TRUE FOXES, BAT-EARED FOX AND RACCOON DOG
RECOGNITION Red Fox-like Canids, also called Vulpine Foxes, are a group of very small to small-sized Canids, characterized by a long, low body, with relatively short legs, a long pointed muzzle, large triangular ears, and a bushy tail that is at least half as long as the head and body. They have black, triangular face marks between eyes and nose, long black vibrissae, oval-shaped eyes with elliptical pupils, and the tip of the tail is often a different color from the rest of the coat. Color is usually reddish, sandy yellow or brown, with adults exhibiting more than one color, but in some species it may be completely white or black. Supracaudal gland is well developed. There is no marked sexual dimorphism, with males being slightly larger. Females usually have four pairs of nipples. Seasonal dimorphism may be sharp in some northern forms, but is revealed almost solely in degree of fur density and length. The skull is flattened in comparison with Canis, with an elongated rostrum. They exhibit the typical Canid dental formula, I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3 = 42, except Bat-Eared Foxes, which have six extra molars. Some species have a pungent odor, arising mainly from a gland located on the dorsal surface of the tail. Most species in this group belong to the monophyletic genus Vulpes (true Foxes). Vulpes was once considered a subgenus of Canis, but is now considered genetically distinct. Fennecus (Fennec Fox) and Alopex (Arctic Fox) are genetically so similar to the genus Vulpes that they are now included in this genus. The phylogenetic position of Otocyon (Bat-Eared Fox) and Nyctereutes (Raccoon Dog) is highly uncertain, but recent sequencing data suggests placement of both of these genera in the Vulpes-like clade.
PHYLOGENY During the late Miocene (ca. 10 Ma), the true Fox clade emerged and underwent modest diversification to initiate primitive species of both Vulpes and Urocyon. Vulpes spread out from North America, independent from the Canis clade, presumably via the Bering land bridge, and colonized Asia, and later, Africa and Europe. Vulpes species were widespread and diverse in Eurasia during the Pliocene. Red Fox and Arctic Fox appeared in North America only in the late Pleistocene, evidently as a result of immigration back to the New World. Up to 13 species of Vulpes have survived to the present time throughout Africa, Eurasia and North America, making it the most diverse living Canid genus. The Bat-Eared Fox may represent a late Pliocene immigration event to the Old World, independent of other Foxes (ca. 3 Ma), probably from India. The Raccoon Dog was an early immigrant to the Old World, with a useful fossil record in Asia and Europe dating from the late Miocene to the middle Pliocene (5.5 to 3 Ma); however, it is still far from clear what its original stock in North America was, with some studies suggesting that it is either more basal to the Vulpines or within the Fox lineage.
BEHAVIOR Foxes are generally solitary, forming monogamous mated pairs during the breeding season, and living in small family groups. They can dig their own dens but will often enlarge burrows of other species. Foxes are omnivores and generalist predators, with a diet largely made up of small vertebrates such as rodents, reptiles and birds, and small invertebrates such as insects, and can include eggs, plants and fruits. Foxes may cache excess food, burying it for later consumption, usually under leaves, snow or soil. Bat-Eared Fox is the only member of the Canid family that is truly insectivorous, lacks a carnassial shear, and has up to four pairs of extra molars. The Raccoon Dog is the only member of this group able to climb trees.
DISTRIBUTION Found on every continent except Antarctica. By far the most common and distributed species is the Red Fox, spread across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America and Asia, and introduced to Australasia in the 19th century. The Arctic Fox is found in the cold regions of the Arctic, while there are species that prefer the arid environment of lower latitudes. The Blanford’s Fox inhabits the semi-arid regions of the Middle East, while the Corsac Fox inhabits the arid regions of Central Asia. The Cape Fox, Pale Fox and Fennec Fox inhabit the arid and semi-arid regions of southern Africa, central Africa, and northern Africa respectively. The Rüppell’s Fox is found in both Asia and Africa. The Kit and Swift Fox are found in the arid regions of North America. The Indian Fox is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, and the Tibetan Fox is found in the plateau regions of Tibet and Ladakh.
CONSERVATION Like many carnivores, Foxes have at times been both persecuted and valued by humans. They have been pursued by trappers for the value of their fur, by hunters as a game animal, and by those who perceive them as livestock predators. Today management approaches and public attitudes toward Foxes have changed in some regions. They play an important role in regulating abundant species of small mammals, and Foxes have adapted to living in close proximity to people. Most species are not under threat, but current statistics on some populations are not well known and these populations may be threatened.
VULPES LAGOPUS LAGOPUS
BL: 49-57 cm (♂), 47-55 cm (♀). TL: 23-32 cm. H: 25-30 cm. W: 2.8-4.9 kg (♂), 2.5-3.6 kg (♀). SL: 11.7 cm. SW: 6.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 48-50. A small Fox, with a relatively compact body, short legs, round ears and a short snout. A small-sized subspecies of Arctic Fox, with southern forms being larger than northern forms. Coat is thick and dense in winter, with a majority of this fur being fine underfur. Summer coat is thinner. Molting is from May to early July, and from September to December. Two color morphs: white morph is pure white in winter, changing to brown dorsally, and light gray to white on its underside in summer; blue morph is brown tinged with a blue sheen in winter, changing to brownish dusky in summer, usually darkest on top of head and rump, with face and legs mixed with white hairs, and ears strongly edged with white. White morph predominates in this subspecies. Yellow eyes, with elongated pupils. Thickly haired feet. Tail is long and bushy. Females smaller than males, with 6 to 7 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Polar Fox, White Fox, Snow Fox. French: Renard polaire, isatis. German: Gewöhnlicher Polarfuchs. Spanish: Zorro ártico, zorro polar. Russian: Материковый (обыкновенный) песец.
TAXONOMY Four subspecies traditionally recognized: V. l. lagopus (most of the range), V. l. beringensis (Commander Islands, Russia), V. l. fuliginosus (Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard) and V. l. pribilofensis (Pribilof Islands, Alaska). Two ecotypes recognized: Lemming Foxes (continental Eurasia, North America, the Canadian archipelago and E Greenland), and coastal Foxes (Iceland, Svalbard, S, W and NW Greenland). Previously included in the genus Alopex. Closely related to the North American Kit and Swift Fox. This subspecies includes argenteus, caerulea, ungava, hallensis, innuitus and sibiricus.
SIMILAR SPECIES Red Fox is larger, with a white-tipped tail, longer legs and reddish color.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52 days. Young per birth: 6-12, exceptionally up to 25. Weaning: 28-42 days. Sexual maturity: 10-12 months. Life span: 10 years. Breeding season: April and May. Newborns of both color phases are covered with short velvety dark brown fur, which becomes lighter and longer after the pups reach 2 weeks of age. Blue-phase pups acquire their characteristic dark color by the time they are 2 months old. They prefer to den in light, sandy soil along riverbanks, on small hillocks, and occasionally in talus. On the open tundra, dens are usually a mound 1-4 m high.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Monogamous pairs in the breeding season. Diet: Lemming Foxes, typical of inland locations, have mostly white coats, migrate further and feed on lemmings and other small rodents; coastal Foxes live along the coasts of the Arctic, have mostly blue coats and feed on migratory birds, eggs, fish, seal carcasses and marine invertebrates. Main predators: Red Fox, wolverine, golden eagle, brown bear, Wolf. Mainly nocturnal, but their activity patterns are flexible depending on their prey. They may travel great distances during winter and traverse extensive pack ice fields. They may follow polar bears to scavenge kill remains. Territories are defended directly by chasing and mobbing and indirectly via scent marking and vocalizations, especially during the denning season. They scent mark by defecating on visually conspicuous or elevated landmarks such as rocks and eskers. Good swimmers. Common vocalizations include growls, barks and coughs, but also employ visual signs for communication.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States. Circumpolar distribution, including the Arctic and tundra zones of North America and Eurasia, parts of the alpine zones of Fennoscandia, and islands of the Arctic, North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. In North America, Arctic Foxes also occur on several Aleutian Islands in Alaska, where they were introduced for fur farming.
HABITAT Arctic and alpine tundra, often near coasts.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Critically Endangered (Norway), protected by law in Finland, Sweden and Norway. It is fairly abundant in North America. The release of many Arctic Foxes to over 450 islands in Alaska had catastrophic effects on island avifauna populations.
PHOTO CREDITS Jim Fowler, Hudson Bay (Canada); Prof. Dirk HR Spennemann, Shemya Island, AK (USA); Dan Mongrain, Toronto Zoo (Canada); Graphic Jackson, Churchill, MB (Canada); Jim Cumming (Canada).
VULPES LAGOPUS BERINGENSIS
BL: 49-57 cm (♂), 47-55 cm (♀). TL: 23-36 cm. H: 25-30 cm. W: 4-8.8 kg (♂), 3.2-7.2 kg (♀). SL: 13.2 cm. SW: 7.5 cm. DF: 42. CN: 48-50. A small Fox, with a relatively compact body, short legs, round ears and a short snout. A large subspecies of Arctic Fox, similar to Pribilof Arctic Fox (pribilofensis), with more luxuriant fur than mainland subspecies. Individuals from Mednyi Island are larger than those from Bering Island. Coat is thick and dense in winter, with a majority of this fur being fine underfur. Summer coat is thinner. Blue morph predominates, and white individuals are extremely rare. Coat is a uniformly diffuse brownish gray tinged with a blue sheen in winter, changing to brownish dusky in summer, usually darkest on top of head and rump, with face and legs mixed with white hairs, and ears strongly edged with white. Yellow eyes, with elongated pupils. Thickly haired feet. Tail is long and bushy. Females slightly smaller than males, with 6 to 7 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Bering Island Fox, Commander Polar Fox. French: Renard polaire de l’Île Béring. German: Bering-Polarfuchs. Spanish: Zorro polar de las islas del Comandante. Russian: Командорский голубой песец.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Arctic Fox (V. lagopus). Includes beringensis (Bering Island), and semenovi (Mednyi Island).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52-54 days. Young per birth: 1-13, usually smaller litter than mainland subspecies. Weaning: 28-35 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: Probably 10 years. Breeding season: Early September to early May. Dens are located under stones, in scree, and in crevices, mainly on elevated points, Vulpes lagopus beringensis attached to the coastline and less frequently situated deep in the tundra. Dens are used for many years and have many entrance holes, and numerous paths connect breeding burrows with dens and shelters, and stretch to rich feeding areas within each home range. Conspicuous mounds, resulting from the accumulated scent posts, concentrate in the tundra around breeding burrows. Young disperse over shorter distances than mainland subspecies, with ♂ dispersing farther than ♀.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Families comprised of 1 ♂ and up to 4 ♀; a single ♂ may have a home range encompassing 2 breeding dens, each with a ♀ group including 1 or 2 lactating ♀ and 1 ♀ helper. In most families, there is 1 helper, a non-reproductive ♀. Polygyny is more common than in mainland subspecies. Diet: On both islands, in summer, they feed on colonies of sea birds the most intensively; they also turn to abundant and easily accessible sources of food, such as corpses of whales and other sea mammals beached by the sea or food dumps near human settlements. Main predators: None. They show a system of territorial defense, which is seen also in other subspecies, characterized by display, mobbing and direct aggression against an intruder, combined with territorial barks, expressive postures and urine and feces markings, performed many times a day during the breeding season and if provoked by meetings with Foxes or human intruders. Home ranges along the seashore average 2.0 km2, much smaller than in mainland subspecies. Owing to the small home ranges, neighboring families are at short distances and barking is used frequently as communication within and between family groups. They display little fear of people.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Russia. Restricted to the Commander Islands (Bering and Mednyi Islands) in the Bering Sea. On Mednyi Island, they are largely restricted to a narrow strip along the coastline where food sources are concentrated.
HABITAT The habitat conditions of this island subspecies differ sharply from the continental ones: there are no other native land predators on the islands, the climatic conditions are quite mild, and food resources are stable and highly productive.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Until the mid-20th century, the population on Mednyi Island remained stable at about 1,000 Foxes but crashed in the late 1970s due to epizootic mange. Currently the population consists of less than 100 individuals. In contrast, the Bering Island population has not suffered serious declines, and population remains stable, at about 600 adult animals.
PHOTO CREDITS Alexander Gos’kov, Dmytro Pylypenko, tryton2011 and Maximilian Buzun, Commander Islands (Russia).
VULPES LAGOPUS FULIGINOSUS
BL: 45-67 cm. TL: 25-42 cm. H: 28 cm. W: 2.5-5 kg. SL: 11.9 cm. SW: 6.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 48-50. A small Fox, with a relatively compact body, short legs, round ears and a short snout. A small-sized subspecies of Arctic Fox, with white and blue morphs being common along the W coast of Greenland, and Iceland, and white morphs being in a great majority in NE Greenland and Svalbard. Winter coat is very dense and thick. Summer coat is thinner. Molting is from May to early July, and from September to December. White morph is pure white in winter, changing to mottled gray brown dorsally, and light gray to white on its underside in summer. Blue morph is gray brown, with a bluish tinge in winter, changing to dark gray brown in summer. Yellow eyes, with elongated pupils. Thickly haired feet. Tail is long and bushy. Females slightly smaller than males, with 6 to 7 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Sooty Arctic Fox. French: Renard polaire d’Islande. German: Island-Polarfuchs. Spanish: Zorro polar de Islandia. Russian: Исландский (Гренландский) песец. Icelandic: Refur, tófa.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Arctic Fox (V. lagopus). Includes groenlandicus and spitzbergenensis.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52-54 days. Young per birth: 5-10, smaller litter than mainland subspecies. Weaning: 28-35 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 10 years. Breeding season: March. Births occur in late May or early June. The ♂ has a full role in bringing up the pups, but nonbreeding yearling ♀ may assist mated pairs for the first 6-8 weeks. Dens are often located under large rocks.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs; monogamous. Diet: The coast is very important and a stable resource of edible things, such as birds and eggs, seal carcasses, and invertebrates. In inland habitats main foods include ptarmigan in winter, and migrant birds, particularly waders and geese, in summer. Sheep are a relatively unimportant constituent of the diet. There are no lemmings in Iceland, Svalbard and W Greenland. Since the food abundance is highly seasonal, they cache food for the winter. Main predators: None. During the mating season, they have a territory, the size of which depends on food availability, ranging from 35 to 50 km2. They have a number of adaptations that allow them to survive the harsh Arctic winter: a lower metabolic rate and lower body temperature in winter, which allows them to conserve energy, a superbly insulated winter coat, with a thick layer of fat as a food reserve; the short snout and small rounded ears also help to conserve heat.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Iceland, Greenland, Norway (Svalbard). Found throughout Iceland, with a higher density in the W fjords. In Svalbard, they are found on all the islands.
HABITAT Arctic tundra, along rocky beaches, and far out and widely dispersed on the frozen pack ice. They prefer the tundra in the vicinity of bird cliffs during the summer.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Population in Iceland had been growing quite steadily up until 2010, but has shrunk by one-third over the past four years, at about 6,000-7,000 animals. Main threats include climate change, lack of prey, and hunting at all seasons; they are regarded as vermin for supposed sheep-killing and damage to eider colonies. Its fur is not used anymore since it lost value. The Hornstrandir Nature Reserve is one of the few regions where it is protected in Iceland. Arctic Foxes were bred on farms in Iceland from the 1930s until the late 1940s, and again after 1980; the farm-bred blue Foxes are larger and more fertile than the native animals and their color is much lighter. Some have escaped and bred with Icelandic Foxes in the wild, especially in the SW, so gene swamping may represent a threat to the Icelandic Arctic Fox. Population on Svalbard is stable, estimated at 2,500 animals, despite centuries of intense hunting; outside the protected areas, locals are still allowed to hunt during a certain period in the winter. The Arctic Fox was eradicated on Jan Mayen in the 1930s as a result of trapping. Population in Greenland is also currently stable and is estimated at more than 10,000 animals.
PHOTO CREDITS Elma Ben, Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (Iceland); Pétur Bjarni Gíslason, Vestgronland (Greenland); Aleviga, Spitsbergen and Arterra Picture Library, Svalbard Islands (Norway); Scott Lamont, Kulusuk (Greenland); Kaity Barrett, Reykjavik (Iceland).
VULPES LAGOPUS PRIBILOFENSIS
BL: 45-67 cm. TL: 25-42 cm. H: 28 cm. W: 1.4-9 kg. SL: 12.7 cm. SW: 7.2 cm. DF: 42. CN: 48-50. A small Fox, with a relatively compact body, short legs, round ears and a short snout. The largest subspecies of Arctic Fox, with a longer rostrum. Blue color phase predominates in this subspecies. Coat is thick and dense in winter, with a majority of this fur being fine underfur. Blue morph is brown tinged with a blue sheen in winter, changing to brownish dusky in summer, usually darkest on top of head and rump, with face and legs mixed with white hairs, and ears strongly edged with white. White morph is pure white in winter, the only marking being the small black nose pad, while in summer it is brown dorsally and light gray to white on its underside. Yellow eyes, with elongated pupils. Thickly haired feet. Tail is long and bushy. Females are slightly smaller than males, with 6 to 7 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Blue Fox. French: Renard polaire des Îles Pribilof. German: Pribilof-Polarfuchs. Spanish: Zorro polar de las islas Pribilof. Italian: Volpe artica. Russian: Песец островов Прибылова.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Arctic Fox (V. lagopus).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-54 days. Young per birth: 7, up to 15. Weaning: 28-35 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: Between February and May. Births take place from April to July. They den in sandy, well drained soils in low mounds and river cutbanks, and in coastal areas near food resources, such as seal rookeries. Social organization of this subspecies appears complex, and only a small percentage of adult and yearling ♀ bred. A high degree of conspecific tolerance exists between certain individuals. Most nonbreeding Foxes attend the litters of breeding pairs. Attendant Foxes protect, play with, and probably feed pups. Old and sick individuals interact with pups at den sites and rendezvous areas. Yearlings of both sexes are widely tolerated near pups and breeding adults. Some yearlings attend multiple dens.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Family units of Arctic Foxes aggregate during mating and pup rearing, then break up and are solitary during the fall and winter. Diet: Opportunistic feeders, eating small mammals, birds, bird eggs, berries, carrion and garbage when available. Main predators: None. Exceptionally adapted for the extreme cold conditions of the Arctic region, with a highly insulating fur, compact body, foot thermoregulation and reduced metabolism during cold weather or food shortage. Mean home range size for both sexes is small relative to that reported for Arctic Foxes in other areas. Yearling home ranges show a large degree of overlap, while core areas are virtually discrete. Most yearlings engage in sporadic and unpredictable forays outside their normal home ranges, increasing in distance and duration over the summer.
