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Weighing at 1-2 kilograms, the fennec fox (or just fennec) is a small nocturnal fox found in the Sahara of North Africa. It is the smallest species of canid in the world. They’re really awesome, and perfectly adapted for life in the desert.

Its unusually large ears serve a very well defined purpose – they dissipate heat. Also, the fennec fox’s feet are very hairy, and they act like snowshoes, protecting the animal from the very hot sand. The fox’s feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging.

Its fur is a cream color and fluffy, reflecting heat during the day, but it’s also thick, so that it can keep warm during the night. The fennec fox is a carnivore, eating rodents, insects, birds, eggs and rabbits, but they are also predated by various African varieties of eagle owl, and occasionally, caracals, jackals and stripped hyenas.

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Oh, and this is how they sound like – prepare for a cuteness overload.