{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "fennec-fox",
  "name": "Fennec Fox",
  "scientificName": "Vulpes zerda",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The fennec fox is the world's smallest fox, native to the deserts of North Africa and the Sahara. Its huge ears radiate body heat and pick up the sound of prey underground, while pale fur and furry feet help it survive scorching sand. Fennec foxes weigh about 1 kg and live 10 to 14 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Canidae",
    "genus": "Vulpes"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 1.2,
    "lengthM": 0.4,
    "topSpeedKmh": 32,
    "lifespanYears": 12
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Vulpes zerda"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (insects, small animals, plants)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Sandy deserts of North Africa and the Sahara"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "10–14 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "Around 40 cm (16 in) plus tail"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "The sandy deserts of North Africa and the Sahara, from Morocco and Mauritania east to the Sinai Peninsula.",
    "continents": [
      "Africa"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Vulpes zerda.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Vulpes%20zerda&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Vulpes zerda. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_zerda/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Fennec Fox.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_fox"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/fennec-fox/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/fennec-fox/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}