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== Behaviour and ecology == === Behaviour === {{listen|filename=Fennec Singing.ogg|pos=right|title=A fennec fox call|description=|format=[[Ogg Vorbis]]}} [[File:Desert fennec . Sahara fox in Morocco.jpg|thumb|Fennec fox in the Moroccan Sahara]] Fennec foxes are primarily nocturnal, displaying heightened activity during the cooler nighttime hours.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Carlstead |first=K. |date=1990 |title=Husbandry of the Fennec fox: ''Fennecus zerda'': environmental conditions influencing stereotypic behaviour |journal=International Zoo Yearbook |volume=30 |issue=1 |page=202 |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1990.tb01164.x|doi-broken-date=19 December 2024 }}</ref> This behaviour helps them escape the extreme Saharan heat and reduces water loss through panting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Maloiy |first1=G. M. O. |last2=Kamau |first2=J. M. Z. |last3=Shkolnik |first3=A. |last4=Meir |first4=M. |last5=Arieli |first5=R. |date=1982 |title=Thermoregulation and metabolism in a small desert carnivore: the Fennec fox (''Fennecus zerda'') (Mammalia) |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=198 |issue=3 |pages=279–291 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1982.tb02076.x}}</ref> A fennec fox digs its den in sand, either in open areas or places sheltered by plants with stable [[sand dune]]s. In compacted soils, dens are up to {{cvt|120|m2}} large, with up to 15 different entrances. In some cases, different families interconnect their dens, or locate them close together. In soft, looser sand, dens tend to be simpler with only one entrance leading to a single chamber.<ref name=Asa_al2004/> Captive individuals reside in family groups. Fennec foxes exhibit playful behavior, especially among younger individuals.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Dempsey |first1=J. L. |last2=Hanna |first2=S. J. |last3=Asa |first3=C. S. |last4=Bauman |first4=K. L. |date=2009 |title=Nutrition and behavior of Fennec Foxes (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice |series=Nutrition and Behavior of Uncommon Species |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=299–312 |doi=10.1016/j.cvex.2009.01.004|pmid=19341956 }}</ref> === Hunting and diet === The fennec fox is omnivorous, feeding on small [[rodent]]s, [[lizard]]s ([[gecko]]s and [[skink]]s), small birds and their eggs, insects, fruits, [[leaves]], [[root]]s and also some [[tuber]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_zerda/ | title=Vulpes zerda (Fennec) | website=[[Animal Diversity Web]] }}</ref> It relies on the moisture content of prey, but drinks water when available.<ref name=Asa_al2004/> It hunts alone and digs in the sand for small [[vertebrate]]s and [[insect]]s. Some individuals were observed to bury prey for later consumption and searching for food in the vicinity of human settlements.<ref name=Asa2013>{{cite book |author1=Asa, C.S. |author2=Cuzin, F.A. |name-list-style=amp |date=2013 |chapter=''Vulpes zerda'' Fennec Fox |pages=74–77 |editor1-last=Kingdon |editor1-first=J. |editor2-last=Happold |editor2-first=D. |editor3-last=Hoffmann |editor3-first=M. |editor4-last=Butynski |editor4-first=T. |editor5-last=Happold |editor5-first=M. |editor6-last=Kalina |editor6-first=J. |title=Mammals of Africa |volume=V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses |publisher=Bloomsbury |location=London, New Delhi, New York, Sydney |isbn=978-1-4081-8994-8 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B_07noCPc4kC&pg=RA4-PA74}}</ref> In the Algerian Sahara, 114 scat samples were collected that contained more than 400 insects, plant fragments and [[date palm]] (''Phoenix dactylifera'') fruits, remains of birds, mammals, [[squamata]] and insects.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |title=First quantitative data on the diet of the fennec fox, ''Vulpes zerda'' (Canidae, Carnivora), in Algeria |journal=Folia Zoologica |volume=61 |pages=61–70 |year=2012 |last1=Brahmi |first1=K. |last2=Khechekhouche |first2=E.A. |last3=Mostefaoui |first3=O. |last4=Doumandji |first4=S. |last5=Baziz |first5=B. |last6=Aulagnier |first6=S. |s2cid=86211731 |name-list-style=amp |doi=10.25225/fozo.v61.i1.a10.2012 |doi-access=free}}</ref> === Reproduction === [[File:Fenecs (crop).jpg|thumb|Male fennec fox mounting a female]] Fennec foxes [[monogamy in animals|mate for life]].<ref name=":2" /> Captive animals reach [[sexual maturity]] at around nine months and mate between January and April.