The Fennec Fox

1431 Words3 Pages

The Fennec Fox, also known as the Dessert Fox, is the smallest species of fox in the world. Linnaeus, who is known as the father of Taxonomy, classified all foxes under the Genus Vulpes- Fennec Foxes are more specifically classified within the species as Vulpes zerda. As previously stated Fennec Foxes are the smallest known species of foxes- to give one a mental image, they are smaller than the typical house cat. Vulpes zerda’s head and body are roughly eleven inches long, with a tail around seventeen inches long. On average the female fox, a vixen, weighs .8kg. The male fox, a dog, is considerably plumper weighing an average 1.8kg. Unlike many animals within the animal kingdom, Fennec Foxes are usually monogamous. The Encyclopedia of Life explains further that “the pair lives with their offspring in a family unit of up to ten individuals” ("Vulpes zerda: Fennec,").
The ecosystem of the desert biome is created due to the low average rainfall it receives each year. Though there are four major types of desert in this African biome--hot and dry, semiarid, costal, and cold—the largest populations of Fennec Foxes live in the northern, semiarid portion of the Sahara Desert. The countries within the Sahara desert range from Mauritania to Sudan—encompassing over 3.3 million square miles. Rain is infrequent and usually torrential- half of the Sahara receives less than an inch a year and the remaining receiving as much as 10 centimeters—much of which evaporates before it hits the ground. The Sahara desert is a vast habit that includes a variety of vegetation and animals. However, like many deserts vegetation is limited, the three best known plants in the Sahara desert include: Bristle Grass, Ephedra, and Merkba. The animals that live s...

... middle of paper ...

...erda/
Asa, C. S. (2008). Vulpes zerda (fennec fox). Retrieved from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41588/0
Clayton, C. (2012). Relationships with other species. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/fennecfoxawareness/relationships-with-other-species
Fennec fox. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/fennec-fox/?
Fennec fox facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://interesting-animal-facts.com/Desert-Animal-Facts/Fennec-Fox-Facts.shtml
Harmon, B. (n.d.). The physical adaptions of the fennec fox. Retrieved from http://animals.pawnation.com/physical-adaptations-fennec-foxes-6101.html
Seigfreid, D. (June, 2010). Discovering the biogeochemical cycles. Retrieved from http//ww.dummies.com/how-to/content/discovering-the-biogeochemical-cycles.html
Vulpes zerda: Fennec fox. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://eol.org/pages/328001/details

Show More
Related

  • Taking a Look at the Saguaro Lizard

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    When you think of an ecosystem, you might think of lush forests, or wide oceans, abundant with wildlife. However, the Saguaro desert is unique in its own way. Hidden amongst the 91,446 million acres of this hot, harsh, desert, are a world of organisms that thrive to survive. Located in Arizona, this park’s variety of plant and animal life surpass all other North American deserts. It is divided into two districts, named after the mountain ranges that surround the park; named the Tuscan and Rincon. The saguaro cacti are very important to this ecosystem. In fact, the ecosystem is named after this massive cactus that calls this place its home. One very important organism that lives in the Saguaro desert is the horned lizard.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Coyote And Darwin's Fox

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unlike the maned wolf and coyote, Darwin’s fox lives in the temperate forests, especially near Chile, or any other place in South America. Some species live on Nahuelbuta National Park or in Chiloe Island. Alike the coyote and maned wolf, Darwin’s fox is omnivorous and a secondary consumer. It eats mammals, invertebrates, reptiles and birds as well as fruits. Because of it’s small size, Darwin’s fox is easier to get caught by predators such as wild and domesticated dogs as well as pumas.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech: Ferrets Make Good Pets

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    1.A lot of people are misinformed, have misconceptions, or might not have any idea at all about what these animals are about. The ferret family, which includes weasels, mink, polecats, martins, skunks, badgers, otters, wolverines, and the endangered black-footed ferret. Early Greek literature suggests that unlike its cousins, the ferret has been domesticated for approximately two to three thousand years.

    Read More

  • The Half Husky

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is it that determines what a person is to become? Is it our genetic makeup or is it our environment – the sum of our experiences that brings our personalities upon us? In the short, loosely autobiographical story; ‘The Half-husky’ the author; Margaret Laurence, gives her say on this. Harvey’s attitude and personality correspond with his environment; Vanessa’s attitude is in tandem with her environment, and Nanuk has both a loving and a savage side. Is this simply his nature or is it the sum of his experiences? Margaret Laurence is suggesting that it is our experiences – the environment we live in – that determine what we are to become.

    Read More

  • Ap World History Dbq Analysis

    1339 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Sahara desert affected the development of North Africa. The Sahara’s large temperature range and small supply of water can make the region difficult to thrive upon. However, it is not impossible. As stated in document 2, temperatures can reach up to 120 degrees fahrenheit and supplies of water are scant. Journeying through the Sahara was very difficult until the camel was introduced for travel. As stated in document 2, the camel could travel long distances

    Read More

  • Ice and Sand

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Sahara desert is known as the largest dessert in the world, it covers a third of the continent of Africa. The thing about the desert is that it is always changing, new vegetation is sprouting and animals are dying and being born. During the day the desert is very hot, about 50 degrees Celsius, but at night time temperatures can drop very low. In the night is when the desert rains, for temperatures are too hot during the day for clouds to accumulate above them, and water is limited so there isn’t much precipitation.

