Editing Fennec fox (section)

== Description ==

[[File:Fennecus zerda 05 MWNH 1387.JPG|thumb|Skull of a fennec fox|left]]

The fennec fox has sand-colored fur which reflects sunlight during the day and helps keep it warm at night. Its nose is black and its tapering tail has a black tip. Its long ears have longitudinal reddish stripes on the back and are so densely haired inside that the [[external auditory meatus]] is not visible.<ref name=Zimmermann1780>{{cite book |author=Zimmermann, E.A.W. |year=1780 |title=Geographische Geschichte des Menschen, und der allgemein verbreiteten vierfüßigen Thiere |volume=II. Enthält ein vollständiges Verzeichniß aller bekannten Quadrupeden |location=Leipzig |publisher=Weygand |pages=247–248 |chapter=Der Zerda |chapter-url=https://publikationsserver.tu-braunschweig.de/rsc/viewer/dbbs_derivate_00004650/max/00000260.jpg}}</ref> The edges of the ears are whitish, but darker on the back. The ear to body ratio is the greatest in the [[Canidae|canid family]] and likely helps in dissipating heat and locating prey. It has large, dense [[kidney]]s with somewhat compact medulla, which help store water in times of scarcity. It has dark streaks running from the inner eye to either side of the slender muzzle. Its large eyes are dark. The dental formula is {{DentalFormula |upper=3.1.4.2 |lower=3.1.4.3 |total=42}} with small and narrow [[Canine tooth|canine]]s. The pads of its paws are covered with dense fur, which facilitates walking on hot, sandy soil.<ref name=Asa_al2004>{{cite book |author1=Asa, C.S. |name-list-style=amp |author2=Valdespino, C. |author3=Cuzin, F. |title=Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan |editor1=Sillero-Zubiri, C. |editor2=Hoffman, M. |editor3=Mech, D. |year=2004 |publisher=IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group |location=Gland, Switzerland |isbn=2-8317-0786-2 |pages=205–209 |chapter=Fennec fox ''Vulpes zerda'' (Zimmermann, 1780) |chapter-url=https://www.carnivoreconservation.org/files/actionplans/canids.pdf#page=217}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=L. Rocha |first1=Joana |last2=Silva |first2=Pedro |last3=Santos |first3=Nuno |last4=Nakamura |first4=Mónia |last5=Afonso |first5=Sandra |last6=Qninba |first6=Abdeljebbar |last7=Boratynski |first7=Zbyszek |last8=Sudmant |first8=Peter H. |last9=Brito |first9=José C. |last10=Nielsen |first10=Rasmus |last11=Godinho |first11=Raquel |date=2023-06-12 |title=North African fox genomes show signatures of repeated introgression and adaptation to life in deserts |url=https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02094-w |journal=Nature Ecology & Evolution |volume=7 |issue=8 |pages=1267–1286 |doi=10.1038/s41559-023-02094-w |pmid=37308700 |pmc=10527534 |bibcode=2023NatEE...7.1267L |issn=2397-334X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Carbyn |first1=Ludwig N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Er1di1OqnlAC&dq=info:Tsso_5O2PTQJ:scholar.google.com/&pg=PA223 |title=The Swift Fox: Ecology and Conservation of Swift Foxes in a Changing World |last2=Center |first2=University of Regina Canadian Plains Research |date=2003 |publisher=University of Regina Press |isbn=978-0-88977-154-3 |pages=223–229 |language=en}}</ref>

The fennec fox is the smallest [[Canidae|canid]] species. Females range in head-to-body size from {{cvt|34.5|to|39.5|cm}} with a {{cvt|23-25|cm}} long tail and {{cvt|9-9.5|cm}} long ears, and weigh {{cvt|1-1.9|kg}}. Males are slightly larger, ranging in head-to-body size from {{cvt|39|to|39.5|cm}} with a {{cvt|23-25|cm}} long tail and {{cvt|10|cm}} long ears, weighing at least {{cvt|1.3|kg}}.<ref name=Asa_al2004/>