DISTRIBUTION Native: United States (Alaska). Restricted to the Pribilof Islands, on both St. George and St. Paul Islands.
HABITAT Associated with treeless coastal areas and sea ice.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: low status and high biological vulnerability; action needed (USA). Populations of this subspecies are at critically low levels and appear to be declining further. The estimated population on St. Paul Island was 230 animals in 1991. Threats include significant reduction in food resources, increased exposure to diseases and toxins, and unsustainable levels of direct human persecution. Additionally, the decline in sea ice has likely led to increased genetic isolation. Misinformation as to the origin of Arctic Foxes on the Pribilofs continues to foster negative attitudes, and the long-term persistence of this endemic subspecies is in jeopardy.
PHOTO CREDITS Monte M. Taylor, Scot Loehrer, Design Pics Inc., and Steven Metildi, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs (Alaska); Doug Sonerholm, St. George Island, Pribilofs (Alaska).
VULPES VELOX
BL: 50-54.5 cm (♂), 47.5-54 cm (♀). TL: 22.5-28 cm. H: 30-32 cm. W: 2-2.5 kg (♂), 1.6-2.3 kg (♀). SL: 11.2 cm. SW: 6.4 cm. DF: 42. CN: 50. A small Fox. Winter coat is a dark buffy gray across the back extending into a yellow-tan to ochraceous-buff coloration on the sides, legs and ventral surface of the tail. Back appears to be grizzled due to the presence of conspicuous black and white guard hairs. Underfur is thick. Throat, chest and belly are pale yellow to white. Summer coat is shorter and may be rufous in coloration. Black patches on either side of the muzzle. Ears are large, pointed and erect, cream to white inside. Feet covered by coarse fur. Tail is long, bushy, with a slight black patch over the tail gland, and a black tip. Females are slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard véloce. German: Swiftfuchs. Spanish: Zorro veloz, zorro cometa. Italian: Volpe americana, volpe veloce. Russian: Американский корсак.
TAXONOMY Monotypic. It was split into two subspecies: V. v. velox (Southern Swift Fox) and V. v. hebes (Northern Swift Fox, Canada, slightly larger and paler), but this distinction is not generally recognized. Some authors consider Swift Fox and Kit Fox a single species.
SIMILAR SPECIES Distinguished from all other North American foxes, except the Kit Fox, by its small size and black-tipped tail. Distinguished from the Kit Fox by its shorter and more widely spaced ears, its shorter tail, and its more rounded and Dog-like head (compared with the broader head and narrower snout of the Kit Fox).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-53 days. Young per birth: 1-6. Weaning: 6-7 weeks. Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Life span: 3-6 years, 14 years in captivity. Breeding season: late December to February, with populations in N regions breeding later. Births occur from February to early May. Parental care is overseen by both parents.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Lasting mated pairs. Diet: Opportunistic: mice, cottontail rabbits, carrion, but occasionally other small mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians, varying seasonally. Main predators: Coyote, badger, golden eagle, bobcat. Mainly nocturnal, although they may rest in the sun outside their dens during the day. They generally hunt at sunrise and sunset. They do not appear to be territorial and home ranges may overlap in high-quality habitat. ♀ maintain territories and family structure, whereas ♂ tend to emigrate. Home range size from 7.6 km2 to 32 km2. They are den dependent, relying on dens for shelter, escape from predators, and rearing of young. Unlike other Canids, they use multiple den sites year-round. They may run faster than 60 kmph. Vulnerable to trapping, due to their curious nature. Vocalizations include purrs, growls, whines and shrill yaps.
DISTRIBUTION Native: United States. Regionally extinct: Canada. Found in W South Dakota, S and E Wyoming, W Kansas, W Oklahoma, E and N Colorado, NW Texas, and E New Mexico. Reintroduction programs in Canada (S Alberta and S Saskatchewan) and Montana have established wild populations. There is a zone of hybridization with Kit Fox in E New Mexico and W Texas.
HABITAT Short-grass and mixed-grass prairies in gently rolling or level terrain. They sometimes inhabit plains and prairie areas that are intermixed with winter wheat fields. They avoid these densely vegetated habitats.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Endangered (USA, Canada). Population is stable in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico. In Texas and Wyoming, populations are fragmented and vulnerable. It is rare in Nebraska, South Dakota and Montana, and extirpated from North Dakota. Reintroduced population in Canada is estimated at 300 individuals, isolated from the contiguous range in the United States. Main threats include conversion of grassland to cropland, road developments, Red Fox expansion and competition, poisoning to kill Coyotes and predation by Coyotes.
PHOTO CREDITS Sam Houston, Houston Zoo (USA); Debi Dalio, Fort Worth Zoo (USA); Nano Maus, Henry Doorly Zoo (USA); Gerard W. Beyersbergen, Onefour (Canada); Rob Palmer, Pawnee National Grassland, CO (USA).
VULPES MACROTIS MACROTIS
BL: 47-52 cm (♂), 45.5-53.5 cm (♀). TL: 26-32.3 cm. H: 30-32 cm. W: 1.5-2.5 kg (♂), 1.6-2.2 kg (♀). SL: 10.5 cm. SW: 5.7 cm. DF: 42. CN: 54. A small-sized Fox, with a small, slim body, long slender legs and large ears. Coat coloration is yellowish gray to dusty grizzled, becoming paler on the sides, and pale yellow to white on the underparts. Shoulders, lower sides, flanks and a strip across the chest are buffy to orange. Underfur is heavy. Sides of the muzzle, lower lip and posterior upper lip are blackish or brownish. Relatively large ears, tan to gray on the back, changing to buff or orange at the base, with a thick border of white hairs on the forward inner edge and inner base. Narrow muzzle. The soles of the feet are protected by stiff tufts of hair. Tail is long and bushy, tapering slightly toward the tip, with a pronounced black spot over the caudal gland, and a black tip. Females are slightly lighter than males, but there is no other obvious sexual dimorphism.
OTHER NAMES Desert Kit Fox, Swift-Footed Fox. French: Renard nain. German: Gewöhnlicher Kitfuchs. Spanish: Zorro kit, zorra norteña. Russian: Американская лисица.
TAXONOMY As many as eight subspecies have been traditionally recognized, although probably only Kit Foxes in San Joaquin Valley warrant subspecific designation (Hall, 1981). Includes neomexicana (NW Chihuahua, Colorado, New Mexico, W Texas), arsipus (N Sonora, SE California, S Arizona), devia (S Baja California), nevadensis (Great Basin), tenuirostris (N Baja California) and zinseri (N-central Mexico). Kit Foxes hybridize with Swift Foxes, and some authors have suggested that they are conspecific.
SIMILAR SPECIES Distinguished externally from other North American Foxes, except the Swift Fox and Gray Fox, by their small size and black-tipped tail. Swift Fox has smaller ears, shorter tail, and less angular appearance. Gray Fox is slightly larger, has proportionally smaller ears and legs, and has a black ridge on the tail and lower back.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 49-55 days. Young per birth: 1-6. Weaning: 90 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 4 years, 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: December through February, with births from late January to March. ♂ provision ♀ for the first few weeks of pup rearing. At weaning, both parents bring food to the den. Pups emerge when they are 4-5 weeks old and begin to forage with the parents at 3-4 months of age. Young generally disperse in October. They can dig their own dens but will often enlarge burrows of badgers and other species. Dens are used as rest sites, shelter against harsh weather, to bear and rear young, and to escape predators, and are used primarily by the members of the resident family and may be used repeatedly over multiple generations. Frequent den switching is common.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs with pair bonds that last several years; monogamous with occasional polygyny. Diet: Lagomorphs, prairie dogs, and kangaroo rats, but also will feed on ground-nesting birds, reptiles and insects; cactus fruits may be eaten if available. They also will consume human foods and will cache food for use at a later time. They do not need access to water. Main predators: Coyote, Red Fox, Domestic Dog, bobcat. Primarily nocturnal, with peaks in activity occurring during crepuscular periods. Daytime hours are usually spent resting in or near the den. Home range estimates vary from 2.5 to 11.6 km2. Mated pairs are territorial with home ranges that overlap little with neighboring pairs. Territories are maintained primarily by scent marking. Vocalizations include growls, barks, whimpers and purrs.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Mexico, United States. It occurs from N Mexico and Baja California N through W Texas, W of the Rocky Mountains to SW Idaho and SE Oregon, and in portions of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and W Colorado.
HABITAT Mixed-grass shrublands, shrublands, grasslands, and margins of pinyon-juniper woodlands, deserts with xeric shrubland and sandy soils.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Vulnerable (Mexico), Threatened (Oregon), Endangered (Colorado), protected non-game species (Idaho), protected furbearer species (Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas). Populations appear to be declining in parts of their range. Its pelt has little market value. The main threat is habitat conversion and degradation.
PHOTO CREDITS Robert Shantz, Arizona (USA); Welcomia (USA); Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, Death Valley National Park, CA (USA).
VULPES MACROTIS MUTICA
BL: 50 cm (♂), 48.5 cm (♀). TL: 28.4-29.5 cm. H: 30 cm. W: 2.3 kg (♂), 2.1 kg (♀). DF: 42. CN: 54. A small-sized Fox, with small, slim body and long slender legs, and large ears. The largest subspecies of Kit Fox. Coat coloration is generally tan in the summer and silver gray in the winter. Guard hairs on the back are black tipped, which accounts for the grizzled appearance. Underparts are light buff to white, with the shoulders, lower sides, flanks and chest buff to a rust color. Relatively large ears, set close together, dark on the back side, with a thick border of white hairs on the forward-inner edge and inner base. Narrow muzzle. Tail is long and bushy, tapering slightly toward the tip, typically carried low and straight, black tipped. Females are slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Curtailed Fox. French: Renard nain de San Joaquin. German: San-Joaquin-Kitfuchs. Spanish: Zorro kit de San Joaquín, zorrita de San Joaquín. Russian: Сан-Хоакинская лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Kit Fox (V. macrotis).
SIMILAR SPECIES Red Fox is heavier, has a white-tipped tail, and a different coat color. Gray Fox also has a black-tipped tail, but is larger and more robust, has smaller ears, and a distinctive black stripe running along the top of the tail. Young Coyotes may be misidentified as Kit Foxes.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 48-52 days. Young per birth: 2-6. Weaning: Probably 90 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 8 years, 10 years in captivity. Breeding season: Between late December and March. Litters are born in February and March. During this period the ♂ provides most of the food for the ♀ and the pups. Pups emerge above ground at 1 month of age. After 4 to 5 months the family bonds begin to dissolve and the young begin dispersing. Offspring of both sexes sometimes remain with their parents through the following year and help raise a subsequent litter. They use dens for shelter, reproduction and escape from predators; numerous dens may be used throughout the year. They either construct dens by digging or use existing dens and structures created by other animals, such as ground squirrels, badgers, and Coyotes, or human-made structures. Entrances are usually from 20 to 25 cm in diameter, normally higher than wide.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs year-round; monogamous. Diet: Varies regionally and seasonally, according to the availability of prey, and includes kangaroo rats, pocket mice, white-footed mice, other nocturnal rodents, California ground squirrels, black-tailed hares, San Joaquin antelope squirrels, desert cottontails, ground-nesting birds, chukars and insects. Main predators: Coyote, Red Fox, Domestic Dog, bobcat, large raptors. Nocturnal, typically hunting at night, although may hunt during daylight hours when necessary, as illustrated by their consumption of the diurnal ground squirrel. Home ranges from 2.6 to 31 km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: United States. It currently inhabits certain regions of the San Joaquin Valley floor and the surrounding foothills, from S Kern County N to Contra Costa, in California. Three core Kit Fox populations are found in the Carrizo Plain, W Kern County, and the Ciervo Panoche Natural Area.
HABITAT Grasslands and shrublands, many of which have been extensively modified. They may also inhabit oak woodland, alkali sink shrubland, and vernal pool and alkali meadow communities.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Endangered (USA), Threatened (California). Historically abundant in the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding areas, but their populations have been reduced as a result of urban and agricultural development, oil and gas development, as well as predator and rodent control programs. Carrizo Plain has the largest population, with an estimated 250 to 600 individuals. Habitat destruction is the greatest threat. Expansion of Red Foxes may be a factor in the apparent decline in the NW segment of their range.
PHOTO CREDITS Don Quintana, Mark A. Chappell, Purestock and Rick Derevan, San Joaquin Valley, CA (USA); Kevin Schafer, Carrizo Plain National Monument, CA (USA).
VULPES CORSAC
BL: 45-60 cm (♂), 45-50 cm (♀). TL: 19-35 cm. H: 30-35 cm. W: 1.6-3.2 kg (♂), 1.9-2.4 kg (♀). SL: 9.6-11.8 cm. SW: 5.7-7.1 cm. DF: 42. CN: 36. A small-sized Canid, with relatively broad ears, a short pointy face, and a short tail. Coat is short, buff to straw gray in summer, shading to rufous, while in winter it is long and grayish white. Forehead is darker with pale markings around mouth, chin, throat and groin. A patch of dark fur extends from the inner corner of each eye down the sides of the muzzle to the nose. Ears are large and broad. Legs are light yellow anteriorly and rusty yellow laterally. Winter coat is thick, silky and soft, straw gray in color, with a darker line running down the back. Teeth are small. Tail is dark ocher to gray brown, with a dark spot about 6-7 cm from the base in the supracaudal gland, and a black tip. Females are similar to males. Newborns are light brown, with a monocolored tail.
Vulpes corsac kalmykorum
Vulpes corsac turkmenicus
OTHER NAMES Corsac, Steppe Fox. French: Renard corsac. German: Steppenfuchs, Korsak. Spanish: Zorro estepario, zorro corsac. Russian: Корсак. Chinese: Sha Hu. Farsi: Roubaah-e Torkamani. Mongol: Khiars. Pashto: Lumbara. Urdu: Loomari.
TAXONOMY V. c. corsac (Kazakhstan Corsac Fox, includes scorodumovi and nigra, N Kazakhstan, S Siberia, Transbaikalia, NE China, Mongolia): largest subspecies, with fluffy and dense winter fur, without admixture of reddish tones in winter fur; V. c. kalmykorum (Caucasus Corsac Fox, N Uzbekistan, Caucasus); V. c. turkmenicus (Turkmen Fox, S Uzbekistan, S Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, N Iran, N Afghanistan, NW Kyrgyzstan, W Tajikistan): smallest subspecies, with shorter, coarser winter fur of dirty-grayish color and reddish tones. There are wide zones of transition between subspecies.
SIMILAR SPECIES Red Fox is slightly larger, with a white-tipped tail and dark brown or black forelegs. Tibetan Fox is slightly larger, with a white tail tip.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52-60 days. Young per birth: 2-6. Weaning: 28 days. Sexual maturity: 9 months. Life span: 9 years. Breeding season: January to March. Several ♂ run behind a ♀ in estrus and fights often occur between the ♂. Monogamy is established when the ♀ chooses a ♂. Earliest births are in mid-March, but most occur in April. ♂ participate in raising and feeding young but stay in another den or just outside the natal den. They will often take burrows of other animals to raise their young in. Young are born blind and with closed auditory meatuses. Juveniles emerge from dens in mid-May. Young grow rapidly, reach adult size in 4 months.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Family groups. Diet: Opportunistic forager and hunter; small to medium-sized vertebrates (vole, gerbil, jerboa, hamster, squirrel, pika, bustard), insects, and fruits. They may scavenge carcasses. Can go without water for extensive periods of time. Main predators: Wolf, Red Fox, Dog, eagles, owls. Mainly nocturnal, but may be seen during twilight and daytime hours. Very social, living in large groups with several burrows interconnected. It hunts alone or in small packs. Territory sizes are variable, from 1.9 to 11.4 km2. They are nomadic and do not keep a fixed home range, and will migrate when food is sparse, ranging from 50 to 600 km. They scent mark with urine and feces near natal dens to maintain territories and as a way of intraspecific communication. Corsac Fox lacks the musky odor of other Vulpine foxes. Excellent climbers, but slow runners. The most common vocalization is barking.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Afghanistan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
HABITAT Grassland steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, avoiding mountains, forested areas, dense vegetation and cultivated lands.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Endangered (Iran), Vulnerable (China), Near Threatened (Mongolia). There are no estimates of population size and few details are known about the characteristics of regional populations, but it is considered widespread and common. Main threat is poaching; they are rather slow runners and are easily caught by hunters, and their population has been reduced in areas where they have been heavily hunted for their fur.
PHOTO CREDITS Ulli Joerres, Dierenrijk (Netherlands); FLPA, Werner Layer, Ronan Kennedy, Tayto Park (Ireland); Thomas Langenberg, Öndorkhan (Mongolia).
