A fennec fox weighs only about 1.5 kilograms - less than a bag of sugar. Its ears can be 15 centimetres tall, almost as long as the fox itself. They are not just for show. They can hear insects walking underground. They also work like radiators, letting heat out of the body so the fox stays cool in the desert.
Fennec foxes are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and come out at night when the desert is cooler. They dig burrows up to 10 metres long in the sand. The burrow stays cool in the day and warm at night - a perfectly air-conditioned home.
They eat almost anything: insects, lizards, small mammals, eggs, fruit, even roots. They almost never need to drink water. They get nearly all the water they need from the food they eat - their bodies are that efficient.
Fennec foxes are very social. They live in small family groups of around ten foxes. They yip, chirp, purr and bark to each other. Their fur is creamy-sand coloured to match the desert - a natural camouflage against the dunes.

