Scientific Illustration

natalieillustrates:

Vulpes.

Dark sepia and sanguine ink drawing.

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.

n174_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.

Vixen and cubs

The wild beasts of the world. v.1.
London :T. C. & E. C. Jack,[1909?]
biodiversitylibrary.org/item/62924