VULPES FERRILATA
BL: 51.5-71.7 cm (♂), 49-66.2 cm (♀). TL: 21-47 cm. H: 26.7-35.4 cm. W: 4.4-5.7 kg (♂), 3.6-4.1 kg (♀). SL: 13.9 cm. SW: 7.5 cm. DF: 42. CN: 36. A small-sized Canid, with a conspicuously narrow and long muzzle and a rather square head. Pelage is soft and thick, pale gray agouti or sandy, with a tan to rufous band along the dorsum. Muzzle, crown and neck are reddish. Underparts are white. Vertical gray to black bands between the forelegs and chest. Ears are small, white inside, tan outside. A distinctive elongated muzzle. Forelegs are russet. Tail is bushy, mostly gray, with a dark streak near the base in the supracaudal gland, and a white tip.
OTHER NAMES Tibetan Sand Fox. French: Renard du Tibet. German: Tibetfuchs. Spanish: Zorro tibetano. Italian: Volpe delle sabbie tibetana. Russian: Тибетская лисица. Chinese: Zang Hu. Tibetan: Wa, wamo.
TAXONOMY Monotypic. Includes ekloni. Closely related to Corsac Fox.
SIMILAR SPECIES Corsac Fox, which is sympatric in N parts of its range, has a black-tipped tail, with russet-gray pelage, and a white chin. Red Fox is similar in size, but longer legged, slenderer, has longer, sharply pointed ears, lacks the distinct line along the midflank that separates gray from russet color, and the gray to black bands running vertically between the russet forelegs and white chest.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 2-5. Weaning: Unknown. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: Probably 8-10 years. Breeding season: December to March, with births occurring in February to May. Monogamous. Dens are usually found in grasslands with moderate slopes. Young do not emerge from the dens until they are several weeks old. ♂ participate in pup rearing.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, although they can be seen in family groups of a mated pair with young. Diet: A foraging specialist, preying predominantly on pikas, but also rodents, other small mammals, lizards, insects, berries and carrion. Main predators: Feral Dogs, Gray Wolf, raptors. Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk, although can be seen at any time of the day. They spend considerable time resting in small burrows, hollows and rock crevices; there may be 1 to 4 entrances to a den. They may form commensal relationships with brown bears during hunts for pikas, in which they capture pikas excavated but not captured by bears. Also reported to scavenge on Wolf kills. Not territorial, and many pairs have been found living in close quarters and sharing hunting grounds. They often deposit their droppings in conspicuous places. Vocalizations consist of short yips to communicate over short distances; no long-distance communication is known.
DISTRIBUTION Native: China, India, Nepal. Found in the steppes and semi-deserts of the Tibetan Plateau from the Ladakh area of India, E across China including parts of Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan Provinces and all of Tibet, and into Yunnan, in the Mustang area in Nepal N of the Himalaya. There are no confirmed records for Bhutan. There is a confirmed record from Sikkim.
HABITAT Upland plains and hills, sparse grasslands devoid of trees and shrubs, up to 5,200 m, most typically above 3,500 m. Rarely encountered where pikas are absent.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Endangered (China), Data Deficient (Nepal). Estimated population of 10,000. There are no major threats, although habitat loss and poisoning of pikas across much of the Tibetan Plateau may damage Tibetan Fox populations. They are hunted for pelts, which are manufactured into hats in Tibet. Legally protected in several large Chinese reserves: Arjin Shan, Xianza, Chang Tang, Kekexili, and Sanjiangyuan.
PHOTO CREDITS Jan Reurink, Burang, Tibet (China); Shanghai Wu, Biosphoto and Andy D, Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (China); Kenneth Sims-Korba, Tibet (China).
VULPES PALLIDA
BL: 41.2-46.8 cm (♂), 41.5-46.6 cm (♀). TL: 18-22.4 cm. H: 25 cm. W: 1.2 kg (♂), 1.2 kg (♀). DF: 42. CN: 70. A small-sized Canid. Coat is thin and short, pale sandy fawn to creamy white in color, finely speckled, but there is some variation in the intensity of the color. Darker mid-dorsal line in some individuals. Flanks paler than dorsal pelage. Underparts are buffy white. Face is pale, with a narrow elongated muzzle. Eyes are large, surrounded by a dark brown or black ring. Ears are large, rounded at the tip, white inside, rufous brown outside. Relatively long legs, rufous in color. Tail is bushy and long, reddish brown, with a dark patch over the caudal gland, and a black tip. No sexual dimorphism.
Vulpes pallida oertzeni
Vulpes pallida harterti
Vulpes pallida edwardsi
OTHER NAMES Pallid Fox, African Sand Fox. French: Renard pâle. German: Blassfuchs. Spanish: Zorro pálido. Russian: Африканская лисица: Кордофанская (Суданская) бледная (pallida), Южносахельская бледная (oertzeni), Нигерийская бледная (harterti), бледная лисица Эдвардса (edwardsi).
TAXONOMY Four subspecies are traditionally recognized: V. p. pallida (Kordofan Pale Fox, includes sabbar, found in Kordofan in Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia); V. p. oertzeni (South Sahel Pale Fox, found in N Cameroon, Chad, NE Nigeria, and Darfur in Sudan); V. p. harterti (Nigerian Pale Fox, found in Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger and N Nigeria); V. p. edwardsi (Edward’s Pale Fox, found in Mali, S Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia). There is insufficient data available to assess the validity of these subspecies, and variation may be clinal.
SIMILAR SPECIES North African Red Fox (V. vulpes), sympatric only in N Sudan, is larger, with shorter legs and ears dark backed and more pointed. Fennec Fox (V. zerda), sympatric in N part of the range, is smaller, with proportionately longer ears. Rüppell’s Fox (V. rueppellii) has larger ears, and its tail is usually white tipped.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 3-6. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: 4-16 years in captivity. Breeding season: From April to June, before the rainy season. Young are born in self-dug burrows.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Pairs or small groups with 3 adults (1 ♀ and 2 ♂). Diet: Insects and fruits, but may also prey on small mammals (rodents), reptiles, ground-nesting birds and their eggs; they may also prey on domestic fowl. They are unable to tolerate totally waterless conditions, although they can survive dry seasons, presumably on the residual moisture in their prey. Main predators: Eagles, owls. One of the least known Canids, and little is known about its movements and home ranges. Predominantly nocturnal, it is active from dusk until dawn, resting during the day in self-dug burrows. The burrows are large, with tunnels extending 10-15 m and opening into small chambers lined with dry vegetable material. Fecal latrines are located just outside these burrows. Mated pairs are territorial, with home ranges of between 3 and 10 km2 in Niger.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan. Found in the semi-arid Sahel of Africa, bordering the Sahara to the N. The S limit of its range extends into N Guinean savanna zones. It ranges from Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia through Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad to the Red Sea.
HABITAT Dry, sandy and stony marginal sub-Saharan desert and semi-desert areas, but it may also inhabit moister savanna areas, and areas near human habitation and cultivated fields.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Estimated population of 100,000, being one of the least known African Canids, but it seems relatively widespread in the ecological band between the true desert of the Sahara and the sub-Saharan savannas. No major threats are known, although they may be persecuted locally since they are known to kill domestic fowl.
PHOTO CREDITS Markus Lilje, Waza National Park (Cameroon).
VULPES BENGALENSIS
BL: 39-57.5 cm (♂), 46-48 cm (♀). TL: 24.5-35 cm. H: 26-28 cm. W: 1.8-3.6 kg (♀). SL: 11.1 cm. SW: 6.4 cm. DF: 42. CN: 60. A small-sized Fox. Coat is short and smooth, variable in color, from silver gray to grayish rufous, minutely speckled with white, pale rufous yellowish or creamy white ventrally, varying with the season and locality. Chin and throat are white. Long, pointed ears, dark brown on the back, with black margin, white inside. Rhinarium is naked and lips are black. Elongated muzzle. Black spot on each side of the muzzle in front of the eye. Limbs are brownish to bright rufous. Tail is long and bushy, with a dark patch over the caudal gland, and a sharply defined black tip. Females have 3 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Bengal Fox. French: Renard du Bengale. German: Bengalfuchs. Spanish: Zorro bengalí, zorro indio. Italian: Volpe del Bengala. Russian: Бенгальская лисица. Hindi: Lomri, Lokri. Bengali: Khek sial. Bihari: Khekar, khikir. Nepali: Phusro Phyauro.
TAXONOMY Monotypic.
SIMILAR SPECIES The smallest fox in India. Distinguished from Red Fox by the black-tipped tail, grayish body pelage that lacks mixing of red hairs, brownish or rufous legs, ears that are the same color as nape or darker (but never with a black patch as in the Red Fox), and smudges of black hairs around upper part of muzzle in front of eyes.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 53 days. Young per birth: 3-6. Weaning: 30 days. Sexual maturity: 1-2 months. Life span: 6-8 years. Breeding season: November to January. Births from February to April. They use more than 1 breeding den during the reproductive period, possibly to avoid predators. Dens are situated in the open plains, and typically have various entrances; in alluvial plains, dens take advantage of any small rise in the ground, to prevent being flooded. In humandominated landscapes, they may use human-made structures (tailings, irrigation bunds, pipes). During pup-rearing season, most of the time is spent in resting, followed by searching for food. One parent always watches the activity of pups outside the den.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Breeding pairs that may last a lifetime. Diet: Omnivorous: insects, small mammals (rodents), reptiles, birds and fruit. Main predators: Wolf, feral Dog. Crepuscular and nocturnal, but may also hunt at mid-day in absence of large predators and abundance of food. They seem to hunt alone. Not strictly territorial, but exhibit this behavior sometimes. It is a den-dependent species, and breeding pairs use dens primarily for reproduction and pup-rearing, but also for resting during the dry season. Dens are large and complex with multiple chambers and escape routes. Wide range of vocalizations: a chattering cry is the most common call, but also growl, whine, whimper and bark. It does not appear to practice site-specific defecation.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, ranging from the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal to the S tip of the Indian peninsula. In the N part of the Indian subcontinent, it extends from Sindh Province of Pakistan to N Bengal in India. It is not found in Afghanistan, Iran and W and E Ghats of India.
HABITAT Semi-arid, flat to undulating terrain, scrub and grassland. It avoids dense forests, steep terrain, tall grasslands and true deserts. They may compete with the desert race of the Red Fox. They do not penetrate into the mountainous tracts of Balochistan or the Himalayas. Tolerant of human presence, they can be found in agricultural fields and the vicinity of rural habitation.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Appendix III. Regional status: Vulnerable (Bangladesh, Nepal), Near Threatened (Pakistan). Protected in India and Bangladesh, but it has not been the focus of targeted conservation efforts. Widespread in the Indian subcontinent, but occurring at low densities throughout its range, with population on the decline due to loss of short grassland-scrub habitat to intensive agriculture, industry and development projects. There is also a limited localized trade for skin, tail, fur, and teeth and claws. There is no quantitative data available on its population size.
PHOTO CREDITS Narasimha Kumar, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (India); Ganesh H. Shankar (India); Tinamous, Gujarat (India).
VULPES RUEPPELLII RUEPPELLII AND CYRENAICA
BL: 41.9-51.9 cm (♂), 41.1-55.9 cm (♀). TL: 27-39 cm. H: 25 cm. W: 1.4-2.3 kg (♂), 1.4-1.8 kg (♀). SL: 11 cm. SW: 5.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 40. A very small-sized and slender Canid, with relatively short legs, large and broad ears and a short muzzle. Coat is fine and soft, thicker and darker in winter and lighter colored in summer, pale sandy to beige in color, but may be grayish in rockier areas, with black speckling. Grayish buff on the sides, with a sandy-yellow or brown flush on the dorsal midline, elbows and heel. Underparts are beige to fawn, almost white. Face very pale, with contrasting black whisker patches running up to the eye. Large ears, white inside, pale to cinnamon rufous outside. Limbs are rufous with some black hairs, with lower parts whitish. Soles of feet covered by soft, long hairs. Tail is long, rich, and bushy, with a dark marking at the caudal gland, and a white tip. Females slightly smaller than males, with 3 pairs of mammae. Juveniles with a light reddish coat.
Vulpes rueppellii cyrenaica
OTHER NAMES Sand Fox. French: Renard famélique, renard de Rüppell. German: Nubischer Sandfuchs, Nubischer Rüppellfuchs. Spanish: Zorro de Rüppell. Russian: Песчаная лисица нубийская (rueppellii), ливийская (cyrenaica). Arabic: Tha’leb al-ramli, tha’leb sahrawi.
TAXONOMY V. r. caesia, V. r. cyrenaica (includes cufrana), V. r. rueppellii (includes famelicus and somaliae), V. r. sabaea and V. r. zarudnyi. The validity of these subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis. Considered monotypic by some authors.
SIMILAR SPECIES Fennec Fox is much smaller and paler, with shorter legs, larger ears with darker markings on the back of the ears, shorter and black-tipped tail, and fur is paler and finer; confusion is common with juvenile Rüppell’s Fox. Pale Fox, found in N Sudan, is slightly smaller in size, and the tip of the tail is black. Red Fox is larger and more robust, reddish in color, with a dark belly, longer limbs and tail, shorter ears, and back of the ears dark; tail tip is also white.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 3-5. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: December to February, with births from March to July.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Omnivorous and opportunistic; small mammals and birds, but also lizards, insects, fruits (dates) and grass; may survive in areas with little available water. Main predators: Eagle, owl. Crepuscular and nocturnal, but it is sometimes seen during the day. It appears to have little fear of humans and will come close to campsites to scavenge for food scraps. They utilize breeding and resting dens either dug themselves at the base of trees and bushes or under slabs of rocks, or enlarged burrows of lizards or badgers. They are agile and climb trees, fences and rocks. When threatened by a predator, it will hump its back, raise its tail, and spray its potential enemy with a special secretion from the anal gland. Territorial, and both sexes scent mark the territory. ♂ spray urine on borders, but do not leave feces. ♀ have a well-developed violet gland that is used to scent mark the den site. Very vocal, including a bark, angry yelps and also chattering. They have excellent vision and hearing, as well as a well-developed sense of smell. Soles of feet are covered in long and soft hairs that conceal the pads completely.
DISTRIBUTION V. r. rueppellii: Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan. In Egypt it is the most widespread Fox and the most likely to be seen in a true desert environment; they are found throughout the Western and Eastern Deserts, in the Sinai, and also around Lake Nasser, including Wadi Allaqi. Mostly absent from the Nile Valley and its margins, where the Red Fox is found, although they have also been recorded at Wadi Natrun and in the Fayoum.
HABITAT Arid steppe, sand and stone deserts, semi-deserts and rocky wadis, with a clear preference for open stony habitats with sparse vegetation cover. At oases, it can be found in more vegetated areas, such as palm groves, and around wells. It may also be seen in farmland and lake margins. It usually avoids large sand dune areas, where the Fennec Fox is present.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. There is no estimate of total population size.
PHOTO CREDITS Stijn Aelbers, Stefan Cruysberghs and Gabriel Rif, White Desert, Farafra (Egypt).
Northwest African Rüppell’s Fox
VULPES RUEPPELLII CAESIA
BL: 45 cm. TL: 35 cm. H: 30 cm. W: 1.1-2.3 kg (♂), 1.1-1.8 kg (♀). SL: 11 cm. SW: 5.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 40. A very small-sized and slender Canid, with relatively short legs, large and broad ears, and a short muzzle. A dark-colored subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox. Coat is fine and soft, thicker and darker in winter and lighter colored in summer, dull ochraceous in color, with black speckling, with a silvery grayish to brown flush on the dorsal midline, elbows and heels. Head and neck are buff, with contrasting black whisker patches running up to the eye. Ears are white inside and pale to cinnamon rufous outside. Underside is beige to fawn. Limbs are rufous with some black hairs, with lower parts whitish. Soles of feet almost completely covered by hairs. Long, rich, bushy tail, with a dark marking at the caudal gland, and a white tip.
OTHER NAMES Sand Fox. French: Renard famélique, renard de Rüppell. German: Nordwestafrikanischer Sandfuchs, Nordwestafrikanischer Rüppellfuchs. Spanish: Zorro de Rüppell. Russian: Западноафриканская песчаная лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox (V. rueppellii). The validity of this subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis. Rüppell’s Fox is considered monotypic by some authors.
SIMILAR SPECIES Fennec Fox is much smaller, with shorter legs, larger ears with darker markings on the back of the ears, shorter and black-tipped tail, and fur is paler and finer; confusion is common between juvenile V. rueppellii and adult V. zerda. Pale Fox is slightly smaller in size, and the tip of the tail is black. Red Fox is larger and more robust, reddish in color, with longer limbs and tail, with shorter ears, and back of ears dark; tail tip is also white.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 2-3. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: 7 years, 14 years in captivity. Breeding season: Probably from November to January, with births in March. Pups are blind, and remain dependent on their parents for 4 months before leaving the den, and disperse at 6-7 months.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Omnivorous and opportunistic; invertebrates, rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, and plant material, fruits, and roots, which likely provide much of their moisture requirements. Main predators: Golden eagle, owl. Behavior probably similar to other subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox, but its ecology outside of the Arabian Peninsula remains largely unknown. Crepuscular and nocturnal, but some may be active during the daytime in Western Sahara. In this area, they may use very exposed dens, often in the middle of plains, and they will flight if disturbed. They are solitary foragers, and may visit human settlements at night. Adapted to survive in extremely arid environments.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara.
HABITAT Sand and stone deserts, on the fringes of the Sahara, in mountain massifs and near oases. It usually avoids extreme arid regions in the middle of the Sahara. In Niger and Morocco it is found in areas with sparse vegetation cover, dominated by small bushes mostly concentrated in wadis, and in coastal areas with extremely sparse vegetation and without any trees, but it avoids large sand dune areas, where the Fennec Fox is present. In Algeria, it occurs in large ergs.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Its status remains largely unknown, but densities are generally low, higher in areas where food is more freely available and where other carnivores, such as the Red Fox, Jackal, Fennec Fox, sand cat, or striped hyena, are absent. Locally extirpated in areas of the northern fringe of the Sahara due to competitive exclusion by Red Fox, usually near human settlements. In Morocco they may be hunted, as they are considered pests. They are occasionally killed for food, but rarely hunted for sale of furs. Threats include indiscriminate use of poisons.
