Fennec Fox
Vulpes zerda
The world's smallest wild dog, a pale desert fox with giant ears that help it stay cool and hear prey under the sand.
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About the Fennec Fox
Fennec foxes are the smallest members of the dog family, only 14 to 16 inches long and 2 to 3 pounds. Their ears can be 4 to 6 inches long! They live in the Sahara Desert and east to Sinai and Arabia. At night they hunt insects, small rodents, lizards and birds, and they also eat roots, fruits and leaves, which give them water. Furry paws protect their feet from hot sand.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Vulpes zerda[1]
- Size
- 14 to 16 inches long, plus a 7- to 12-inch tail. Ears 4 to 6 inches long.[1]
- Weight
- 2 to 3 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- Up to 11 years in human care.[1]
- Diet
- Omnivore. Insects, small rodents, lizards, birds and eggs, plus roots, fruits and leaves.[1]
- Habitat
- Sandy deserts and dry areas with grasses or scrub.[1]
- Where it lives
- North Africa, across the Sahara Desert east to Sinai and Arabia.[1]
- Group life
- Family groups of up to 10. Nocturnal.[1]
- Babies
- One litter a year of 2 to 5 pups.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2015).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- canid
- A member of the dog family, such as a dog, wolf or fox.
- burrow
- A hole or tunnel an animal digs to live in.
- nocturnal
- Active mainly at night.
- omnivore
- An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
- least concern
- A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.
See it in person
- Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Small Mammal HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Fennec fox.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/fennec-fox (accessed 2026-10-08)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Vulpes zerda (Fennec Fox).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41588/46173447 (accessed 2026-10-08)
Facts last checked 2026-10-08.