<ref name=Gauthier-Pilters>{{cite journal |last=Gauthier-Pilters |first=H. |year=1967 |title=The Fennec |journal=African Wildlife |volume=21 |pages=117–125}}</ref><ref name=SaintGirons>{{cite journal |last1=Saint Girons |first1=M. C. |year=1962 |title=Notes sur les dates de reproduction en captivite du fennec, ''Fennecus zerda'' (Zimmerman, 1780) |journal=Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde |volume=27 |pages=181–184 |url=https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Zeitschrift-Saeugetierkunde_27_0181-0184.pdf |language=fr}}</ref> Female fennec foxes are in [[Estrous cycle|estrus]] for an average of 24 hours and usually breed once per year; the [[Canine tying|copulation tie]] lasts up to two hours and 45 minutes.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Valdespino |first1=C. |name-list-style=amp |last2=Asa |first2=C. S. |last3=Bauman |first3=J. E. |year=2002 |title=Estrous cycles, copulation and pregnancy in the fennec fox (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=83 |issue=1 |pages=99–109 |doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0099:ECCAPI>2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=51812228 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/83/1/99/7022997/83-1-99.pdf}}</ref> [[Gestation]] usually lasts between 50 and 52 days, though sometimes up to 63 days.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Petter |first=F. |year=1957 |title=La reproduction du fennec |journal=Mammalia |volume=21 |pages=307–309}}</ref><ref name=Gangloff1972>{{cite journal |last=Gangloff |first=L. |year=1972 |title=Breeding fennec foxes ''Fennecus zerda'' at Strasbourg Zoo |journal=International Zoo Yearbook |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=115–116 |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1972.tb02289.x}}</ref> After mating, the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female, and provides her with food during pregnancy and [[lactation]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sowards |first=R. K. |year=1981 |title=Observation on breeding and rearing the fennec fox (''Fennecus zerda'') in captivity |journal=Animal Keepers' Forum |volume=8 |pages=175–177}}</ref> Females give birth between March and June to a [[Litter (zoology)|litter]] of one to four pups that open their eyes after 8 to 11 days.<ref name=Gangloff1972/><ref name=SaintGirons/> Both female and male care for the pups. They communicate by barking, purring, yapping and squeaking. Pups remain in the family even after a new litter is born.<ref name=Gauthier-Pilters/> The pups are [[wean]]ed at the age of 61 to 70 days.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Koenig |first=L. |year=1970 |title=Zur Fortpflanzung und Jungendentwicklung des Wüstenfuchses (''Fennecus zerda'' Zimm. 1780) |journal=Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=205–246 |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.1970.tb01873.x |s2cid=84068292 |language=de}}</ref> Adults rear pups until they are around 16 to 17 weeks old.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Siciliano-Martina |first1=L. |last2=Martina |first2=J. P. |last3=Dohnalik |first3=E. |last4=Vielleux |first4=G. |date=2023 |title=Factors influencing the timing and frequency of litters in captive fennec foxes (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Animal Reproduction Science |volume=248 |pages=107182 |doi=10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107182|pmid=36529013 }}</ref> The average lifespan in the wild is 10 years.<ref name="COTW" /> The oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old, and the oldest female 13 years.<ref name=Asa_al2004 /> === Predators, parasites and diseases === African [[horned owl]] species such as the [[Pharaoh eagle-owl]] prey on fennec fox pups. Anecdotal reports exist about [[jackal]]s and [[striped hyena]]s also preying on the fennec fox. But according to nomads, the fennec fox is fast and changes directions so well that even their [[Saluki]]s are hardly ever able to capture it.<ref name=Asa_al2004/> Captive fennec foxes are susceptible to [[canine distemper virus]], displaying fever, mucopurulent ocular discharge, [[diarrhea]], severe [[emaciation]], seizures, generalized [[ataxia]], severe [[dehydration]], brain congestion, gastric ulcers and death. Stress because of capture and long-distance transportation are thought to be the causes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Woo |first1=G.-H. |last2=Jho |first2=Y.-S. |last3=Bak |first3=E.