PHOTO CREDITS Gérard Schmitt, Parc National du Banc d’Arguin (Mauritania).
VULPES RUEPPELLII SABAEA AND ZARUDNYI
BL: 40-51 cm (♂), 34-56 cm (♀). TL: 26-35.5 cm. H: 30 cm. W: 1.1-2.3 kg (♂), 1.1-1.8 kg (♀). SL: 10.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 40. A very small-sized and slender Canid, with relatively short legs, large and broad ears, and a short muzzle. A small-sized subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox, generally paler than other subspecies, more uniformly sandy color, almost white in older individuals. Coat is fine and soft, pale creamy white to pale rufous in color, with very little black speckling, and a sandy-yellow or brown flush on the dorsal midline, elbows and heel. Underparts are white. Face very pale, with very little buffy orange around the eyes, and a weak blackish patch on the sides of the muzzle. Ears are white inside and pale to cinnamon rufous outside, without black. Limbs are beige with lower parts whitish. Soles of feet almost completely covered by hairs. Tail is long and bushy, with a dark marking at the caudal gland, and a white tip. Females slightly smaller than males, with 3 pairs of mammae. Newborns are grayish brown.
Vulpes rueppellii zarudnyi
OTHER NAMES Rüppell’s Desert Fox, Sand Fox. French: Renard famélique, renard de Rüppell. German: Arabischer Sandfuchs, Arabischer Rüppellfuchs, Persischer Sandfuchs. Spanish: Zorro de Rüppell de Arabia. Russian: Песчаная лисица аравийская (sabaea), переднеазиатская (zarudnyi). Arabic: Tha’leb al-ramli, tha’leb sahrawi, husseine, abul hussein. Persian: Rubâh-e sheni. Hebrew: Shual HaNegev, Shual Holot.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox (V. rueppellii).
SIMILAR SPECIES Blanford’s Fox has a longer and bushier tail, is slightly larger, has bare foot pads, and prefers rocky mountain slopes, avoiding the foothills and plains. Arabian Red Fox is larger and more robust, with coarser fur, reddish in color, with longer limbs and tail, with shorter ears, backs of the ears are dark; tail tip is also white.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-56 days. Young per birth: 1-4. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: Mid-November to February, with births from March to July. The Foxes living in the Al Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi are known to have their dens located in eolianite stratum in gravel plains or between sand dunes.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary or small family groups; monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Omnivorous and opportunistic; small mammals and birds, but also lizards, insects and grass; may survive in areas with little available water. Main predators: Eagle, owl. Crepuscular and nocturnal. They utilize breeding and resting dens either dug themselves at the base of trees and bushes or under slabs of rocks, or enlarged burrows of lizards or badgers. They are agile and climb trees, fences and rocks. When threatened by a predator, it will hump its back, raise its tail, and spray its potential enemy with a special secretion from the anal gland. Territorial, and both sexes scent mark the territory. ♂ spray urine on borders, but do not leave feces. ♀ have a well-developed violet gland that is used to scent mark the den site. Soles of feet are covered in long and soft hairs that conceal the pads completely.
DISTRIBUTION V. r. sabaea is found in Iraq, Iran, Israel (western side of the Dead Sea and Wadi Araba), Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. V. r. zarudnyi is found in Afghanistan (Baluchistan), Iran (Sistan, Baluchestan, Fars, Khuzestan, and the island of Qeshm), Pakistan, Saudi Arabia.
HABITAT Arid steppe and desert regions of the Arabian Peninsula, in low stony hills and wadis.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Vulnerable (Pakistan), Endangered (Oman, United Arab Emirates). It is probably declining throughout its range. Its status in Saudi Arabia and Yemen is unknown, but it may be widespread. In Israel it is almost extinct due to competitive exclusion by Red Foxes. Threats include droughts and overgrazing with associated habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, competition with Red Foxes (V. vulpes arabica), which are perceived to be increasing in numbers due to their commensalism with humans, competition with Domestic Dogs and cats, canine diseases and associated parasites, collateral damage while targeting other carnivores by poisoning and trapping and occasionally for food.
PHOTO CREDITS Jonas Livet, Sharjah Desert Park (United Arab Emirates) and Oman Mammal Breeding Centre (Oman).
VULPES ZERDA
BL: 24-41 cm (♂), 34-39.5 cm (♀). TL: 12.5-31 cm. H: 15-20.3 cm. W: 0.7-1.9 kg. SL: 8.3 cm. SW: 4.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 64. A very small-sized Fox, the smallest Canid, with large ears, short legs and a small muzzle. Coat is long, woolly and dense, reddish cream, light fawn or almost white in color. Flanks and underparts are almost white. Head is whitish, with a dark brown streak extending from the inner eye down and outward to either side of the muzzle. Large black eyes. Distinctive large ears, darker dorsally and whitish inside. Limbs are reddish sandy in color to nearly white. Dense fur on the feet extends to cover the pads. Tail is short and bushy, rufous in color, with a black patch near the dorsal base, and a black tip. Females have 3 pairs of nipples.
OTHER NAMES French: Fennec. German: Fennek, Wüstenfuchs. Spanish: Fenec, zorro del desierto. Russian: Фенек. Arabic: Fanak.
TAXONOMY Monotypic. Previously included in the genus Canis and Fennecus. Molecular data suggest it is within Vulpes, although it has some differences with other Vulpes: lacks musk glands, has only 32 chromosome pairs and displays behaviors uncharacteristic of Foxes. Includes arabicus, aurita, brucei, cerda and zaarensis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Rüppell’s Fox is larger in size, has a darker, longer, and denser fur, a longer white-tipped tail, longer legs and smaller ears.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-52 days. Young per birth: 1-4. Weaning: 61-70 days. Sexual maturity: 9 months. Life span: 10 years, 12-14 years in captivity. Breeding season: January-February, but can produce a second litter if the first is lost. Following mating, ♂ becomes very aggressive and protective of ♀, providing her with food during her pregnancy and lactation periods. ♂ play a role in pup rearing. Births occur between March and April. When pups are born, the ears are folded over and the eyes are closed, opening at around 10 days and the ears lifting soon afterward.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs and their offspring. Diet: Omnivorous: jerboa, gerbil, and other small rodents; occasionally birds, eggs, lizards, insects, and also some plant material, including melons, dates collected on the ground, tubers and roots, and human garbage. May subsist without water, and tolerate extremely high concentrations of urea in urine. Main predators: Eagle owl. Nocturnal. Highly social, typically resting while in contact with each other, and may share burrows with up to 12 other individuals, but they hunt singly. Playing behavior is common, including among adults of the species. Burrows are extensive, usually at the base of low hills or dunes where moisture concentrates, keeping their dens cool even in the hottest weather. They have a variety of calls, including barking, a purring sound similar to that of a domestic cat, and a snarl if threatened. Their ears are used to radiate heat from the body. They have hairy soles to protect them from the hot sand. ♂ mark territory with urine.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara, and probably in Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Widespread in N Africa, ranging from Western Sahara and Mauritania to N Sinai. Its occurrence on the Arabian Peninsula is unclear because of confusion with the young of the Arabian subspecies of Rüppell’s Fox.
HABITAT Arid desert environments. Stable sand dunes are the ideal habitat, although they also live in very sparsely vegetated sand dunes near the Atlantic coast. Ability to burrow in sandier substrates than other Canids provides them with a competitive advantage in dune systems.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Appendix II. Regional status: Legally protected in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. Common throughout the Sahara. Construction of roads and new human settlements is increasing the disturbance and risk to some populations. It is commonly trapped and sold commercially in N Africa for exhibition or sale to tourists.
PHOTO CREDITS Juniors Bildarchiv, marksdl and Tomoko Ichishima, Inokashira Park (Japan); Svetlana Valuiskaya, Helen Haden, Drusillas Zoo Park (UK).
VULPES CANA
BL: 38.5-47 cm (♂), 38.5-45 cm (♀). TL: 26-41 cm. H: 26-28 cm. W: 0.8-1.4 kg (♂), 0.8-1.6 kg (♀). SL: 8.4 cm. SW: 5.1 cm. DF: 42. CN: Unknown. A very small-sized Fox, with a long and bushy tail, and large ears. Coat is brownish gray, with a dark mid-dorsal band along the back and tail and white-tipped hairs. Underparts are white to pale yellow. Winter coat is soft and woolly, with a dense, black overwool. Summer is paler and less dense. Head is orange buff in color, especially in the winter coat. Narrow face, with a pointed muzzle, and a dark band extending from the upper lip to the eye. Ears are large, pale brown on both sides, with long white hairs along the anteromedial border. Eyes are dark. Limbs are pale yellowish white, dark gray posteriorly, sometimes with a dark stifle. Small feet with naked foot pads. Tail is very long and bushy, brownish gray, with a dorsal black spot at the base, and a black tip (white in some individuals). Females slightly smaller than males, with 3 pairs of nipples. Juveniles have a darker coat.
OTHER NAMES Afghan Fox, Royal Fox, Black Fox, King Fox, Cliff Fox, Baluchistan Fox. French: Renard de Blanford, Schardel. German: Afghanfuchs, Canafuchs. Spanish: Zorro de Blanford, zorro afgano, zorro persa. Russian: Афганская лисица. Pashto: Splem Geedar. Persian: Sha rubah. Hebrew: Shual Tsukim.
TAXONOMY Monotypic. Closely related to Fennec Fox.
SIMILAR SPECIES Pelage color in Iran and further E is predominantly gray, whereas in animals from the Arabian Peninsula, Israel and Egypt it is beige. Animals from SW Arabia frequently have a white tail tip. Rüppell’s Fox is slightly larger, with a relatively shorter and less bushy tail, and larger ears. Fennec Fox is smaller, lighter in color, has larger ears, and has hairy foot pads. Red Fox is much larger, with a relatively shorter tail, back of the ears are black, and tail is white tipped.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-60 days. Young per birth: 1-3. Weaning: 30-45 days. Sexual maturity: 8-12 months. Life span: 5 years, 10 years in captivity. Breeding season: December to February. Births occur in March or April. Monogamous. Young are entirely dependent for food upon their mother’s milk until they begin to forage for themselves, as adults do not carry food to the young. ♂ have been observed grooming juveniles, but there is no indication that the ♂ provides food either to the ♀ or to the pups. Dens are located in small clefts in the rock, and they never dig burrows. Dens are used both for rearing young during spring and for daytime harborage throughout the year. Young remain in their natal range until October or November in the year of their birth.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, mated pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Insects and fruits, but may also prey on small mammals, lizards and birds; they rarely drink water. Main predators: Red Fox, eagles, owls. Nocturnal, though it may be seen during the day. They generally become active soon after dusk and are active throughout the night. Solitary hunters; even mated pairs tend to forage independently. Monogamous pairs occupy territories of 1.6 km2, with little overlap between territories. During winter and spring, both members of a pair frequently occupy the same den, or adjacent dens at the same site, while during summer and autumn they often den in separate locations. They are excellent jumpers and tree-climbers, having sharp, curved claws and hairless pads for traction; their long, bushy tails serve as a counterbalance. Very sensitive to sound and very shy, running away with a fast ground-hugging run.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
HABITAT Dry foothills and mountainous regions, steep, rocky slopes, canyons and cliffs, creek bed patches, below an altitude of 2,000 m. They avoid higher mountain ranges.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Appendix II. Regional status: Near Threatened (Pakistan). Estimated population of 5,000, being fairly common in some parts of its range. Habitat destruction and human persecution are the major possible threats. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, its pelt is valued and the species has been hunted extensively. Protected by law in Israel. Hunting banned in Oman, Jordan and Yemen. There is no legal protection in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan.
PHOTO CREDITS Alex Kantorovich, Beersheba Zoo (Israel); Mr. Blueberry, Negev Desert (Israel); Jonas Livet, Sharjah Desert Park (United Arab Emirates).
VULPES CHAMA
BL: 45-61 cm (♂), 51-62 cm (♀). TL: 25-40 cm. H: 30-43 cm. W: 2-4.2 kg (♂), 2-4 kg (♀). SL: 10.1 cm. SW: 5.1 cm. DF: 42. CN: 54. A small-sized, lightly built Canid, with slender legs. Coat is soft, silver gray on the back and reddish brown to pale tawny brown on the flanks and underside. Molting period from October to December. Neck, legs and chest are lighter, from a pale reddish brown to almost white. Dark coloring around the mouth. Large pointed ears, reddish brown on the back, with an inner white fringe. Pointed muzzle, light in color. Hind limbs have a dark brown patch on the back of the thighs. Paws are pale fawn to reddish. Tail is long and bushy, darker than the rest of the body, with a dark patch over the caudal gland, and a black tip. Females are slightly smaller than males, with 3 pairs of mammae.
OTHER NAMES Silver Fox, Silver-Backed Fox, Cama Fox. French: Renard du Cap. German: Kap-Fuchs, Kamafuchs. Spanish: Zorro del Cabo. Russian: Южноафриканская лисица. Afrikaans: Silwervos, draajakkals. Sesotho: Mophèmè. Setswana: Lesiê.
TAXONOMY Monotypic. Includes hodgsoni and variegatoides.
SIMILAR SPECIES The only true Fox in S Africa. Bat-Eared Fox is similar in size, but its coat is more bushy and silvery gray, with larger dark-backed ears, and black legs.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-53 days. Young per birth: 1-6, usually 3. Weaning: 112 days. Sexual maturity: 9 months. Life span: 6-10 years. Breeding season: Year-round, with most births between August and October. The adult ♀ remains with newborn young in an excavated or adapted burrow, and is provisioned by the adult ♂. Pups begin to forage with the ♀ at about 16 weeks, become independent of her at about 21 weeks, and disperse after 9 months of age.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Monogamous pairs, but each one forages separately. Diet: Primarily small rodents, but also insects, birds, reptiles, hares, springhares, and fruit (bluebush berries); they also eat carrion when available, and may sometimes prey on newborn lambs. Main predators: Black-Backed Jackal, caracal, leopard. Mainly nocturnal, although youngsters are known to play outside the den during the day. It can be spotted during the early mornings and early evenings. Territorial, based on high site fidelity and low overlap of home ranges between neighboring Foxes. ♀-based social organization, with ♀-biased dispersal. Territories are maintained by frequent marking. Home ranges are 1 to 30 km2, with differences in size based on food resources and Black-Backed Jackal density. Densities inversely related to Black-Backed Jackal densities, due to the high predation and spatial displacement of Cape Foxes by Jackals. It can dig its own hole, but prefers to use existing dens that were dug by another species like the springhare. When attacked, it will growl and spit at its opponent; it will raise its tail whenever excited. It is normally silent, but communicates with chirps, calls, or by whining. A high-pitched howl, answered by the mate with a bark, is probably a long-range contact call, or an advertisement that an area is occupied. A bark is also used as an alarm call. Facial expressions, but not tail positions, play a prominent role in communication.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa. Widespread in the central and W regions of S Africa, reaching to SW Angola. It has recently expanded its range to the SW where it reaches the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastlines. Status in Swaziland is uncertain, but they may occur in the SW. Not confirmed from Lesotho.
HABITAT Open arid country, grassland with scattered thickets, and lightly wooded areas, particularly in the dry Karoo regions, the Kalahari and the fringes of the Namib Desert. Also penetrate moderately dense vegetation in lowland fynbos in the W Cape, as well as extensive agricultural lands. Not found in forested areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Least Concern (South Africa). Common across much of its range. Estimated population of 50,000-100,000. Illegal use of agricultural poisons on commercial farms poses the main threat. Treated as a vermin across most of its range, but partially protected in several South African provinces.
PHOTO CREDITS Thomas Kalcher and Nico Smit, Kalahari Desert (South Africa); Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH (South Africa).
VULPES FULVA FULVA
BL: 60-71.8 cm. TL: 31-39.4 cm. H: 40 cm. W: 3.5-5.4 kg (♂), 4-4.5 kg (♀). SL: 13.4 cm. SW: 6.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A small-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with a relatively short tail and muzzle. Pelage is bright golden fulvous, varying to fulvous, darkest along middle of back, slightly grizzled with white in the rump. Chin, throat and band down belly white. Face rusty fulvous, profusely grizzled with white. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, and usually white inside. Black on feet reaching the thighs. Tail is fulvous, profusely mixed with black hairs on the undersurface, with a black spot near the base, and a white tip. Females smaller than males. North American Foxes are comparatively lightweight, rather long for their mass, and have considerable sexual dimorphism, compared with Eurasian Foxes.
OTHER NAMES North American Red Fox. French: Renard rouxfauve, renard oriental. German: Ostamerikanischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de América del Norte. Russian: Восточная американская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Until recently Red Foxes in North America were considered both native and nonnative, but recent phylogenetic studies argue against any major substantial contribution of European ancestry to North American populations and are consistent with the previous classification of North American Red Fox as a distinct species (V. fulva). However, at least some Red Foxes in the E United States may be hybrids between North American and European Red Foxes introduced from the British Isles in the late 1700s. At least 9 subspecies are generally recognized in North America (Aubry, 1983 and 2009, Kamler and Ballard, 2002; Sacks, 2010): V. f. fulva (E United States), V. f. rubricosa (central and E Canada), V. f. regalis, V. f. alascensis, V. f. abietorum (boreal Alaska and Canada), V. f. macroura (Rocky Mountains), V. f. cascadensis (Cascade Range), V. f. necator (Sierra Nevada) and V. f. patwin (Sacramento Valley).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 4-7. Weaning: 60 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 5 years, 9 years in captivity. Breeding season: From December to February, with a peak in late January. Births occur in late March or early April. Dens are constructed during late winter in loose, well-drained soils.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs. Diet: Rabbits and mice, but may also eat smaller amounts, poultry, squirrels, muskrats, quail, small nongame birds, insects, nuts and fruits. Poultry loss to this species is largely due to improper husbandry practices. It does not exert real pressure on game bird populations. Main predators: Coyote, lynx. Generally nocturnal, although they can also be observed during the day, especially in open areas. During midday they return to their denning area. They increase their daylight activity during autumn and winter. Non-migratory, and usually use the same area for life, and their size varies with the habitat, food abundance, and time of year, averaging 8-10 km2. During late winter home ranges are larger, due to a decrease in available food. Population densities average 2-3 per km2, but in suitable habitat may range up to 32 per km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States. Found in E United States: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, E Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine; and SE Canada: S Quebec, and S Ontario.
