Fennec fox or red fox?
How to tell them apart
The fennec is far smaller than a red fox, with much bigger ears.
Quick answers
They differ on 1 of the 8 quick answers: kept as a pet.
| Question | Fennec fox | Red fox |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Mammal | Mammal |
| Carnivore? | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Dangerous? | No | No |
| Domesticated? | No | No |
| Awake when? | Night | Night |
| Hibernates? | No | No |
| Kept as a pet? differs | Sometimes | No |
| Do people eat it? | No | No |
At a glance
| Question | Fennec fox | Red fox |
|---|---|---|
| Found in differs | Africa | Europe, North America, Asia |
| Habitat differs | Desert | Forest, Grassland, Farmland, Towns |
| Size differs | Tiny | Medium |
| Length differs | – | 45–90 cm plus a 30–55 cm tail |
| Height differs | – | 35–50 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight differs | 0.8–1.5 kg | – |
| Legs | 4 | 4 |
| Covered in | Fur | Fur |
| Lives differs | In families | Alone |
| Lives for differs | 10–14 years | 3–5 years |
| Can fly | No | No |
| Swims differs | No | Yes |
| Lays eggs | No | No |
About each
Fennec fox
The smallest fox, from the deserts of North Africa. Its huge ears, the biggest for its size of any member of the dog family, shed heat and pick up prey moving underground.
Everything on the fennec fox page
Red fox
The familiar orange fox of the northern hemisphere and the most widespread wild carnivore on Earth. A solitary hunter of small animals that has moved into farmland and cities.
Everything on the red fox page
Sources
Last reviewed . The answers and notes come from each animal's own page, where every source is listed.
How each answer is decided: How we answer. More look-alikes: Side by side.