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![biomedicalephemera:
Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox
The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects.
Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice.
Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1u158sJG31qk931ho1_500.jpg)
Canis Zorda [now Vulpes zerda] - Fennec Fox
The Fennec fox is indigenous to Northern Africa, especially around Morocco, but is common in zoos around the world. Their large ears dissipate the heat of the desert, and their thick fur keeps them warm during the surprisingly-cold nights of the Sahara. They’re the smallest canid in the world, and often weigh less than 3 lbs as adults. Despite their tiny size, their ears can reach up to six inches across. Like many desert residents, Fennecs are opportunistic feeders. They consume eggs of birds and reptiles, rodents, and reptiles themselves, as well as a large number of insects.
Interestingly, the Fennec fox’s paws are much more similar to the Arctic foxes than any other fox species. They’re large and fur-covered, which protect them from the blisteringly-hot sand, rather than the frigid snow and ice.
Atlas zu der Reise im nordlichen Afrika. Eduard Ruppell, 1926.
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Abyssinian Wolf - Canis simensis
Despite appearing more coyote or fox-like in appearance, and previously being thought to be anything from jackal to domestic dog mutation, molecular genetics now place the “Abyssinian wolf” (now commonly known as the Ethiopian Wolf) much closer to grey wolves than any other canid. They are the most critically endangered canine species that is still extant in the wild.
In addition to being incredibly rare, Abyssinian wolves have a fairly distinct lineage from the grey wolves, and are highly specialized for their niche in the Ethiopian ecosystem. Their teeth are spaced significantly farther apart than other canids, to more effectively catch and eat small-to-medium-sized rodents. Each individual hunts by itself during the day, but they still retain the pack dynamic that many other carnivores have, at least while resting.
Interestingly, though once widespread, no known tribes use the Abyssinian wolf within their folklore, though Ethiopia now views the species as a national pride. This is in sharp contrast to the grey wolf, which is widely used in Native American and First Nations folklore, and many other canid species.
Abyssinian Birds and Mammals, from paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, 1926.