HABITAT Mixed vegetation communities that occur on edge habitats with a high level of diversity. In developed areas they will inhabit areas that offer a combination of woodland and agricultural land. They can also be found in suburban and, less commonly, urban areas where food is readily available.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Populations are largely controlled by sarcoptic mange and associated secondary infections. Habitat competition from Coyotes also depresses Red Fox numbers, especially in SE states.
PHOTO CREDITS William V. Schmitz and Robert Peal, Bombay Hook, NJ (USA); Peter Kefali, Ocean, NJ (USA); Susan Liddle, Island Beach State Park, NJ (USA).
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador Red Fox
VULPES FULVA RUBRICOSA
BL: 66.5-74.5 cm (♂), 57.9-62.6 cm (♀). TL: 33.6-44.5 cm. H: 35-45 cm. W: 4.1-7.3 kg (♂), 3.6-5.7 kg (♀). DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. One of the largest subspecies of North American Red Fox, smaller than Eurasian Red Foxes, darker in color, with a large, very broad and bushy tail. Black, silver and cross color phases are common. Pelage is variable, pale golden fulvous to deep rich and very dark fulvous. Throat and chest are white. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed and usually white inside. Black legs usually up to the thighs. Tail is very long, thick, and bushy, pale buffy yellowish to rich dark fulvous, mixed with black hairs, most abundant below, and white tipped. Females are slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Reddish Fox, Bang’s Red Fox. French: Renard roux. German: Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común. Russian: Восточноканадская (Лабрадорская) рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). Includes bangsi (N Quebec, Newfoundland and coast of Labrador) and deletrix (Newfoundland).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 4-8. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 6 years. Breeding season: From December through March, with peak activity in late January. Young are born during March and early April. Both parents take part in raising the pups. Family groups stay intact until mid-September, when pups begin to disperse. Most of the dispersal takes place during mid-September to early October with greatest dispersal distances occurring from October through December. ♂ generally disperse twice the distance of ♀, commonly moving 30-65 km before settling in new territories. Quite often ♀ offspring will remain close to, or share their mother’s territories. Related ♀ tolerate each other’s presence, but territories of unrelated ♀ are clearly defined and adhered to.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs during the breeding season. Monogamous; the pair may separate during the year, but will reunite for mating. Diet: Small rodents and other small to mid-sized mammals (voles, snowshoe hares, lemmings, squirrels, rabbits and mice); additional spring foods include grasses and forbs, birds and bird eggs, and carrion; they rely heavily on berries, plants and insects during the summer; apples are utilized when they become available. Main predators: Coyote, Wolf, lynx. Most active from dusk to dawn, moving away from secure den sites primarily during the hours of darkness. They hunt mostly toward sunset, during night and early morning. Home range sizes vary considerably, depending on food abundance, degree of interspecific and intraspecific competition, type and diversity of habitat, and presence of natural and physical barriers (0.7-2.3 km2 on Prince Edward Island, 32 km2 in Maine). Home ranges of ♂ clearly overlap those of at least 1 or more ♀. They oftentimes travel much of their home range each night. They use smelly droppings and urine as scent markings to define territories. Red Foxes have a sharp bark, used when startled and to warn other Foxes.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada. Found in Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton Island, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, central Quebec to S end of James Bay, and NE Ontario west to Lake Superior.
HABITAT A variety of habitats, closely associated with areas where crop land and fields are intermixed with adjacent wooded tracts. Logging and farming activities open the forest canopy and improve conditions for Red Fox. On Prince Edward Island they prefer dunes, shrubs, agricultural fields, and human-use habitats, while forest and water habitats are used less. They avoid burned and open conifer forest.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Leading causes of mortality include trapping, hunting, and road kills. Rabies and sarcoptic mange are natural mortality factors which can substantially decrease local populations. The recent increase in Coyote numbers and distribution in this area may have adverse affects on its population.
PHOTO CREDITS Scott Martin and Jim Cumming, Algonquin Provincial Park, ON (Canada); Mircea Costina, QC (Canada); Eric Bégin, Melocheville, QC (Canada).
VULPES FULVA REGALIS
BL: 65.8-69.7 cm. TL: 39.2-42 cm. H: 38-45 cm. W: 3.2-11.3 kg. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with very large and broad ears, and very long tail. Pelage is golden yellow or pale yellowish fulvous, becoming almost buffy white on face and posterior part of back. Throat and chest are white. Face, top of head and base of ears pale straw yellow becoming pale fulvous around eyes, with a darker area on each side of nose. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears large, pointed, erect, black backed and usually white inside. Legs abruptly red or rusty fulvous, in striking contrast with yellow of body. Black of feet very pure but restricted in area. Tail is long, golden yellow at the base, without black hairs, with the rest of tail to white tip buffy, strongly intermixed with long black hairs, especially on underside. Females smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Royal Fox. French: Renard roux des plaines du Nord, renard royal. German: Northern-Plains-Rotfuchs, Königs-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de las Grandes Llanuras. Russian: Рыжая лисица Великих равнин.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva).
SIMILAR SPECIES Gray Fox is s slightly smaller, grayer in color on the back, with reddish legs and a black-tipped tail, and is found in areas fairly heavily covered with wood or brush. Arctic Fox is considerably smaller, has a shorter, less tapered head with shorter, rounded ears, and its winter and summer pelage is different in color. Coyote is larger in size, has a shorter tail, and has round pupils.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 1-9. Weaning: 56-90 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 5 years. Breeding season: January or February. Young are born in March or April. Dens may be burrows dug by themselves, abandoned ones previously used by other Foxes or other species, various natural cavities such as caves, hollow trees and logs, openings in very thick brush or piles of wood debris, or in structures such as barns and other outbuildings, grain elevators, haystacks and culverts. Some dens may be reused year after year. At birth, pups weigh about 100 grams and are blind, and will remain in the den for 3-4 weeks. During this period, both parents work to bring food to the den. Foxes often have more than one den and if a den is disturbed, they will move their young to another den. All juveniles disperse when they are 6-8 months old. The longest dispersal distances are made by ♂. Dispersal by adults also occurs, usually in response to reduced availability of food on the home range.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs during the breeding season; monogamous. Diet: Rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, small mammals, birds, carrion, poultry, insects, fruits, and small amounts of plant material are eaten by Foxes; when rabbits and mice are abundant, they make up the bulk of the food supply, but if they are scarce, they will turn to other less easily caught species such as muskrats and game birds. They also eat fruit, insects and carrion. Main predators: Coyote, Wolf, cougar, lynx. Most active at night, though it may be seen hunting or traveling at any time of day. Solitary hunters and do not hunt in packs. Except for the period when the young are small, they do not use dens extensively. During the day they rest in some secluded spot or on some open ridge where they can see any approaching danger. Even in the coldest weather they do not usually seek the shelter or den. They are territorial and home ranges of family groups rarely overlap.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States. Found in central Canada, from W side of Great Lakes and SW side of Hudson Bay throughout NW Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and E Alberta; and in N-central United States, Northern Plains, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Subspecific status of Foxes in Nunavut is unclear.
HABITAT A wide variety of habitats including prairies, forests, small patches of timber interspersed with pastures, agricultural fields and urban areas. Their distribution and density may be limited by competition with and avoidance of Coyotes.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed.
PHOTO CREDITS Christy Hader and outdoorsman, MN (USA); John Woodnutt, Churchill, MB (Canada).
VULPES FULVA ALASCENSIS
BL: 56-82 cm. TL: 35-45 cm. H: 35-50 cm. W: 2.7-6.8 kg. SL: 14.5 cm. SW: 8.2 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with large and long tail, long fur and small ears, very similar to abietorum. Pelage is golden fulvous, long and full on neck and anterior part of back, almost forming a ruff, shorter and coarser on posterior part of back and rump, where it is more grizzled in color. Throat and chest are white. Face and head grizzled fulvous and buffy, strongly rusty on top of nose and around eyes, paler on cheeks and forehead. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, and usually white inside. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, fulvous like back, with the usual admixture of black hairs, and a white tip. Black, silver and cross color phases are common. Females smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux d’Alaska. German: Alaska-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Alaska. Russian: Аляскинская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). Its geographic range has not been well defined, and its taxonomic validity has not been tested. Includes harrimani (Kodiak, Geese, Ugak and Marmot Islands), and kenaiensis (Kenai Peninsula).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52 days. Young per birth: 3-7. Weaning: 90 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 3 years. Breeding season: February and March. Breeding dens are usually dug in sandy knolls with sunny south-facing exposures; at each den there are a series of about half a dozen large burrows, from 20 to 25 cm in diameter, connected with each other underground. The ♀ is confined to the den during the pups’ first few days of life, depending on her mate to supply food, but soon begins to leave the den for short periods to forage on her own. By their third month, the pups begin learning to hunt. In early winter the young disperse to seek out a new home range.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs; ♂ and ♀ may remain as breeding pairs for several years and work cooperatively to rear offspring. Diet: Small mammals (mice, voles, shrews, snowshoe hare, common muskrats), and birds (ptarmigan) in winter. In summer it also eats eggs of ground-nesting ducks, marsh birds, grasses and sedges, and berries. On the Arctic tundra, it feeds mainly on collared lemming, tundra voles and Arctic ground squirrels. Main predators: Lynx, Wolf, Coyote, wolverine, eagles and perhaps bears. Solitary and territorial. Territories average 2.9 km2 in size, often bounded by rivers or other natural barriers. Related Foxes do not share home range resources, and ♀ occupy smaller ranges.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States. Found in most of Alaska, N and central Yukon Territory, and Northwest Territories. It occurs throughout most of mainland Alaska and on several far E Aleutian Islands. They are uncommon along the mainland of SE Alaska N of the Taku River, and rare along the S mainland. Commercial Fox farming resulted in the introduction of Red Foxes to many N Pacific islands. It occurs throughout the Yukon.
HABITAT A wide variety of habitats, ranging from tundra to boreal forests, steppe and temperate deserts. In Alaska they prefer riparian drainages in the mountains and foothills, coastal plains and river valleys. In the Yukon they inhabit white spruce forests, subalpine areas of willow and soapberry, and alpine tundra. Small numbers have begun to inhabit the Arctic tundra of the far north over the last century, where they compete with the Arctic Fox; in these areas, they have been observed digging Arctic Foxes from their dens and killing them. The expansion of the Coyote’s range has affected its distribution.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Populations in Alaska and the Yukon are considered large and abundant. It was the first furbearer to be raised in captivity for pelt production.
PHOTO CREDITS Richard Fitzer, Haines, AK (USA); Sarkophoto, Cecoffman, Denali, AK (USA); Drew Hamilton, Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK (USA); Risha Isom, Kodiak, AK (USA).
VULPES FULVA ABIETORUM
BL: 56-80 cm. TL: 33-40 cm. H: 35-40 cm. W: 5-6.5 kg (♂), 4-5 kg (♀). SL: 14.5 cm. SW: 7.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with larger and longer tail, longer and fuller fur, and smaller ears, very similar to alascensis, with a longer, thinner face. Pelage is golden fulvous, long and full on neck and anterior part of back, almost forming a ruff, shorter and coarser on posterior part of back and rump, where it is more grizzled in color. Throat and chest are white. Face and head grizzled fulvous and buffy, strongly rusty on top of nose and around eyes, paler on cheeks and forehead. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, and usually white inside. Black on feet may be greatly restricted. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, fulvous like back, with the usual admixture of black hairs, and a white tip. Females smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Fir Fox, Fir Wood Fox. French: Renard roux du Canada. German: Britisch-Kolumbien-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Columbia Británica. Russian: Рыжая лисица Британской Колумбии.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). The geographic range of most North American subspecies has not been well defined, and their taxonomic validity has not been tested.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 4-5, up to 12. Weaning: 35 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Life span: 10 years. Breeding season: February and March. Dens usually have 1 or more openings, and the tunnels are an average of 1 to 1.5 m below ground. The ♂ may bring food to the den until the ♀ can leave the pups a short time, then they both hunt. They remain with the pups until dispersal. Dens are usually located on hillsides in or near heavy brush or woodlands. Dens may be built by the foxes themselves, or may be enlarged versions of dens previously constructed by other small mammals.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs and their pups. Diet: Small rodents (vole, mouse), but also larger mammals, birds (including the eggs and young of game birds and many ground-nesting passerines), amphibians, reptiles, insects, plant matter, especially berries and other fruits in season, and carrion. When prey is abundant, they will cache excess food items at dens or bury them at selected locations. Main predators: Coyote, bobcat, lynx, golden eagle. Most active from dusk to dawn. They are usually solitary hunters as adults and are highly mobile, foraging in an extensive area. They have non-overlapping territories among family groups, with territorial boundaries defined by scent marking with urine or feces on a regular basis. In subalpine habitat in NW British Columbia, summer ranges range from 3 to 34 km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States (Alaska). Occurs throughout W Canada, in S Yukon and Northwest Territories, interior British Columbia and adjacent coastal SE Alaska, and N Alberta. In British Columbia, it is found over most of the mainland, but is most common in the central and N parts; it does not regularly occur in the wet coastal forests W of the Coast Range, or naturally on any of the coastal islands, although it does appear in agricultural and suburban habitats in the lower mainland.
HABITAT Relatively open habitats, often with patches of cover interspersed with small openings, although large expanses of alpine tundra and subalpine parkland are also commonly used. Because of its relatively low foot-loading, it is able to stay on the surface in snow and is better adapted than the Coyote for occupation of high-elevation areas. Closer to civilization, it will live in agricultural areas where farmlands alternate with woodlots, cut-over shrublands, and meadows. In large cities, it uses ravines, parks, and golf courses, as well as large, well-vegetated lots among low-density housing.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Harvests of Foxes were highest in the 1930s and early 1940s, but then declined sharply as pelt prices dropped. Predator control programs aimed at Coyotes and Wolves had a significant impact on populations in the 1950s and 1960s.
PHOTO CREDITS Jean-Guy Dallaire and James Tupper, AB (Canada); Alan D. Wilson, Horsefly Peninsula, BC (Canada); Keith Williams, Yukon Territory (Canada); Cats99, Fairview, AB (Canada).
VULPES FULVA MACROURA
BL: 55.8-68.5 cm (♂). TL: 35-40 cm. H: 38.1-40.6 cm. W: 3.2-6.8 kg (♂). DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A montane, small-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with a very large tail, paler coloration and less pronounced black on feet and legs. Pelage is yellowish fulvous, darkest on median line, palest on sides of neck and flanks. Throat and chest are whitish, darkened by underfur showing through. Face is buffy fulvous and whitish, nose dull brownish fulvous, grizzled with buffy. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, white inside. Outer sides of legs dark reddish fulvous. Black of forefeet reaching to elbow, black of hind feet narrow and hardly reaching ankle. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, grizzled grayish buff mixed with black hairs, the black hairs on upper side of base forming a broad blackish patch, white tipped. Females smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Long-Tailed Red Fox, Wasatch Mountain Fox. French: Renard roux des Rocheuses. German: Felsengebirgs-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de las Montañas Rocosas. Russian: Длиннохвостая американская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). It is one of three mountain North American Red Foxes that also include the Sierra Nevada Red Fox (V. f. necator) and the Cascade Red Fox (V. f. cascadensis).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 2-3, reproductive output is generally low in montane Foxes. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 5.5 years. Breeding season: Between December and March. Similar to lowland-dwelling North American Red Fox subspecies. Births occur from March through May in sheltered dens. Dens may be burrows dug by themselves, abandoned ones previously used by other Foxes or other species, various natural cavities such as caves, hollow trees and logs, openings in very thick brush or piles of wood debris, or in structures such as barns and other outbuildings, grain elevators, haystacks and culverts. Both parents aid in providing the pups with food and protection. Juveniles disperse when they are 6-8 months old. The longest dispersal distances are made by ♂. Dispersal by adults also occurs, usually in response to reduced availability of food on the home range due to climatic factors, or to a more general cyclic crash of an important prey species.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs. Diet: Small mammals; as winter progresses, when it is difficult to break through the layers of snow to gain access to small mammals, they turn more to scavenging from carcasses left by larger predators or excavate and consume cached food. Main predators: Coyote. Adapted to survive in harsh winter conditions at high elevations. They exploit higher elevations more than Coyotes, which may be a spatial competition avoidance mechanism since there are few if any Coyote territories above 2,100 m. They are better adapted to hunt in deep snow, as their relatively large feet and long track length allow Foxes to stay on top of the snow.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States. Found in NW United States and SW Canada; Rocky Mountains, Wasatch Range, near Great Salt Lake, Utah, mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. Also described from E Oregon, mountainous parts of Idaho, Montana, Black Hills of South Dakota, and S in Rocky Mountains to N New Mexico and N Arizona. In Canada it occurs in extreme SE British Columbia, S Alberta and probably SW Saskatchewan. The subspecific status of the Red Fox inhabiting lowlands in those areas is unclear, and may be V. f. macroura that could have descended from the montane habitats back to the plains, or V. f. fulva that could have migrated from the surrounding region. In addition, it is unknown where the dividing line is between these two subspecies or if an integradation zone exists. Red Foxes at Yellowstone National Park belong to the macroura subspecies.
