Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical GardenBoss-oniisan (Chiba)The fennec fox is the desert-dwelling smallest member of the Canidae family.
Its characteristic big ears help it swiftly detect enemies and locate prey under the sand.
They also function as a radiator to help it dissipate heat.
It is thought that its body has likewise evolved to be small to make dissipating heat easier.The fennec fox is good at digging holes, and builds its nest a few meters under the sand.
Using these burrows, it can escape the daytime heat and the nighttime cold.As a further adaptation to the waterless desert, the fennec fox is said to obtain most of its hydration from fruits and plants.