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What the sources say

Fennec FoxVulpes zerda

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Fennec Fox profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 48 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Vulpes zerda (fennec fox). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysits enlarged auditory bullae
The source saysEnlarged auditory bullae also serve this latter purpose.Note: the gloss 'the hollow bones that enclose the middle ear' is a standard anatomical definition, not a claim about fennecs
The page saysalso help it locate prey moving under the sand
The source saysthe large, 15 cm long pinnae are used both to dissipate heat and to locate prey moving under the sand. Enlarged auditory bullae also serve this latter purpose.
The page saystags: omnivore
The source saysThey obtain much of their food through digging, and, as omnivores in a desert environment, will consume almost anything that makes itself available. Small rodents, lizards, birds, eggs, and insects are all common prey. Fruit, leaves and roots are an important part of the dietNote: Settle #387: added beside insectivore, which stays: SNZ's wild diet leads with 'insects—particularly grasshoppers and locusts' and the ears locate prey.

Source
02

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Fennec Fox. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysEars Built to Cool and Hunt
The source saysThose ears not only help them listen for prey underground, but also serve to dissipate excess heat of the desert.Note: heading
The page saysThose ears help the fox listen for prey underground, and they also dissipate excess heat of the desert
The source saysThose ears not only help them listen for prey underground, but also serve to dissipate excess heat of the desert.
The page saysSan Diego Zoo puts the weight a little higher, at about 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds)
The source saysWeight: About 3.5 pounds (1.6 kilograms)Note: 'a little higher' compares SDZ's 1.6 kg with the Smithsonian's 0.9 to 1.4 kg
The page saysSan Diego Zoo lists a life span of 10 years in the wild and 13 in zoos
The source saysLIFE SPAN 10 years in the wild; 13 years in zoos
The page saysa thick, sandy-colored coat reflects sunlight by day and keeps it warm at night
The source saysThey have a thick, sandy-colored coat that keeps them warm at night and reflects the sunlight during the day.
The page saysMost of the water it needs comes from the plants it eats
The source saysmost of the water they need comes from the plants they consume.
The page saysFennec foxes are monogamous and mate for life
The source saysFennec foxes are monogamous and mate for life.
The page saysthey burrow into sand dunes during the day to avoid the extreme heat
The source saysThey burrow into sand dunes during the day, to avoid the extreme heat.
The page saysFamily Burrows Under the Dunes
The source saysThey burrow into sand dunes during the day, to avoid the extreme heat.Note: heading; the family part is the SDZ monogamy line and the Smithsonian family-group line claimed below
The page saysLitters of two to five kits arrive after a gestation of about 50 days
The source saysLitters consist of 2-5 kits, after a gestation period of about 50 days.