HABITAT Forested habitats at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains, from 1,350 to 3,000 m. They prefer habitats close to the edge of a major structural change in vegetation. To avoid Coyotes, they may have to survive in between, on the periphery, or at higher elevations than Coyotes.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed.
PHOTO CREDITS Rinus Baak and Michelle Holihan, Yellowstone National Park, WY (USA); JD Hascup, Jasper National Park, AB (Canada).
VULPES FULVA CASCADENSIS
BL: 60-71 cm (♂), 56-58 cm (♀). TL: 32-41.2 cm. H: 38-44 cm. W: 4-4.5 kg (♂), 3.5-3.7 kg (♀). DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. This is a montane, small-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with a relatively short tail, deep rusty to yellow in color. Pelage is straw yellow to deep rusty dorsally grading to rusty grizzled with white posteriorly and lighter rust along sides. Underfur is light gray. Throat and chest are white with gray underfur. Belly is all white. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, white inside. Black of ears and feet greatly restricted. Tail very pale, sparsely overlain with black-tipped hairs, tipped with white. Silver phase is common, being entirely black except for an area on the posterior dorsum grizzled with white and sometimes an area grizzled with white on the shoulders, and the white tip on the tail. Females slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Cascade Mountains Red Fox. French: Renard roux des Cascades. German: Kaskadengebirgs-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de la cordillera de las Cascadas. Russian: Рыжая лисица каскадных гор.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). It is one of three mountain North American Red Foxes that also include the Sierra Nevada Red Fox (V. f. necator) and the Rocky Mountain Red Fox (V. f. macroura).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 4-8. Weaning: 60 days. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: Late January to early February. Births occur from mid-March to mid-May. Dens are located in stands of trees, and their placement, the number of entrances, and their size are not different from those of other subspecies in North America.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs. Diet: Pocket gophers, voles, lagomorphs, insects, and fruit and berries, but also birds and their eggs, opossums, insectivores, a variety of other rodents, and occasionally other carnivores; in local situations it consumes garbage and carrion. In the winter, mammals are the principal food items; in the spring, birds become a minor component of the diet and continue as such through the summer and fall; in the early summer, fruits and insects are important food items. Main predators: Coyote. This montane subspecies appears to be specialized for occupying subalpine and alpine habitats, and may possess physiological adaptations that other populations lack. Home ranges are small in subalpine meadows, larger in poorer habitat on the E slope of the Cascades. They do not migrate to lower elevations in winter, although they increase their home range size during the months when snow is on the ground.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Canada, United States. This subspecies occurs on the NW coast of the United States and Canada: S British Columbia, Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington, and N Sierra Nevada in California, but the limits of its range are not well defined. It occurs at low abundance throughout Mount Rainier National Park, at sites on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and as sparse detections in the North Cascades ecosystem. Some authors state that Oregon animals are V. f. necator.
HABITAT Restricted to upper montane forest, subalpine parkland, and alpine zone of Cascade Range. This subspecies appears able to move through areas of timber, but dense timber may partially obstruct movement and colonization. Lowland populations probably correspond to other introduced subspecies.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Critically Imperiled (Oregon, Washington). It is one of the most threatened subspecies, as its range is small and apparently much reduced from historical times, facing numerous threats. The population size at Mount Rainier and Mount Adams is unknown, and its status elsewhere in its range is unknown. Significant threats to all populations include growing Coyote populations, which increase risk of predation and competition, habitat loss and fragmentation due to recreational development, and habitat loss due to encroachment of woody vegetation. There is a potential for genetic erosion, due to small population sizes.
PHOTO CREDITS Robert McRae, David Pickles, Paul Thomson, Gary Fua, Dani Tinker and Dave Biddle, Mount Rainier National Park, WA (USA).
VULPES FULVA NECATOR
BL: 67.5 cm (♂), 61.3 cm (♀). TL: 34.5-38.1 cm. H: 35-40 cm. W: 4-4.2 kg (♂), 3.3-3.5 kg (♀). SL: 14.5 cm. SW: 7.6 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A montane, small-sized subspecies of North American Red Fox, with a relatively short tail. Pelage is dark dull rusty fulvous, resembling that of fulvus, becoming much paler on sides, where the whitish underfur shows through. Throat and chest are white. Face dull fulvous, strongly grizzled with whitish. Sides of nose dusky, darker than in fulvus, grizzled with buffy. Cross and silver color phases are very common in this subspecies. Black of legs much restricted. Tail is relatively small, differing widely from the big tail of macrourus, fulvous in color at base, becoming buffy whitish and profusely mixed with long black hairs, base with a black spot, and white tip. White-tipped tails are common to all color phases.
Vulpes fulva necator
OTHER NAMES High Sierra Fox, Murdering Fox. French: Renard roux de Sierra Nevada. German: Sierra-Nevada-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Sierra Nevada. Russian: Рыжая лисица заснеженных гор.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). It is one of the mountain North American Red Foxes. Lowland California Red Foxes living in the San Joaquin Valley, the San Francisco Bay area, and S California may be descended from a mix of subspecies from several areas, and are considered to be non-native in California; those are larger and more richly colored.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 2-3, reproductive output is generally low in montane Foxes. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 5.5 years. Breeding season: Between December and March. Similar to lowland-dwelling North American Red Fox subspecies. Births occur from March through May in sheltered dens.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs, predominantly monogamous. Diet: Opportunistic predators and foragers, with a diet primarily composed of small rodents, but also including deer carrion, particularly in winter and spring, and manzanita berries, particularly in fall. Main predators: Golden eagle. Most active at dusk and at night when many rodents are most active. This montane subspecies is characterized by specialized adaptations to cold areas, including a particularly thick and deep winter coat, small toe pads that are completely covered in winter by dense fur to facilitate movement over snow, a smaller size that may also facilitate movement over snow by lowering weight supported per square centimeter of foot pad. Its smaller size may also be due to reduced abundance of prey at higher elevations. In Lassen, home ranges range from 0.03 to 6.9 km2 in summer, larger in winter. At Sonora Pass home ranges average 9.1 km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: United States. Only two populations persist today; one near Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a second near Yosemite National Park and Sonora Pass. Some authors include Red Foxes of the Oregon Cascades in this subspecies. Subspecific status of Foxes in Nevada is unknown.
HABITAT Multiple habitat types in the alpine and subalpine zones (near and above tree line), meadows and rocky areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Critically endangered, and possibly declining, with an estimated population likely less than 50. Main threats include small population size and isolation, hybridization with non-native Red Fox, climate change, and competition and predation from Coyotes. It is protected from hunting and trapping by California fish and game laws. It does not enjoy any elevated conservation status in the states of Oregon or Nevada.
VULPES FULVA PATWIN
BL: 67.2 cm (♂), 65.2 cm (♀). TL: 41.6 cm. H: 35-45 cm. W: 4.7 kg (♂), 4.0 kg (♀). DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized and lankier subspecies of North American Red Fox. Pelage is dark dull rusty fulvous, becoming paler on sides. Throat and chest are white. Face dull fulvous, grizzled with whitish. Sides of nose dusky, grizzled with buffy. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, white inside. Black legs. Tail is relatively small, fulvous in color at base, becoming buffy whitish and profusely mixed with long black hairs, base with a black spot, and white tip. Females are smaller than males.
Vulpes fulva patwin
OTHER NAMES Central Valley Red Fox. French: Renard roux. German: Sacramento-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común del Valle de Sacramento. Russian: Рыжая лисица калифорнийской долины.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of North American Red Fox (V. fulva). It was previously considered an introduced species, but it is indigenous to California and phylogenetically most closely related to Sierra Nevada Red Fox (V. f. necator).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 61-63 days. Young per birth: 1-10. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 6 years. Breeding season: December to January. Most births occur in late February and early March. Den sites are closely associated with grasslands and occur away from flooded agriculture, wetlands and heavily urbanized areas. Den sites may be excavated ground squirrel burrows, or located under sheds or woodpiles, in culverts, road cuts, and between buildings.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Mated pairs; monogamous. Diet: Mainly small mammals, berries, plants. Main predators: Coyote, Dog. Gray Foxes affect the distribution and abundance of Sacramento Valley Red Foxes, probably through exploitative competition, resulting in exclusion from riparian areas or patches of dense vegetation capable of providing refuge from Coyotes. However, direct interference from Coyotes is probably far more significant than exploitative competition with Gray Foxes.
DISTRIBUTION Native: United States. It is endemic to the Sacramento Valley, California, occurring from Cottonwood to the Delta, W of the Sacramento River, and from Chico to Sacramento, E of the Sacramento River. Hybridization with introduced Red Foxes is found on the S and SE margins of the range, possibly facilitated by low densities of native Foxes in these areas. All Red Foxes S of the American River and Delta and W of the Sacramento Valley (Sonoma County), in lowland areas, are probably introduced Red Foxes, which derive largely from fur farm stock exhibiting ancestry from an admixture of diverse and phylogenetically distant sources.
HABITAT Arid grasslands. They usually avoid flooded agriculture and wetlands, and heavily urbanized areas, which marks an important difference from non-native Red Foxes. They may use areas close to human structures if heavy cover is nearby.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: It may qualify for threatened or endangered status (California). Anecdotal and genetic evidence suggest that this subspecies has declined considerably in abundance and range. While introgression occurs and could pose a greater threat in the future, some type of reproductive barrier with non-native Foxes appears to be in place.
VULPES VULPES VULPES
BL: 73.3 cm (♂), 70.5 cm (♀). TL: 31-55 cm. H: 35-40 cm. W: 5.8 kg (♂), 4.9 kg (♀). SL: 15 cm. SW: 8.3 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized subspecies of Red Fox, with teeth larger and more robust than in the central and southern subspecies. Pelage is yellowish brown and brighter, more inclined toward reddish along median dorsal region and on face, duller and more yellowish or grayish on sides of body to shoulder and on sides of neck to base of ear, the flanks and usually the sides sprinkled with white hairs. Underparts very variable, ranging from whitish to slaty black. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, tawny or buff at base and on inner surface, black or very dark brown on the terminal half of outer side, in strong contrast with surrounding parts. Muzzle slender and pointed, dull white on upper lip. Tail is long, thick and bushy, with abundant underfur, white tipped. Feet dusky or blackish. Females are smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Common Red Fox. French: Renard roux d’Europe. German: Skandinavischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común escandinavo. Russian: Скандинавская рыжая лисица. Norwegian: Rødrev.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes lineatus (Skane, Sweden), nigro-argenteus (Lofoten Islands, Norway), nigrocaudatus (Uppland, Sweden), septentrionalis (Norway) and variegatus (Uppland, Sweden).
SIMILAR SPECIES North American Red Foxes (V. fulva) are comparatively lightweight, rather long for their mass, and with considerable sexual dimorphism. Arctic Fox (V. lagopus) is visibly smaller, has a shorter, less tapered head with shorter, rounded ears, and its winter and summer pelage is different in color.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 3-10. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 10-12 months. Life span: 9 years. Breeding season: From December to January. Reproduction varies in relation to food abundance, with a lower rate of reproducing ♀ with scarcity of rodents. Migration in juveniles occurs between 6 and 12 months of age. They can migrate over large distances in a short period of time, especially young ♂.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous pairs. Diet: The presence of lynx feeding on roe deer creates an important, stable food supply for Foxes, as scavenging on roe deer may replace feeding on presumably less profitable food such as fish and reptiles, invertebrates and vegetables. In addition to carrion it eats mostly rodents and small to medium-sized mammals, but also insects and berries. In the N part of its range the prey is mostly voles, whereas in the S rabbits and hares are the majority. Main predators: Wolf, lynx. Mainly nocturnal. Its density varies from 0.2 to 0.4 per km2 in forest landscape, to 0.8 in pasture landscape. As one of its main food sources is voles, population can fluctuate due to a changing population of voles. Arctic and Red Foxes have similar food niches, which suggests they compete for territories, and Arctic Foxes rarely breed close to dens occupied by reproducing Red Foxes. This can explain observed changes in Arctic Fox distribution over the last century.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Found in W, central and N Europe.
HABITAT It lives in a range of different habitats, but prefers rich biotopes, such as open farmland, arable fields and pasture areas, as there is often more food available in these habitats, such as voles, than in the forest. They may venture onto the tundra.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Considered one of the largest threats to the endangered Arctic Fox. Population in Scandinavia has increased after an intensive outbreak of sarcoptic mange in the 1980s and 1990s. Regional warming, increased supplies of anthropogenic food items, and the increase and expansion of ungulate populations have also positively affected populations. Fox farming is no longer economically viable in Sweden and since 2001, Fox farming is no longer carried out there. In Denmark, a ban on Fox farming was introduced in 2009. Norway remains one of the world’s foremost Fox fur producing countries. Hunting is permitted.
PHOTO CREDITS Kjejoh, Tåsjö (Sweden); Lext and Päivi Paddler (Norway); lumofisk, Henningsvaer (Norway); Trond Hynne, Hallem (Norway).
VULPES VULPES CRUCIGERA
BL: 62-72 cm (♂), 61 cm (♀). TL: 34-41 cm. H: 35-40 cm. W: 6.7 kg (♂), 5.4 kg (♀). SL: 15 cm. SW: 8.2 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large-sized subspecies, smaller than the Scandinavian Fox, with teeth distinctly smaller. Pelage is variable in color, usually reddish brown, but can be orange or bright yellowish with a dark stripe down the back. Sides of neck and region immediately behind shoulder lighter than median dorsal area. Posterior half of back with evident white frosting in some specimens, scarcely any in others. Throat and chest are white. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, and usually white inside. Underparts are dull slaty overlaid with white. Limbs are commonly black. Tail is long and bushy, with a white tip. Females are slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES Crucigera Fox, British Red Fox. French: Renard roux d’Europe. German: Europäischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común europeo. Russian: Европейская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes alba, cinerea, crymensis, diluta, europaeus, hellenica, hypomelas, krimeamontana, lutea, melanogaster, meridionalis, nigra, stepensis, tobolica and toschii.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 4-10. Weaning: 56-70 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Life span: 14 years in captivity. Breeding season: From December to February. They breed once a year with pups born in spring, generally in dens but also in hollow trees, rock crevices, under houses or in log piles.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous. Diet: Field voles, birds, rabbits, insects, earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, blackberries, plums and carrion. Surplus food is buried. In some circumstances they may kill lambs and goat kids, but they do not have the size and strength to hold and immobilize large prey like adult sheep or goats, or to crush large bones. Main predators: Birds of prey, Dogs. Solitary hunters, but evidence suggests that family groups occupy well-defined home ranges. Family groups usually consist of a ♂ and ♀ Fox with pups, but non-breeding, subordinate ♀ may also be present. Rural home ranges in Australia are about 5 km2, but this can vary widely and depends on resource availability. Most active from dusk until dawn and usually rest during the day in an earth den. They may also hunt and scavenge during the day. Feces and urine are used to define territories by scent marking conspicuous landmarks like tussocks of grass and rabbit warrens. These scent marks are distributed throughout its range, especially in places that are visited often. They communicate by sound as well as by scent marking and body language. Young Foxes use aggressive yapping and a resonant howl during the winter mating season. Vixens and pups will bark and whimper softly. Adult Foxes also make vocalizations that can sound like screaming.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom. Introduced in Australia and Virginia (United States) for hunting purposes.
HABITAT Almost every habitat: sea cliffs, sand dunes, salt marshes, peat bogs, high mountains, woodland and particularly abundant in urban areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Populations have increased in most areas, with a concurrent increase in range, although numbers have fluctuated with the availability of the food supply. They are considered a major predator of ground-nesting birds, including game species and those of conservation concern. It is also a potential vector for the rabies virus. In Australia, they are a major pest species that threatens agricultural and native species alike.
PHOTO CREDITS Linda Stanley, Poole (UK); Peter Trimming, Felcourt (UK); Alex Witt, Stoke Newington (UK); Colin Price, Brocton (UK); Stu232, Staffordshire (UK).
VULPES VULPES BERINGIANA AND RELATED SUBSPECIES
BL: 63.8-72 cm. TL: 36.2-43 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 3.3-6 kg. SL: 15.4 cm. SW: 8.0 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large subspecies of Red Fox, brightly colored. Pelage is variable in color, usually intense orange red, forming a distinct cross on back and shoulders. Some individuals may be much yellower and lighter. Flanks are yellower and more vivid. Neck and throat are white. Underparts are orange-red-yellow to white. Head is orange above, somewhat lighter than back. Backs of ears are black. Lips are white. Tail is long and bushy, reddish yellow to dark orange buff, having long hair with black tips, with a whitish tip. Limbs are orange, with a variable black pattern in front of carpal joints sometimes faintly marked. Little sexual dimorphism.
Vulpes vulpes jakutensis
Vulpes vulpes dolichocrania
Vulpes vulpes daurica
OTHER NAMES Kamchatka Red Fox, Anadyr Fox, Tundra Fox (beringiana), Yakutsk Red Fox (jakutensis), Trans-Baikal Red Fox (daurica). French: Renard roux. German: Kamtschatka-Rotfuchs, Jakutischer Rotfuchs, Fernöstlicher Rotfuchs, Daurischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro de Kamchatka. Russian: Анадырская рыжая лисица (beringiana), Якутская рыжая лисица (jakutensis), Уссурийская рыжая лисица (dolichocrania), Забайкальская рыжая лисица (daurica).