-J. |title=Canine distemper virus infection in Fennec Fox (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Journal of Veterinary Medical Science |date=2010 |volume=72 |issue=8 |pages=1075–1079 |doi=10.1292/jvms.09-0510|pmid=20299771 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2012, a study reported a case of ''[[Trichophyton mentagrophytes]]'', a [[fungus]] species, in a 2-year-old male. It died not too long after contracting the pathogen from [[Anorexia (symptom)|anorexia]] and [[Jaundice|icterus]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pressanti |first1=Charline |last2=Delverdier |first2=Maxence |last3=Iriart |first3=Xavier |last4=Morcel |first4=Frédérique |last5=Cadiergues |first5=Marie-Christine |date=2012 |title=A case of Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection in a fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2012.01077.x |journal=Veterinary Dermatology |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=456–e87 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3164.2012.01077.x |pmid=22822716 |issn=1365-3164}}</ref> A 2019 review of the deaths of fennec foxes due to medical conditions or pathogens at the [[Bronx Zoo|Bronx]] and [[Prospect Park Zoo]]s since 1980 found that the majority of such deaths were attributed to [[Neoplasm|neoplasia]] and [[infection]]. Most foxes developed infections or medical conditions from [[atopic dermatitis]] and other dermatologic dliseases, as well as trauma.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Figueroa |first1=Rachael |last2=Oliveira |first2=Ryan D. |last3=Sykes |first3=John M. |date=July 2023 |title=A 40-year (1980–2019) Retrospective review of morbidity and mortality of fennec foxes (Vulpes Zerda) at the Bronx and Prospect Park Zoos |url=https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-zoo-and-wildlife-medicine/volume-54/issue-2/2022-0167/A-40-YEAR-19802019-RETROSPECTIVE-REVIEW-OF-MORBIDITY-AND-MORTALITY/10.1638/2022-0167.short |journal=Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |language=en |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=252–261 |doi=10.1638/2022-0167 |pmid=37428687 |issn=1042-7260 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241211204959/https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-zoo-and-wildlife-medicine/volume-54/issue-2/2022-0167/A-40-YEAR-19802019-RETROSPECTIVE-REVIEW-OF-MORBIDITY-AND-MORTALITY/10.1638/2022-0167.short |archive-date=2024-12-11|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Parasites known to infect the fennec fox include [[Nematode|roundworm]]s such as ''[[Capillaria (nematode)|Capillaria]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Taki |first1=Yahya |last2=Bourquia |first2=Maria |date=2024-04-30 |title=Gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites in captive mammals at Rabat zoo, with the first record of Capillaria spp. in the Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) |url=https://veterinariaitaliana.izs.it/index.php/VetIt/article/view/2856 |journal=Veterinaria Italiana |language=en |volume=59 |issue=3 |doi=10.12834/VetIt.2856.19877.2 |pmid=38686838 |issn=1828-1427}}</ref> and ''[[Angiostrongylus vasorum]]'',<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Galietta |first1=Valentina |last2=Eleni |first2=Claudia |last3=Raso |first3=Caterina |last4=Cocumelli |first4=Cristiano |last5=Friedrich |first5=Klaus G. |last6=Di Cerbo |first6=Pilar |last7=Iurescia |first7=Manuela |last8=Diaconu |first8=Elena L. |last9=Alba |first9=Patricia |last10=De Liberato |first10=Claudio |date=September 2022 |title=Systemic Infection by Angiostrongylus vasorum in a Fennec (Vulpes zerda) in an Italian Zoological Garden |journal=Pathogens |language=en |volume=11 |issue=9 |pages=965 |doi=10.3390/pathogens11090965 |issn=2076-0817 |pmc=9505467 |pmid=36145397 |doi-access=free}}</ref> as well as the [[alveolate]] ''[[Toxoplasma gondii]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kottwitz |first1=Jack J. |last2=Preziosi |first2=Diane E. |last3=Miller |first3=Margaret A. |last4=Ramos-Vara |first4=Jose A. |last5=Maggs |first5=David J. |last6=Bonagura |first6=John D. |date=2004-11-01 |title=Heart Failure Caused by Toxoplasmosis in a Fennec Fox (Fennecus zerda) |url=https://meridian.allenpress.com/jaaha/article-abstract/40/6/501/176124/Heart-Failure-Caused-by-Toxoplasmosis-in-a-Fennec |journal=Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association |volume=40 |issue=6 |pages=501–507 |doi=10.5326/0400501 |pmid=15533972 |issn=0587-2871|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
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