Fennec foxes have extraordinary hearing to locate underground prey. Their large ears, which are usually 4 to 6 inches long, help to dissipate excess body heat on hot days.

The fennec may be the world’s smallest fox, but it sports outlandishly large ears! In fact, relative to body size, it has the largest ears of any member of the canid family. It uses those big ears to listen for sounds of prey in the sand. The ears also help dispel body heat to keep the fox cool.

The bat-eared fox is a small, African fox known for its enormous ears, which are over 5 inches (13 centimeters) tall. The ears are full of blood vessels that shed heat and help keep the fox cool; they also give the fox a very good sense of hearing.

Their nocturnal habits help them deal with the searing heat of the desert environment, and some physical adaptations help as well. Their distinctive, batlike ears radiate body heat and help keep the foxes cool. The fox’s feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging—fennec foxes live in underground dens.

If a fennec fox sounds like the ideal pet for you, you can expect to pay between $2500 – $3500 for one (plus shipping if you do not live near a breeder). Take the time to check out the breeder to be sure that they are raising their animals ethically, and that the animals are both in good health and well cared for.

The Most Dangerous Animals in the World

1. Humans. Surprised?
2. Mosquito. Clocking in at just three millimeters at their smallest, the common mosquito, even tinier than the tsetse fly, ranks as the second most dangerous.
3. Tsetse Fly.
4. Saltwater Crocodile.
5. Stonefish.
6. Sydney Funnel-Web Spider.
7. Black Mamba.
8. Pufferfish.