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes schantaricus (Great Shantar Island), sibiricus, ognevi (Zeya-Bureya Plains) and ussuriensis (Ussuri Region). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Arctic Fox is smaller in size, with shorter legs, muzzle and rounded ears, and pelage color is different.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 3-9, up to 13. Weaning: Unknown. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: Late December to late March. There is no specific information for these subspecies, but probably similar to other Red Foxes. The young are born from March to May. Dens are located under big rocks, roots of big trees, or in cracks and caves of cliffs. ♂ help with parental care. Dispersal occurs in the fall, with the ♂ generally dispersing farther than ♀.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous. Diet: Small ground-dwelling mammals, including lagomorphs and sciurids, but may also take galliformes, frogs, snakes, insects, berries and vegetables. Carrion may be seasonally important. Surplus food is buried. Main predators: Birds of prey, Dogs. There is no specific information for these subspecies, but probably similar to other Red Foxes. Predominantly nocturnal, with a tendency toward crepuscularity and, although diurnal activity is common in some areas, they typically spend the day resting in cover. Very mobile, often covering several km per day, with non-overlapping territories. Territories are larger in winter than in summer. Arctic and Red Foxes may coexist without antagonistic interactions when there is enough food, but in some cases Arctic Foxes may be chased or even killed by Red Foxes.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Russia, Mongolia. These subspecies are found in Asian Russia and N Mongolia: V. v. beringiana is found in NE Siberia, shores of Bering Strait, including Kamchatka and Anadyr region in Chukotka; V. v. jakutensis occurs in Sakha Republic and E Siberia; V. v. dolichocrania occurs in SW Primorsky Krai, Amur Oblast, and SE Siberia; V. v. daurica occurs in Republic of Buryatia, Kyakhta, S Transbaikalia, S Siberia and N Mongolia. Boundaries with other subspecies of Red Fox are unclear.
HABITAT Mixed landscapes consisting of scrub, woodland and farmland, but also found in dense woodland, tundra, coastal dunes, and above the tree line in mountain ranges, from sea level up to 3,000 m. During the last century, they have expanded its distribution into the Arctic.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regarded as a pest in most areas, and unprotected. Hunting is regulated.
PHOTO CREDITS Ivan Vdovin, Okhotsk, Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia); Budkov Denis, Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia).
VULPES VULPES SILACEA
BL: 60-80 cm. TL: 25-50 cm. H: 35-50 cm. W: 4.6-8.6 kg (♂), 3.1-7.8 kg (♀). SL: 15.3 cm. SW: 8.3 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs, pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A medium-sized subspecies of Red Fox, with reddish tints mostly replaced by buffy and grayish. Pelage is light ochraceous buff dorsally grading to black, creamy white and russet, the black predominating along midline of neck and between shoulders. Throat, chest, shoulders, base of forelegs and underparts are dull white, everywhere clouded with slaty black. Head and face tawny ochraceous. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, pale cream buff inside. Tail light buffy gray, sparsely overlain with black-tipped hairs, most noticeable on lower surface, tipped with white. Legs tawny ochraceous buff, with black-tipped hairs on outer surface, and feet strongly washed with black. Females smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux ibérique. German: Iberischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común ibérico. Russian: Иберийская рыжая лисица. Portuguese: Raposa-vermelha.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis. Various Spanish populations show great variability in size.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52 days. Young per birth: 1-7. Weaning: 35-63 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 14 years. Breeding season: From January to February. Most births occur from March to April. Cubs are born blind and with grayish color. They open their eyes at the age of 11-14 days. Both parents take care of the pups. The pups stay with their parents until autumn and then gradually leave the area and become independent.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but also mated pairs, or small groups composed of 1 ♂ and 2-3 related ♀. Diet: A generalist and opportunistic predator; small mammals are the most important prey consumed (rodents, insectivores, lagomorphs); arthropods, fruits, birds, reptiles and carrion are good supplementary food resources. The intake of lagomorphs and small mammals is greatest in Mediterranean scrub and forest, respectively. Reptiles and invertebrates are consumed mostly during summer; fruits and seeds in autumn. Main predators: Wolf, Iberian lynx, Dogs, golden eagle and Eurasian eagle-owl. Mainly nocturnal and crepuscular. Diurnal activity decreases in areas with higher levels of human disturbance and increases in dense habitats. Home ranges on the Iberian Peninsula from 0.7 to more than 30 km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Portugal, Spain. Found on the Iberian Peninsula S of the Pyrenees. It is not found in Baleares and Canarias islands. The subspecies in the Pyrenees is V. v. crucigera, but it is unknown if there may be an area of intergradation.
HABITAT It prefers large forested habitats with autochthonous oaks and holm oaks. It commonly uses irrigation channels with close proximity of cover. It is often associated with human population nuclei, as it finds abundant and easily available food supplies in rubbish dumps and livestock carrion. Up to 3,000 m in altitude.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. It is fairly common and widespread throughout the Iberian Peninsula, with densities from 0.8 animals per km2 in rain-fed areas to 2.5 per km2 in irrigated areas. Main threats include habitat fragmentation and road kills. In Spain, it is a game species than can be legally culled outside the hunting season with a special permit.
PHOTO CREDITS Luis Jiménez Delgado, Sierra de Cazorla (Spain); Aitor Ivàñez Monerris, Sierra de Cazorla (Spain); Pablo Barrena, Villarreal de San Carlos (Spain); Cláudia Matos, Serrejón (Spain); Chiaroscuro Fotografia, Abantos (Spain).
VULPES VULPES ICHNUSAE
BL: 59-64 cm. TL: 28-34 cm. H: 35-50 cm. W: 5-7 kg (♂), 4.5-6.5 kg (♀). SL: 12.9 cm. SW: 7.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs, pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. Smaller than continental subspecies, with a darker color, and relatively smaller ears. Pelage is ochraceous rufous, grading dorsally to drab-gray to tawny-clay color, and ventrally to dull tawny. Sides of neck, upper foreleg and axilla tawny buff. Head, sides and back much speckled by the presence of a buffy white subterminal area on each hair. Throat, chest and underparts in front of forelegs buffy white tinged with brown. Face and head dark rufous, lighter on base of ears and neck. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, pale dull tawny inside. Tail ochraceous rufous, sparsely overlain with black-tipped hairs, fading through a buffy gray to the whitish-buff tip. Legs ochraceous rufous, slightly clouded with blackish.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux de Sardaigne. German: Sardischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Cerdeña. Italian: Volpe sarda. Russian: Сардинийская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis. Red Foxes from Sardinia seem to be more closely related to Bulgarian Foxes than to Iberian Foxes. It might be the only autochthonous living mammal of Sardinia and Corsica or it may have been introduced by humans in the Early Neolithic, about 7,000 years ago.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-60 days. Young per birth: 3-8, up to 12. Weaning: 63 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Life span: 7 years, 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: From January to March. Most births occur from April to May. There is no specific information for this subspecies, but probably similar to continental Red Foxes. Pups are born blind and with grayish color. They open their eyes at the age of 11-14 days. Both parents take care of the pups. The pups stay with their parents until autumn and then gradually leave the area and become independent.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but also mated pairs. Diet: A generalist and opportunistic predator; small mammals are the most important prey consumed (rodents, insectivores, lagomorphs), followed by fruits (strawberrys, dates, pears); arthropods, birds, reptiles and carrion are good supplementary food resources. In the Natural Reserve at Mount Arcosu, insects are the most frequent source of nutrition, with a significant contribution of mammals such as deer, which may be attributed to the finding of carcasses rather than to predatory behavior. Main predators: Golden eagle. There is no specific information for this subspecies, but probably similar to continental Red Foxes.
DISTRIBUTION Native: France, Italy. Endemic to Sardinia and Corsica islands. Some authors believe that both ichnusae and continental crucigera subspecies may be present on these islands.
HABITAT They prefer high maquis and riparian vegetation, and avoid the low maquis and the garrigue. In summer, high temperatures and drought force them to move over wide areas in search of food.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. It is common on both islands. It is not protected by law.
PHOTO CREDITS Enrico Puddu, Sardinia (Italy); Federico Ecca, Ales, Sardinia (Italy); Silvio Figus, Sardinia (Italy); Fabio Murru, Sardinia (Italy).
VULPES VULPES INDUTUS
BL: 59-64 cm. TL: 28-34 cm. H: 35-50 cm. W: 5-7 kg (♂), 4.5-6.5 kg (♀). SL: 12.9 cm. SW: 7.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs, pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A small-sized subspecies, similar to the Sardinian Red Fox, but usually paler in color with legs blackish in strong contrast with color of sides. Pelage is variable in color, dull yellowish buff, grading dorsally to slaty gray to nearly russet. Throat, chest and underparts in front of forelegs buffy white, clouded by the dark underfur. Face and head ochraceous buff, lighter on base of ears and neck. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black backed, pale dull tawny inside. Tail buffy clay color, white tipped. Legs are grizzled blackish with inner surfaces washed with dull ochraceous. Feet are blackish.
OTHER NAMES Cypriot Fox. French: Renard roux de Chypre. German: Zypern-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Chipre. Russian: Кипрская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis, and some authors have found evidence that this subspecies was imported at least twice from different source populations.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 3-8. Weaning: 42-84 days. Sexual maturity: 9 months. Life span: 7 years, 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: From January to February. Most births occur from April to May. Pups are born blind and with grayish color. They open their eyes at the age of 11-14 days. Both parents take care of the pups. The pups stay with their parents until autumn and then gradually leave the area and become independent.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but also mated pairs. Diet: A generalist and opportunistic predator; fruits, various kinds of plants, rodents, hares, rabbits, birds and their eggs, insects, reptiles and turtle eggs. Main predators: Golden eagle. Usually nocturnal. On cold nights their movements decrease while hot and humid nights are ideal for exploring and hunting. Usually it lives in caves, dense shrubs or holes in the ground that it opens by itself. Its dens are characterized by the number of entrances and exits that they have. Home range averages 10 to 20 km2.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Cyprus. Endemic to Cyprus, where it is the only wild carnivore present. It is absent from Crete and other smaller Aegean Islands.
HABITAT Due to its high capability to adapt to any type of habitat, it is found throughout the island: upland, lowland and coastal areas, dense forests, areas with shrubs, and parks, even close to populated areas depending on the availability of food.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. It can be found in many areas even though its population has been constantly declining over the last two decades. Because it has been considered harmful for livestock, it has been hunted mercilessly. It is now protected by law in Cyprus, although there have been recent attempts to include it as a game species. They are also killed on roads and poisoned on farms.
PHOTO CREDITS Marios Perikli Theodorou, Paphos (Cyprus); Zeki Gursel, Mia Milia (Cyprus); itchenbirds, Koprulu (Cyprus); Ertac Cuneyt (Cyprus); George Konstantinou, Nicosia (Cyprus).
VULPES VULPES ARABICA
BL: 52-63 cm (♂), 42-58.5 cm (♀). TL: 25.8-38.3 cm. H: 32.5-37.5 cm. W: 2.4-3.2 kg (♂), 2-3 kg (♀). SL: 12.0 cm. SW: 6.6 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long tail. The smallest subspecies of Red Fox, with a pale and short coat, and very large ears. Pelage is short, pale reddish brown in color. Throat, chest and belly vary from black to off-white. Underparts vary from whitish to slaty black. Muzzle slender and pointed, white on upper lip. Ears very large, with black tips and a white anterior margin. Tail is very long, dull fulvous to buffy white, with black hairs, usually without a black basal spot, white tipped. Legs same color as the body, fading to white distally on the paws, with a darker patch on front of the forelegs. Feet with fur between the toes. Females 15% smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux d’Arabie. German: Arabischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Arabia. Russian: Аравийская рыжая лисица. Arabic: Tha’leb ahmar, hosseini.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Rüppell’s Fox is superficially similar, but considerably smaller, has proportionately larger ears, and is a uniform creamy-white to pale rufous color. Blanford’s Fox is smaller, has a larger tail, which can be almost the same length as the body, has very large and prominent ears, a dark mid-dorsal band extending from the neck to the extremely bushy tail, which can have either a black or white tip, and its feet are smaller than those of V. vulpes or V. rueppellii and, unlike these species, the pads are bare, providing sure footing in rocky terrain. Eurasian subspecies are considerably larger, with a darker-colored pelage.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52 days. Young per birth: 5 (on average). Weaning: 49-56 days. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: 5 years. Breeding season: December to February. Births occur usually in early spring in a den situated between boulders, in natural crevices or a burrow the Fox digs for itself. Pups open their eyes after 10 days. At 7 or 8 weeks of age the pups begin foraging with the vixen, before dispersing to seek out new territories.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary. Diet: Opportunistic and omnivorous, they will eat almost anything they can catch or find, including a variety of small mammals, birds, insects, carrion, plants and fruits. Main predators: Dogs. They are most active at night. They are not territorial, and individuals do not avoid each other at territory boundaries. It is suggested that their extremely harsh environment, with spatially and temporally variable food supplies, leads to the formation of loosely knit social groups. Aggregations of up to 4 Foxes are regularly seen in these areas. They may live a nomadic life and only temporarily occupy particular home ranges. They have fur between their toes, to prevent burning of the feet, larger ears to maintain their body temperature, and a lighter-colored pelage, as an adaptation to the arid habitat. Highly adaptable, the species has benefited from the expansion of human habitation, particularly from the associated rat and mice populations.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Found on the Arabian Peninsula and probably in Iraq and Israel.
HABITAT Occupies a wide range of habitats, including mountains, coasts, deserts, cities, and even small offshore islands, though not recorded from the interior of extensive dune areas such as Rub Al Khali. In rocky mountainous areas it is probably less common than Blanford’s Fox. Less well adapted than Rüppell’s Fox to the most arid areas. It may use food-rich sites associated with human activity.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. No estimate of population size is available, but it is believed to be increasing, aided in part by spread of human settlements. Occurs in many protected areas. Numbers fluctuate apparently in connection with outbreaks of rabies and/or other diseases. Rarely occurs in trade in this region. Subject to persecution and poisoning by livestock herders.
PHOTO CREDITS Jem Babbington, Dhahran Hills (Saudi Arabia).
VULPES VULPES PALAESTINA
BL: 55-62.5 cm (♂), 45.5-61.5 cm (♀). TL: 30.5-41.2 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 2-4 kg. SL: 12.7 cm. SW: 7.0 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized subspecies of Red Fox. Pelage color is slate gray with some reddish and brownish tinges, with a near suppression of rufous, except on the face. Head is reddish brown, shading into buffy gray on the muzzle. Ears are black on the back. White or light gray stripe on either side of the neck separating the rufous dorsal surface from the slategray ventral fur of the neck and chest. Pelage is thicker and fuller in winter. Summer pelage is much thinner and lighter. Legs are grayish rufous or fulvous, with a darker patch on front of the forelegs. Tail is large, bushy, reddish brown, grayish brown laterally and ventrally, and usually white tipped. Feet with fur between the toes. Females slightly smaller than males, lacking the slate-gray ventral pigmentation.
OTHER NAMES Reddish-Gray Palestine Fox. French: Renard roux de Palestine. German: Palästina-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Palestina. Russian: Палестинская рыжая лисица.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Some authors regard this subspecies as part of a cline involving both the Egyptian Red Fox (V. v. aegyptiacus) and the Arabian Red Fox (V. v. arabica). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Fennec Fox is much smaller, easily distinguished by its light color and large ears. Rüppell’s Fox is smaller, with short legs and broad ears, pale sandy color, back of ears pale brown, black patches on face, tail tip white. Blanford’s Fox is smaller, with a relatively longer tail.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-53 days. Young per birth: 2-5. Weaning: Unknown. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: 4.5 years. Breeding season: Probably from December to February. Births occur in March or April in Lebanon. Dens are usually dug on the sides of hills in protected areas between boulders, among rocks, or in thick plant cover, although burrows in the sides of tels and streams banks are not uncommon.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary; mated pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Opportunistic and omnivorous; they feed on small mammals (jerboas, small rodents), fruits (figs, grapes), ground-roosting birds, insects, fish, reptiles and other food items. Main predators: Coyote. Although mostly nocturnal, they are active during many daylight and nighttime hours. During the spring and summer they spend the daylight hours in the burrow and feed only at night, while in the winter, it is not uncommon to find them lying in some protected place at some distance from the burrows during the day, and it is probable that feeding takes place during the day as well.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria. It has been reported from near Haifa, Mount Carmel, Jerusalem, Beersheba, Jerusalem and Bethlehem areas, Sinai, the Dead Sea Basin, Haluza Sands, and Negev. In Lebanon it occurs at all elevations from the coast and Bekaa Valley to the tops of the mountains, but occurs most frequently in proximity to cultivation. Boundaries with V. v. arabica, aegyptiacus, flavescens and pusilla are unclear. V. v. palaestina is the prevailing form on the Mediterranean sections from Ramleh and Jerusalem up to Lebanon. V. v. aegyptiacus is frequently found in the S and E deserts and steppes, S of the Arabah, in the S Philistine plain and in the mountains of S Judea. V. v. flavescens is an Irano-Turanian intruder in Galilee, and the largest of the three forms.
HABITAT Coastal plains, but it also occurs in most habitats except the extreme arid regions. It is less common in areas where Rüppell’s Fox (V. rueppellii) and Fennec Fox (V. zerda) occur, perhaps due to interspecific competition.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed.
PHOTO CREDITS Liora Levin (Israel); Roni Alush (Israel); Gabriel Enrique Levitzky, Ashkelon (Israel).
VULPES VULPES FLAVESCENS AND ANATOLICA
BL: 46.5-65 cm. TL: 33.5-46 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 2.2-3.2 kg. SL: 12.6 cm. SW: 7.4 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. Medium to small-sized subspecies, less reddish than European subspecies, closely related to karagan, but smaller. Pelage is pale yellow or light gray, sometimes reddish brown, with a gray admixture on the sides of the body and a yellowish brown crosswise pattern on the back and shoulders. It usually lacks the reddish color tones of other subspecies. Winter fur is long and soft, much shorter and sparser in summer. Undersides are dark gray to oehraceous rufous. Throat and chest are grayish white. Muzzle is yellowish creamy to reddish brown, with a dark gray or blackish-brown band. Ears relatively large, much longer than in northern subspecies, black on the back. Paws are thickly covered with hair. Sides of forelegs are fulvous. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, slightly reddish black to brown dorsally and pale buff or gray ventrally, with a white tip.
