Why does the fennec fox live in the desert

Where do fennec foxes live? Why do fennec foxes have big ears? What do you call a group of fennec foxes? A group of foxes is called a skulk! Can I have a fennec fox as a pet? Why do fennec foxes scream aka what does the fennec fox say? Why do fennec foxes have furry feet?

At birth, the one to four pup each weigh less than an ounce and a half, and are born with their eyes shut and their ears folded over. They are weaned at around two months and reach adult size at six months. In the protected environment of zoos, they may live 16 years. They reach their full length of four to six inches by the time they are two months old.

As a rule, mammals living in hot dry climates are inclined to have more surface area, with larger ears, longer legs and tails, and a slimmer build than animals that live in colder places. This helps them dissipate heat. Fennec ears are full of blood vessels, close to the skin, which act as a cooling system. Not only do they have enormous external ears, but unusually large hollow structures in their skulls which give them amazingly good hearing. They not only can locate prey underground but dig it up very quickly.

Their sandy-colored coat deflects heat during the day, but also keeps them warm at night. Their paws have a layer of fur that protects them from the burning heat of the sand. Specialized kidneys enable them to live in waterless environments, deriving their moisture from their prey. They are able to quickly dig large burrows to sleep in during the daytime. They will lick the dew that can form in their burrows. Their main prey is grasshoppers and crickets, as well as other insects, but they are capable of catching prey as large as rabbits, and also hunt rodents, reptiles, and small birds.

They prefer sandy deserts and semi-deserts, with stable sand dunes, in which they can burrow. Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing daytime heat of the desert environment. Fennec Foxes are opportunistic eaters and are mostly carnivorous. They will forage for plants but primarily eat rodents, eggs, reptiles, and insects including grasshoppers and locusts. They hunt alone and locate prey primarily by sound, killing with a bite to the neck.

Like most desert dwellers, Fennec Foxes have developed the ability to go for indefinite periods without water. Meet the people trying to help. Animals Whales eat three times more than previously thought. Environment Planet Possible India bets its energy future on solar—in ways both small and big.

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