often captured for sale as pets. It has also not yet been determined which predators pose a danger to fennec foxes.

What does fennec fox eat?

The fennec fox feeds on a variety of insects, reptiles and small invertebrates. In general, the fennecfish can be considered an omnivore. The eared fox's favorite delicacy is locusts. The fennec fox cub gets the main part of its food from sand and earth. Huge ears allow the Fenech to catch even the slightest rustle made by the prey.

Like all foxes, the fennec prefers to hunt alone. Fenech also feeds on bird eggs, plant roots, fruits, small birds and rodents. Fenech is a hardy animal and can go without water for a long time, getting the required amount of liquid from food. When there is an abundance of food, it often makes reserves.

Fennec fox babies

Fenech breeding occurs once a year. The fennec fox cub becomes capable of reproduction at the age of 7-8 months. Their mating season begins in January-February. The fennec fox is a monogamous animal. Each pair has its own area, which is carefully guarded, especially during the breeding season. At this time, males become especially aggressive and actively mark their territory.

The fennec cat's pregnancy lasts about 2 months. Already in March-April, fennec cubs will be born. Usually 2 to 6 babies are born. For their appearance, the female prepares the nesting chamber, the bottom of which is lined with grass, wool and feathers. Fennec cubs are born very tiny, helpless and weigh only 50 grams.

After just 2 weeks, their eyes open. The ears of small fennec cats grow quickly and soon reach their full size. At the age of just over 1 month, fennec cubs begin to leave the den for the first time. All this time, the female remained in the den, not leaving her babies for a second. The male provided her with food.

The female feeds the babies with milk until about 3 months. At the same age, fennec cubs begin to travel long distances and learn to get their own food. The life expectancy of fennec foxes is about 8 years, and in captivity these animals can live up to 15-20 years.

Fennec fox is a very unusual animal that has a lot interesting facts in addition to the unusual appearance. Descriptions of the fennec cat and its character can often be found on the pages of literary works. famous writers. The fennec fox is depicted on the Algerian ¼ dinar coin. In Tunisia, the fennec animal is a symbol of ecology. In almost every city in this country there are figures of a fennec cat in a blue and white suit.

Fennec at home

Today, people are increasingly keeping various animals from the wild at home. Exotic lovers are no longer interested in having a cat or dog at home. Nowadays, few people will be surprised if you have an owl, a puma or any other animal that does not fall into the standard list of pets. What can we say, now they even keep an ordinary one at home red fox. The fennec fox is no exception; it can often be found among pets.

The unusual appearance of this eared fox immediately attracts the eye. The compact size and cute face immediately give rise to the idea of ​​getting such an animal. But the fennec fox is not the easiest pet. First of all, we should not forget that this is a nocturnal animal that will interfere with sleep. Secondly, the fennec is a wild animal, which is quite difficult to train and train, so you will have to spend a lot of time and effort on training.

Another important issue is creating conditions for the fennec. To keep a fennec at home you will need a lot of space, sand and warm climate. It’s not difficult to feed the long-eared fox, because it is quite unpretentious and almost omnivorous. The main thing is that the diet contains meat, eggs, vegetables and live food (lizards, grasshoppers). Despite the ability to go without water for a long time, it is still worth making sure that your fennec cat always has a bowl of water. The issue of caring for the beautiful and fluffy fur of a fennec cat includes a combing procedure, especially during shedding.

Remember that the fennec animal cannot tolerate low temperatures. He is very susceptible to colds, from which he often dies. It is also worth noting that due to the exotic nature of the animal, it will be quite difficult to find a veterinarian who can give competent advice. Subject to the conditions of keeping, proper attention and education, you will receive a smart, affectionate and sociable pet. It is curious that of all domestic animals, the fennec fox gets along best with cats.

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