What small nocturnal fox has enormous ears and lives in deserts?

The fennec fox is a small nocturnal fox with enormous ears that lives in deserts.

Fennec foxes, scientifically named Vulpes zerda, are native to the deserts of North Africa, from the Western Sahara and Mauritania eastward to the Sinai Peninsula. Their oversized ears are the largest relative to body size among canids. They help release heat and detect insects or small animals moving beneath sand and soil.

The fennec is the smallest fox species. Its pale, sand-colored coat reflects sunlight and provides camouflage, while furry feet help protect its paws from hot ground. Specialized kidneys allow it to conserve water, an essential adaptation in an environment where free water can be scarce. Fennecs shelter in family burrows during the hottest parts of the day and become most active at night.

A common mistake is treating every desert fox as a fennec. Gray, arctic, and red foxes are different species with different ranges and adaptations. The fennec’s scientific name was changed to Vulpes zerda after later taxonomic analysis placed it in the fox genus Vulpes.