Source
03

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Fennec fox. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysThe largest ears of any canid for its size, used to shed desert heat and track down prey under the sand.
The source saysThey have the largest ears relative to their body size of any member of the canid family, which they use to dispel heat and track down prey underneath the sand.Note: tagline; 'desert' from the same paragraph's 'These foxes are adapted to life in the desert'
The page saysEars up to 6 inches (15.2 cm) long that dispel desert heat and track down prey under the sand.
The source sayswhich they use to dispel heat and track down prey underneath the sand ... which can grow to between 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) in lengthNote: stats.superpower, combining the Physical Description section and the Size section, in the page's own order
The page saysSandy deserts and arid scrub across North Africa's Sahara, east to Sinai and Arabia
The source saysFennec foxes live in North Africa, throughout the Sahara Desert and east to Sinai and Arabia. They prefer sandy deserts and arid regions with desert grasses or scrub vegetation.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysInsects (especially grasshoppers and locusts), small rodents, lizards, birds and eggs, plus roots, fruit and leaves
The source saysIn the wild, fennec foxes eat insects—particularly grasshoppers and locusts—as well as small rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs. They will also consume roots, fruits and leaves, which help them to hydrate.Note: stats.diet
The page sayshas the largest ears relative to body size of any member of the dog family
The source saysThey have the largest ears relative to their body size of any member of the canid familyNote: 'dog family' for 'canid family'
The page saysthey can grow 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) long
The source sayswhich can grow to between 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) in length
The page saysthe smallest of all canids
The source saysThe smallest of all canids, fennec foxes are 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, with an additional 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 centimeters) of tail.
The page saysits body is 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, plus a 7-to-12-inch (18-to-30 cm) tail
The source saysfennec foxes are 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, with an additional 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 centimeters) of tail.
The page saysit usually weighs 0.9 to 1.4 kilograms (2 to 3 pounds)
The source saysThey usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kilograms).
The page saysThe Smallest Canid on Earth
The source saysThe smallest of all canids, fennec foxes are 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) longNote: heading
The page saysthe Smithsonian says fennec foxes may live up to 11 years in human care
The source saysFennec foxes may live up to 11 years in human care.
The page saysHeavily furred paws give traction in the sand and protect the fox from the hot ground
The source saysHeavily furred paws provide traction when running in the sand while also offering protection from the extreme heat of the terrain.
The page saysExtreme panting helps a fennec fox keep its temperature regulated when the heat climbs
The source saysExtreme panting helps fennec foxes keep their temperatures regulated when the heat climbsNote: blockquote lead-in and sentence
The page saysits breathing rate can rise from 23 breaths a minute to as many as 690
The source saysbreathing rates climb from 23 breaths per minute to up to 690.Note: blockquote; 'as many as' for the source's 'up to'
The page saysIn the wild, fennec foxes eat insects, especially grasshoppers and locusts, plus small rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs, and round it out with roots, fruit and leaves
The source saysIn the wild, fennec foxes eat insects—particularly grasshoppers and locusts—as well as small rodents, lizards, birds and their eggs. They will also consume roots, fruits and leaves
The page saysThose plant foods help them hydrate
The source saysThey will also consume roots, fruits and leaves, which help them to hydrate.
The page saysa fennec fox can go for long periods without drinking water
The source saysFennec foxes are also capable of going for long periods without consuming water
The page saysHunting happens alone and at night: the fox listens for prey under the sand with its huge ears, then digs with all four feet to reach its meal
The source saysHunting occurs at night and alone; fennec foxes use their abnormally large ears to listen for prey underneath the sand, and once located will dig with all four feet to expose their meal.
The page saysIt can kill prey larger than itself: there are documented cases of fennec foxes taking down fully grown rabbits
The source saysThey can catch and kill prey larger than themselves; there have been documented cases of fennec foxes taking down fully grown rabbits.
The page saysGetting Water From Food
The source saysFennec foxes are also capable of going for long periods without consuming water; they are able to hydrate through the food they consume.Note: heading
The page saysThey can live in family groups of up to ten individuals
The source saysfennec foxes can live in family groups of up to ten individuals
The page sayssome instances of several family groups sharing one complex den
The source saysThere have been some instances of multiple family groups sharing a complex den.
The page saysTheir tunnels can reach up to 32 feet (10 meters) long
The source saysdigging out a series of tunnels that can reach up to 32 feet (10 meters) in length.
The page saysit is not uncommon for a den to have multiple entrances and exits, which give a safe escape from an outside threat
The source saysIt is not uncommon for these dens to have multiple entrances and exits to provide a safe escape in the event of an outside threat.
The page saysThe species ranges across North Africa's Sahara Desert, east to the Sinai Peninsula and Arabia
The source saysFennec foxes live in North Africa, throughout the Sahara Desert and east to Sinai and Arabia.
The page saysThe fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) has the largest ears relative to body size of any member of the canid family, which it uses to dissipate body heat and track down prey underneath the sand.
The source saysThey have the largest ears relative to their body size of any member of the canid family, which they use to dispel heat and track down prey underneath the sand.Note: FAQ 1
The page saysThose ears can reach 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) long on an animal that usually weighs just 0.9 to 1.4 kilograms (2 to 3 pounds).
The source saysThey usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kilograms) ... which can grow to between 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) in lengthNote: FAQ 1, in the page's own order (weight, then ear length)
The page saysFennec foxes can go for long periods without drinking water, and they are able to hydrate through the food they eat.
The source saysFennec foxes are also capable of going for long periods without consuming water; they are able to hydrate through the food they consume.Note: FAQ 2
The page saysIn the wild, the roots, fruits and leaves in their diet help them hydrate.
The source saysIn the wild, fennec foxes eat insects ... They will also consume roots, fruits and leaves, which help them to hydrate.Note: FAQ 2
The page saysIts paws are heavily furred. That fur gives the fox traction when running in the sand and protects it from the extreme heat of the ground.
The source saysHeavily furred paws provide traction when running in the sand while also offering protection from the extreme heat of the terrain.Note: FAQ 3
The page sayslike a fox that hunts at night by using its outsized ears to hear prey underneath the sand
The source saysHunting occurs at night and alone; fennec foxes use their abnormally large ears to listen for prey underneath the sandNote: Settle #387: vibe.reason mechanism replaces 'Sahara sunset warmth' and 'desert velvet grooves'.

Source
04

Siciliano-Martina et al. 2023

Siciliano-Martina et al. (2023). Factors influencing the timing and frequency of litters in captive fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda). Animal Reproduction Science.

The page saysA 2023 study of the fennec fox studbook notes that wild fennec foxes "produce a single litter in March or April,"
The source saysWild fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda), for example, produce a single litter in March or AprilNote: 2023 is the reference's publication year per the audit:sources --cite metadata; 'notes', not 'confirmed': the abstract states this as background, not a finding
The page saysthe 220 captive-born litters it examined were born in every month of the year
The source sayswe used the fennec fox studbook to extract traits related to reproductive variability in 220 captive-born litters. The captive litters in our dataset were born during every month of the year

Source
05

Wacher, Bauman & Cuzin 2015

Wacher, Bauman & Cuzin (2015). Vulpes zerda. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T41588A46173447.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus
The page saysthe IUCN rates it Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.