    Read More

  • The Gray Wolf

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    This report is all about the gray wolf. Its scientific name is Canis Lupis. Canis is the Latin word for dog. The genus also includes jackals and coyotes. Lupis is the Latin word for wolf. Gray wolves look similar to German shepherds, but the wolf has longer legs and bigger feet. The color of a gray wolf can range from black to white, but shades of gray are the most common. A unique feature about gray wolves is that the farther north you find them, the larger they are. Males can range from (nose-to-tail) five to six and a half feet and females range from four and a half to six feet. The normal life span of a wolf is about thirteen years, but most wolves don’t live past ten years for numerous reasons. Examples include disease, hunters, etc. The wolves that live in Arctic climates have very thick coats of fur that keeps them warm. Wolves, like all canines, have 42 teeth. Their “fangs”, or canine teeth, are used to grab prey and like a hook. These teeth can be as long as two and a half inches.

    Read More

  • Overview of the Economy and Current Situation of Niger

    1479 Words  | 3 Pages

    Niger is eighty-percent desert which doesn't provide natural resources or availability of water, even though the Niger River is a huge resource for Niger. With its beautiful, sparkling water flowing southwest in a sort of crescent shape it is a place of relief. Along this river, they have wonderful areas for farming and grazing and one can find the most populous city and the capitol Niger called Niamey. This Sub-Saharan country not only has the Sahara desert to deal with, but the Tener...

    Read More

  • The Pequot

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Apess was a Pequot Indian born into a poor disparaged and racist society. The Pequot were thought to be extinct, but there remained two small reservations in Connecticut. Apess suffered physical abuse by the hands of his alcoholic grandmother, was shuffled from foster home to foster home, and eventually suffered from alcoholism himself. During his time in foster homes, he received a minimal education, which led to his love of writing. He wrote five books between 1829 and 1836 (Calloway, 2012). Many of Apess' writings contained the cries of his people in which he plead for equality. One might say that he was one of the first civil rights activists. He fought against the discrimination his people experienced by exposing the hypocrisy, history, and racism of the white Europeans who called themselves Christians. This essay will examine a short work of Apess' with the focus on the Europeans Christian hypocrisy. It will examine how Apess exposed the hypocrisy of these so-called Christians by providing not only biblical proof, but also exposing them to examples of their hate by giving them a glimpse in the mirror, a chance to reflect upon their actions, and how in pursuit of their own freedom they trampled the Native American's.

    Read More

  • The Half-Husky

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    A common misconception of humans is that we are born good or evil. However, a much more significant factor other than genes is nurture. Who molded you into who you are today? Was it your parents and your friends? Or is it not a person but an event around you that impacts who you are? In the short story “The Half-Husky”, by Margaret Laurence Harvey was raised by an aunt who did not even want him, this resulted in him becoming a wicked human being, because his aunt raised him so poorly he reflected his behavior on the people around him - like Nanuk. In the novels of the “Grisha trilogy” by Leigh Bardugo, Alina is raised as an orphan and is one of the most powerful Grisha in all of Ravka who is given an opportunity to become a ruler with the

    Read More

  • Geography and its Effect in Ancient Civilizations

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Ancient Egypt they use the Nile River and the Sahara Desert in some many ways that benefited them. Ancient Egypt was divided into two land different land, the black land and red land. The black land was the fertile land that the Nile River made and the red land was the desert of Egypt. They use the Nile River for the fertile soil that was left after the river was not flooded, so that they could use that fertile soil for growing crops. They would also use the Nile River for fishing, washing their clothes, and sometimes they would trade with others for resources that they needed. The Sahara Desert was used for protection against other invading armies. The climate was always hot and very dry; this is what made it really hard for farming if you lived in the desert area.

    Read More

  • Little Foxes Analytical Essay

    1953 Words  | 4 Pages

    Every play written uses dramatic elements. The main dramatic elements are plot, character, theme, and language. Lillian Hellman, who wrote the Little Foxes, incorporates these elements beautifully in her play. The play is set during the spring of 1900 and takes place in the Deep South part of the United States of America. Just as every other play, the Little Foxes has included the dramatic elements in her play, particularly the plot, character, and language that all incorporate an underlying theme of greed.

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects of Urbanization on People and their Environment

    1956 Words  | 4 Pages

    Saier, M. H., Jr. (2010). Desertification and migration. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 205(1-4), S31+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA359852755&v=2.1&u=oran95108&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=d58e000340b9e00632d610b6b1c2b1e4

    Read More

  • The Peregrine Falcon

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    once trained by kings to hunt and bring back kills. This sport, called Falconry, is still

    Read More

  • Sahara Desert

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Sahara Desert is the world’s largest desert area. The word Sahara comes from the Arabic word sahra’, meaning desert. It extends from the Africa’s Atlantic Ocean side to the Red Sea and consists of the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan. It is about 5,200 miles long. Overall, the Sahara Desert covers 3,500,000 square miles. The geography of the desert is varied. In the west, the Sahara is rocky with varied elevation. It does contain underground rivers, which sometime penetrate the surface, resulting in oases. The central region of the Sahara has more elevation than the other areas, with peaks such as Emi Koussi and Tahat. Even though the area lacks rainfall, these peaks are snowcapped during the winter. The Eastern part of the Sahara, the Libyan Desert, is dry with very few oases.

    Read More

More about The Fennec Fox

Open Document