fennec

American  

[fen-ek] / ˈfɛn ɛk /

noun

1. a small, pale yellowish-brown fox, Fennecus zerda, of northern Africa, having large, pointed ears.

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fennec British  

/ ˈfɛnɛk /

noun

1. a very small nocturnal fox, Fennecus zerda , inhabiting deserts of N Africa and Arabia, having pale fur and enormous ears

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Etymology

Origin of fennec

1780–90; < Arabic fanak < Persian

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fennec

I was fascinated by the tracks my guides picked up: snakes, grasshoppers, even hares and fennec foxes.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 16, 2016

Zhang said fennec foxes were introduced as pets in China only about a decade ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2016

George, one of the fennec foxes he hand-raised at the Bronx Zoo, is now at home at Potawatomi to join the growing program.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 25, 2016

So while cats and the amazing fennec foxes and more distantly related mammals like marsupials kept their ability to orient their ears—think of big-eared cuties like koalas, lemurs, bush-babies—apes and humans lost the skill.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2015

In the true foxes the pupil is linear or elliptical, while that of the fennec is round, thus showing the difference of habit—for the foxes are in reality nocturnal animals, while the fennecs are diurnal.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Mayne Reid

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