ETYM Arabic fanek.
A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.
Small fox of Africa.
Small nocturnal desert fox Fennecus zerda found in N Africa and Arabia. It has a head and body only 40 cm/1.3 ft long, and its enormous ears act as radiators to lose excess heat. It eats insects and small animals.