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Absurd Creatures | The Fennec Fox and Its Giant Ears Are Too Cute to Possibly Exist

The Fennec fox is the smallest, and arguably the cutest, fox on earth. Its enormous ears make it look like a cartoon character and help it hear prey and keep cool.

Released on 03/30/2016

Transcript

(bright music)

[Narrator] Shhhh, be very quiet,

the fennec fox is sleeping.

Those ears can hear a mouse sneeze

on the damn moon.

Behold the smallest and clearly the cutest

fox on Earth,

weighing in at just two pounds.

It's a native of the deserts of Northern Africa,

and actually, those ears

are a big help in the heat.

They act kind of like radiators.

When air hits the ears,

it cools down the blood inside.

Then the chilled blood circulates

through the whole body.

Elephants do the same thing.

When you see one flapping its ears,

it's probably trying to cool off,

or take flight like Dumbo.

The fox's ears also make it

a formidable nocturnal hunter.

Its keen sense of hearing

lets it locate insects and reptiles

in the darkness.

And, weirdly, for a mammal,

its got fur on the bottom of its paws.

That keeps the fox's feet from baking

on the desert sand,

and gives the fox better grip.

But for now, it's time for a snooze,

so everyone be quiet.

The fox can hear really well.

I should stop talking, shouldn't I?

OK, I'm done now.

Starring: Matt Simon