Blazing in the day, freezing at night – life in the desert is punishing. The average human would find it difficult to survive. But the animals that call these landscapes home have adapted to thrive in harsh conditions.
Most desert animals require little to no water to survive. They also have scales or skin to store the little water their bodies need. In addition, some creatures avoid the heat entirely and are most active at night. Strange features, odd bodies – it helps to be different to survive in harsh environments. But who’s to say you can’t be good-looking and live in the desert? Fennec Foxes are fine examples of this.
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The Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda) is undoubtedly one of the cutest desert animals. They’re tiny (smaller than house cats) and measure up to 16 inches. What stands out are the enormous ears, which look particularly large compared to their teeny bodies. The ears can grow up to 6 inches long.
The large ears of a fennec fox help it shed heat. They also enable super hearing abilities and listening for prey under the sand. Fennec foxes catch sounds of insects, rodents, or other small animals scurrying around. Once they catch wind of prey, fennec foxes use all four paws to dig under, forming a shower of sand. The expert burrowing skills also help foxes escape the sun during the day.
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Fennec foxes are abundant in the Arabian and African deserts. Their pale brown fur offers perfect camouflage against miles of endless desert sand. Fennec foxes can pant approximately 690 times per minute to cool body temperatures.
Fur also grows on the bottom of the feet to protect their feet from the hot surface. The traction from the fur also helps Fennec foxes run effortlessly across the sand.
As cute as it is hardy, it’s clear the desert is a Fennec Fox’s playground.
