Editing Fennec fox (section)

=== Reproduction ===
[[File:Fenecs (crop).jpg|thumb|Male fennec fox mounting a female]]

Fennec foxes [[monogamy in animals|mate for life]].<ref name=":2" /> Captive animals reach [[sexual maturity]] at around nine months and mate between January and April.<ref name=Gauthier-Pilters>{{cite journal |last=Gauthier-Pilters |first=H. |year=1967 |title=The Fennec |journal=African Wildlife |volume=21 |pages=117–125}}</ref><ref name=SaintGirons>{{cite journal |last1=Saint Girons |first1=M. C. |year=1962 |title=Notes sur les dates de reproduction en captivite du fennec, ''Fennecus zerda'' (Zimmerman, 1780) |journal=Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde |volume=27 |pages=181–184 |url=https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Zeitschrift-Saeugetierkunde_27_0181-0184.pdf |language=fr}}</ref> Female fennec foxes are in [[Estrous cycle|estrus]] for an average of 24 hours and usually breed once per year; the [[Canine tying|copulation tie]] lasts up to two hours and 45 minutes.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Valdespino |first1=C. |name-list-style=amp |last2=Asa |first2=C. S. |last3=Bauman |first3=J. E. |year=2002 |title=Estrous cycles, copulation and pregnancy in the fennec fox (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=83 |issue=1 |pages=99–109 |doi=10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0099:ECCAPI>2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=51812228 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-pdf/83/1/99/7022997/83-1-99.pdf}}</ref> [[Gestation]] usually lasts between 50 and 52 days, though sometimes up to 63 days.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Petter |first=F. |year=1957 |title=La reproduction du fennec |journal=Mammalia |volume=21 |pages=307–309}}</ref><ref name=Gangloff1972>{{cite journal |last=Gangloff |first=L. |year=1972 |title=Breeding fennec foxes ''Fennecus zerda'' at Strasbourg Zoo |journal=International Zoo Yearbook |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=115–116 |doi=10.1111/j.1748-1090.1972.tb02289.x}}</ref> After mating, the male becomes very aggressive and protects the female, and provides her with food during pregnancy and [[lactation]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sowards |first=R. K. |year=1981 |title=Observation on breeding and rearing the fennec fox (''Fennecus zerda'') in captivity |journal=Animal Keepers' Forum |volume=8 |pages=175–177}}</ref> Females give birth between March and June to a [[Litter (zoology)|litter]] of one to four pups that open their eyes after 8 to 11 days.<ref name=Gangloff1972/><ref name=SaintGirons/> Both female and male care for the pups. They communicate by barking, purring, yapping and squeaking. Pups remain in the family even after a new litter is born.<ref name=Gauthier-Pilters/> The pups are [[wean]]ed at the age of 61 to 70 days.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Koenig |first=L. |year=1970 |title=Zur Fortpflanzung und Jungendentwicklung des Wüstenfuchses (''Fennecus zerda'' Zimm. 1780) |journal=Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=205–246 |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.1970.tb01873.x |s2cid=84068292 |language=de}}</ref> Adults rear pups until they are around 16 to 17 weeks old.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Siciliano-Martina |first1=L. |last2=Martina |first2=J. P. |last3=Dohnalik |first3=E. |last4=Vielleux |first4=G. |date=2023 |title=Factors influencing the timing and frequency of litters in captive fennec foxes (''Vulpes zerda'') |journal=Animal Reproduction Science |volume=248 |pages=107182 |doi=10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107182|pmid=36529013 }}</ref>  The average lifespan in the wild is 10 years.<ref name="COTW" /> The oldest captive male fennec fox was 14 years old, and the oldest female 13 years.<ref name=Asa_al2004 />