The Fennec Fox, also known as the Dessert Fox, is the smallest species of fox in the world. Linnaeus, known as the father of taxonomy, classified all foxes under the genus Vulpes-Fennec. Foxes are more specifically classified within the species as Vulpes zerda. As previously stated, Fennec foxes are the smallest known species of foxes. To give you a mental picture, they are smaller than the typical domestic cat. Vulpes zerda's head and body are approximately eleven inches long, with a tail approximately seventeen inches long. On average, the female fox, a vixen, weighs 0.8 kg. The male fox, a dog, is considerably plumper and weighs an average of 1.8 kg. Unlike many animals in the animal kingdom, Fennec foxes are generally monogamous. The Encyclopedia of Life further explains that "the couple lives with their offspring in a family unit that can accommodate up to ten individuals" ("Vulpes zerda: Fennec"). The desert biome ecosystem is created due to the low average rainfall it receives. every year. Although there are four main types of deserts in this African biome: hot and dry, semi-arid, coastal, and cold, the largest populations of Fennec foxes live in the semi-arid northern part of the Sahara Desert. The Sahara Desert countries stretch from Mauritania to Sudan, covering more than 3.3 million square miles. Rainfall is rare and usually torrential: half of the Sahara receives less than an inch per year and the rest receives up to 10 centimeters, much of which evaporates before hitting the ground. The Sahara Desert is a vast habitat that includes a variety of vegetation and animals. However, as in many deserts vegetation is limited, the three best known plants of the Sahara Desert are: Bristle Grass, Ephedra and Merkba. Animals that live in the middle of paper ......erda/Asa, CS (2008). Vulpes zerda (fennec fox). Retrieved from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41588/0Clayton, C. (2012). Relationships with other species. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/fennecfoxawareness/relationships-with-other-speciesFennec fox. (nd). Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/fennec-fox/?Fennec fox facts. (nd). Retrieved from http://interesting-animal-facts.com/Desert-Animal-Facts/Fennec-Fox-Facts.shtmlHarmon, B. (nd). Physical adaptations of the fennec fox. Retrieved from http://animals.pawnation.com/physical-adaptations-fennec-foxes-6101.html Seigfreid, D. (June 2010). Discovery of biogeochemical cycles. Retrieved from http//ww.dummies.com/how-to/content/discovering-the-biogeochemical-cycles.htmlVulpes zerda: Fennec fox. (nd). Retrieved from http://eol.org/pages/328001/details