Named after the German Naturalist Eduard Ruppell, the Ruppell’s fox (or Ruppell’s sand fox) is one of the twelve species of true foxes. Found in the dry regions of North Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, these small foxes are very well adapted to life in the desert. They have huge ears to keep them cool and allow them to hear small prey, a light-colored coat that helps them camouflage and stay cool, and fur on the bottom of their feet to protect their paw-pads and help them run faster in sand.
Like the fennec fox, Ruppell’s foxes prefer cold temperatures over hot temperatures, so they are crepuscular or nocturnal. They spend the day in a burrow, moving to new burrows every 4-6 days. It’s unclear why they do this, but it probably helps them avoid predators like jackals. These burrows are quite small, so when they have kits they move to a slightly larger burrow. Unlike most fox burrows, theirs very rarely have multiple entrances.
Water can be hard to find in the Ruppell’s fox’s desert habitat. As legend has it, the foxes drink by raising their heads to the breeze and getting water from the wind. Really, though, they get almost all the water they need from their prey. They are omnivores, so this prey includes plants, birds, insects, lizards, and small mammals.
I rate the Ruppell’s Fox 10/10. Amazing giant ears
(1) Unknown (2) Unknown (3) Theklan - only name given (4) Stuart - only name given (5) Jonas - only name given