Vulpes vulpes flavescens
OTHER NAMES Anatolian Red Fox, Kurdistan Red Fox, Trans-Caucasian Montane Fox, Turkmenian Red Fox. French: Renard roux de Perse. German: Persischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Persia. Russian: Малоазиатская рыжая лисица, Персидская (Туркменская) лисица. Turkish: Kizil Tilki. Persian: Rubâh-e ma’muli.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes alticola, cinerascens and splendens. Considered a synonym of V. v. aegyptiacus by some authors. There is still a lack of information about the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of the Red Fox from Turkey and the Middle East, except in Israel. Studies indicate high genetic diversity and no genetic isolation of these Fox populations.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 3-12. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: More prolonged than that of northern subspecies; pairs form in November, and begin mating throughout December and January. Pups are born in February-March. It may build temporary burrows in its desert environment, dug with an entrance facing south in order to shield itself from northerly winds. Burrows have 3-5 entrances, but those located in appropriated gerbil colonies may have up to 15. Communal denning as well as the presence of helpers at the den has been recorded.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary; mated pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Opportunistic and omnivorous; diet depends on its habitat and prey availability, and is composed of Guenther’s voles, grapes, Tristram’s jird, birds, cockchafers, apricots and blackberries; in Dalyan (Turkey) they raid eggs of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), carry eggs inland, and cache them on topographically distinct features such as spurs of rocks; adult Foxes may store turtle eggs specifically to feed their offspring. In Akyatan they feed on eggs of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). They also scavenge on the leftovers of other species and usually follow brown bears in NE Turkey to find food. Population density varies from 4 individuals per km2 in S Anatolia to 0.15-0.22 per km2 in central Anatolia. Unlike other Red Fox subspecies, they often hunt during the day, thus coinciding with the activity patterns of great gerbils.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey. V. v. anatolica is found W Asia Minor. V. v. flavescens occurs in N Iran and probably in contiguous parts of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq and Kurdistan. It is found in all regions of Iran with the exception of the N forests and the drier parts of the central deserts, where it is replaced by Rüppell’s Fox.
HABITAT Found in all habitats: sea coasts, steppe, maquis, forest, alpine habitats, areas with shrubs, and parks, even close to populated areas depending on the availability of food. Black pine habitat is used relatively more frequently than other habitat types. Often seen in farmland in search of rodents.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. It is widespread and common, but population trends are not well known. Main threats include habitat loss, hunting and poisoning. It is a vector of rabies in Turkey, and studies have shown a transmission of the virus between Dogs and Red Foxes and an increase in the number of rabies cases for wild Red Foxes in Turkey since 2000.
PHOTO CREDITS Fariborz Heidari, Tondro, Khorasan Province (Iran); Alex Kantorovich, Tashkent Zoo (Uzbekistan); A. Omer Karamollaoglu, Golbasi, Ankara (Turkey).
VULPES VULPES PUSILLA
BL: 51.8-57.9 cm (♂), 48.2-55.8 cm (♀). TL: 31-44.7 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 3-5 kg (♂), 2-2.4 kg (♀). SL: 12.3 cm. SW: 6.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A small-sized subspecies of Red Fox, smaller than montana and griffithii. Pelage is short, uniform in color, light fulvous to rusty brown, spangled with whitish above, and gray flanks. Cheeks, sides of neck and body are white. Shoulder and haunch are mixed black and white. Summer coat is noticeably lighter in color. Underparts are ashy gray to white. Face is light fulvous. Muzzle slender and pointed, with white chin. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black posteriorly. Legs fulvous externally, white on the inner side, with a blackish border on the forelegs, and white on front of the hind legs below hock. All feet white. Tail is very long, ochraceous above with black-tipped hairs, largely tipped with white.
OTHER NAMES White-Footed Fox, Desert Red Fox. French: Renard roux de l’Inde, renard du Penjab. German: Punjab-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de la India. Russian: Пустынная (белоногая) лисица. Hindi: Lúmri, Lokri. Baluchi: Lombar. Persian: Rubâh-e ma’muli.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes persicus (E Iran and Pakistan) and leucopus.
SIMILAR SPECIES One of the three subspecies of Red Fox found in India, the other two being the Kashmir Red Fox (griffithii) and the Tibetan Red Fox (montana). Indian Fox (V. bengalensis) is smaller, has a black tail tip, and is usually lighter and more rufous in color.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-53 days. Young per birth: 6-7. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Breeding season: From November to February. Both parents care for the pups until late summer, when they are able to fend for themselves. Pups are born with their eyes closed and will not emerge from their dens for around 10 to 15 days. After this, they may venture out under the watchful eye of their parents.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, mated pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Small mammals (including rodents), spiny tailed lizards, birds, including waterfowl, leaves of halophytic plants, as well as melons and berries. During rains, when grasshoppers are attracted to vehicle lights, they pounce upon them. It may also opportunistically scavenge for food. During the breeding season, it mainly preys on gerbils or other desert rodents. These rodents are either dug out of their burrows or caught by stalking them like a cat. Main predators: Dog, Jackal, large raptors. Perfectly adapted to harsh climatic conditions where temperatures reach 50°C and average annual rainfall is less than 60 mm. The sandy-yellow coat of the desert Fox provides excellent camouflage in the desert habitat. It is an agile hunter with long legs that allow it quick, short bursts of speed. Sand dunes and sandy river beds are used to fashion their dens and feeding and denning behavior is influenced by changing seasons. In the non-breeding season Foxes use a simple den with a single entrance. While breeding, more complex dens with multiple openings are used to offer escape routes in the event of any threat. Such complex dens are sophisticated structures that include an elaborately maintained nursing chamber. The den plays an important role in the control of pest species and helps in the dispersal of seeds.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan. Found in Sindh, S Balochistan, and Punjab Provinces in Pakistan, and NW India, in the desert regions of Rajasthan, N Gujarat (Banni grasslands), Punjab and Madhya Pradesh (in the ravines of the Chambal River), in S Iran and in Iraq.
HABITAT Desert and semi-desert habitats. It avoids dense forests.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Appendix II (India). Regional status: Near Threatened (Pakistan), protected in India. However, in winter months when it has a rich coat, the animal is poached by desert nomads for trading and meat. This data-deficient subspecies needs research on its ecology and distribution, since not much is known about it. It is considered rare in Gujarat, where it is restricted to arid saline desert. In the Rajasthan desert, it is also considered rare.
PHOTO CREDITS Stuart Reeds, Sumeet Moghe, Hemis, Nirav Bhatt and Rupal Vaidya, Little Rann of Kutch (India).
VULPES VULPES ALPHERAKYI, CAUCASICA AND KURDISTANICA
BL: 50-80 cm. TL: 25-45 cm. H: 35.5 cm. W: 4 kg. SL: 13.3-15 cm. SW: 7.3-7.8 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A large (caucasica), medium (kurdistanica) to small-sized (alpherakyi) subspecies. Eastern forms (alpherakyi) have a short and sparse coat, dirty brownish to red grayish in color, strongly streaked with black and white, with a reddish stripe on the back. Underparts are dirty dusky gray. Muzzle with a blackish band from eye to lip. Black pattern on the legs and paws well developed. Northern forms (caucasica) have a longer coat, gray to brownish rusty red in color, with a whitish-gray tint on the back and a crosswise pattern on the shoulders, darker on the neck, throat, breast and belly. Black pattern on the legs is present. Mountain forms (kurdistanica) have the thickest and longest coat, light gray, pale yellow to reddish brown in color, with a light reddish stripe on the back, speckled with white. Throat and anterior part of neck are grayish. Underparts are grayish white. Backs of ears are pure black.
Vulpes vulpes caucasica
Vulpes vulpes kurdistanica
OTHER NAMES Eastern Trans-Caucasian Fox, Trans-Caucasian Valley Fox (alpherakyi), North Caucasian Fox (caucasica), Kurdistan Fox, Trans-Caucasian Mountain Fox (kurdistanica). French: Renard roux du Caucase. German: Ost-Transkaukasus-Rotfuchs, Kaukasus-Rotfuchs, Kurdistan-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común del Caúcaso. Russian: Восточнокавказская (азербайджанская) лисица (alpherakyi), Северокавказская лисица (caucasica), Закавказская горная (курдистанская) лисица (kurdistanica). Turkish: Kizil Tilki.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis. Includes alticola (Lake Sevan in Armenia).
SIMILAR SPECIES V. v. caucasica is the largest of the three subspecies. V. v. kurdistanica is intermediate in size, and its coat is longer and lighter in color.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 3-12. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 9-10 months. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: Probably December to February. They dig their own burrows, especially in places with sandy soils, or may use badger’s burrows. Dens are usually located in an elevated place, in ravine slopes. In summer they live in the burrows until the pups grow and have learned to procure food themselves, while in winter they do not use burrows. Depending on weather conditions the animals rest in the daytime under stones, crowns of trees, and in rock caves.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary or in monogamous pairs. Diet: Generalist and opportunistic omnivore, feeding mainly on small rodents; they may eat shrews if they are very hungry. In spring and summer carabid beetles constitute an important part of the diet. On the seashore, they may also eat dead birds, fish and crayfish. Main predators: Unknown. Active early in the morning and late in the evening. In summer, they are active both day and night.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine. V. v. alpherakyi occurs on the plains of E Transcaucasia in the Kura and Arax, in Azerbaijan, W to Tbilisi, on the Caspian coast, in W Kazakhstan, and W Turkmenistan. V. v. caucasica is found in the mountains and foothills of the N Caucasus Mountains, Transcaucasia, and Ciscaucasia in SW European Russia, North Ossetia-Alania. It is rare in W Transcaucasia, which is rich in forests and mountains. V. v. kurdistanica is found in W Kurdistan, NE Turkey, Gelsk Valley, Kars district in W Transcaucasia, and Armenia. This subspecies is widespread in the Armenian highlands, in the mountainous areas of the Lesser Caucasus. Boundaries with other subspecies are unclear.
HABITAT Almost every habitat, with higher densities in the zones of semidesert, steppe, foremontane forest steppe and highland steppe. They are rare in the mountainous beech forests of the S slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Often seen in farmland in search of rodents. V. v. kurdistanica is found in subalpine and alpine zones, excluding subnival and nival belts, and in secondary steppes.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. During historical time the range and population of Foxes in the Caucasus have apparently thrived under the favorable influence of agriculture, and even concentrated human presence has failed to reduce their numbers.
PHOTO CREDITS Andrey Kotkin, Baku Zoo (Azerbaijan), Alex Kantorovich, Rostov Zoo (Russia).
VULPES VULPES MONTANA AND GRIFFITHII
BL: 59.9-75.2 cm (♂), 56.9-66 cm (♀). TL: 34-50 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 4.6-5.1 kg (♂), 3.6-4 kg (♀). SL: 13.6 cm. SW: 7.3 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A medium-sized subspecies of Red Fox, smaller than continental European subspecies, with a thick, long and luxuriant winter fur. Pelage is very variable from bright reddish bay to bright yellowish fulvous, with variable amounts of black or gray brown in the pelage. Winter coat with paler and yellow thick luxuriant underfur. Throat and chest are white to dark gray. There may be some black on the nape and shoulders. Underparts are white to dark gray. Face and head are tan to fulvous with a blackish patch on the muzzle. Ears relatively large and pointed, black posteriorly, fringed with white hair inside. Legs darkish tawny with some black and white hairs on their front surfaces. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, white tipped.
Vulpes vulpes griffithii
OTHER NAMES Montane Red Fox, Hill Fox. French: Renard roux de montagne. German: Tibet-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común del Tibet. Russian: Ладакская (Тибетская) рыжая лисица, Кашмирская горная лисица. Hindi: Lomri. Nepali: Phauro, wamu. Kashmiri: Luh, laash, potsolov. Tibetan: Whatse. Urdu: Loomari.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes himalaicus, ladacensis, nepalensis and waddelli. The validity of these subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Jackals are larger in size, and have a relatively shorter and less bushy tail, shorter ears, and rounder muzzle. Compared to V. v. griffithii, V. v. montana is slightly larger, has more prominent white patches from cheeks to throat, tail is relatively thicker and more bushy, and its winter coat is darker.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 3-12. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 10-12 months. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: End of winter, with births occurring in the spring. Pups are cared for by both parents, and remain in or near the den for the first 3 months of their lives. Communal denning, with more than 1 litter having been reported, but a single pair with pups is the most common breeding unit. The breeding pair is often associated with non-breeding family members. These are usually ♀ and may act as helpers. Almost all ♂ and a variable proportion of ♀ disperse at 6 to 10 months.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary; monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Diet: Small mammals (pikas, marmots, voles, mouse-hares, serow, musk deer), ground birds and their eggs, as well as fallen fruit and berries, and insects. They occasionally prey on young lambs, poultry and pheasant. They may eat anthropogenic food near human areas. Main predators: Unknown. The animal is active by night. However, it can also be seen during dusk and dawn. It rests in crevices and burrows during the daytime.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan. V. v. montana is found in the Himalayas, in W China (Yunnan and Tibet), Nepal, N India (Sikkim, Kumaon in Uttarakhand, Punjab) and Pakistan (Punjab Province to Gilgit). V. v. griffithii also occurs in the Himalayas, in N and W areas of Pakistan, including the mountains and valleys of Balochistan and NW Frontier Province, in Jammu and Kashmir in India, and in Afghanistan in Badakhshan, Balkh, Faryab, Kabul, Kandahar, Jowzjan Provinces.
HABITAT Thorn bushes, willows, scrub along dry rivers and cultivated land of subalpine zones between 300 and 5,500 m above sea level. It also inhabits sandy wastes, riverbeds and sand dunes in semi-arid regions. It often occurs in close association with humans and avoids dense forests.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Data Deficient (Pakistan). It seems to be common in the Himalayas. In Pakistan, it seems to be common throughout most of the country, although it was considered Near Threatened in 2003. It is hunted throughout its range for its luxurious coat, and subject to severe persecution in Afghanistan and Pakistan, because it is considered destructive to poultry.
PHOTO CREDITS Jan Reurink, Lunggar, Tibet (China); Saurabh Sawant, Ladakh (India); Aditya “Dicky” Singh, Hemis National Park, Ladakh (India).
VULPES VULPES KARAGAN AND OCHROXANTA
BL: 52.5-68.5 cm (♂), 52-62.8 cm (♀). TL: 30.5-48.0 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 3.3-5.8 kg (♂), 3.2-5.8 kg (♀). SL: 13.8 cm. SW: 7.6 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A medium to large-sized subspecies. Pelage is variable in color, usually dusky gray to light ochraceous buff or orange, without the red tints of the European subspecies. Winter fur is pale, straw yellowish with a rusty admixture on the back, neck and shoulders. Fur is coarser, not so thick and downy as that of the central Russian subspecies. Underparts are dirty yellowish gray whitish. Muzzle slender and pointed, narrower than in European subspecies, rusty yellow, with no definite blackish stripes, white on upper lip. Legs are straw yellowish, with a slightly expressed black pattern on their anterior parts (sometimes this pattern is absent). Tail is proportionately longer, light straw whitish in color, with a tint of blackish hair, and a white tip. No sexual dimorphism.
Vulpes vulpes ochroxanta
OTHER NAMES Karagan Red Fox, Fergana Fox (karagan), Kazakhstan Red Fox, Tian-Shan Red Fox (ochroxanta). French: Renard roux du Fergana. German: Karagan-Rotfuchs, Kirgistan-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Fergana. Russian: Караганка (karagan),Тяньшанская рыжая лисица (ochroxantha).
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes ferganensis, melanotus, pamiriensis and tarimensis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Heavier than subspecies from S parts of Asia, but lighter than those in more N parts of Russia. The sympatric Corsac Fox (V. corsac) is smaller, with a shorter tail, a smaller muzzle, and ears spaced at base.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50-55 days. Young per birth: 3-12. Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Breeding season: More prolonged than that of northern subspecies; from December to April. It may build temporary burrows in its desert environment, dug with an entrance facing south in order to shield itself from northerly winds. Burrows have 3-5 entrances, but those located in appropriated gerbil colonies may have up to 15.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary or monogamous pairs, especially in areas with low food availability. Diet: Small mammals (voles), insects, reptiles, birds, carrion and plant material (pistachios, capers, watermelon, various grasses and seeds), which represents an important component during periods of low prey availability. Main predators: Wolf, Domestic Dog, probably large raptors. Primarily active at night, but they often hunt during the day, thus coinciding with the activity patterns of great gerbils. They occupy relatively large home ranges, with mean home range sizes in Mongolia of 15.4 km2, with ♀ and adults occupying larger ranges than yearlings. They may kill Corsac Foxes and represent one of their principal competitors in some regions; however, most accounts of interference competition have been based largely on incidental sightings and observations and the evidence has been little more than circumstantial inference.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia. In Mongolia it is found at low densities, and it is most abundant in mountainous habitats in Hentii and Hövsgöl mountain ranges, but also occurs in Orhon and Selenge River basins in NE and SW Khangai Mountains. Also occurs in steppe habitats in E Mongolia, Mongol Altai Mountains and Gobi Altai Mountains. V. v. ochroxanta occurs in the Tian Shan and Dzungarian Alatau mountains.
HABITAT Found across steppe, semi-desert and desert environments. The sympatric Corsac Fox appears to occupy primarily open grassland, shrubland steppe and semi-deserts, while Red Foxes occupy all major vegetation zones from lowland desert regions to high alpine environments.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Near Threatened (Mongolia), but hunting is permitted. Exploitation occurs throughout its range, although no population data are available at present. Main threats include hunting for skins, for international trade, and poisoning campaigns to control Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii). Also susceptible to rabies and sarcoptic mange.
PHOTO CREDITS Khumbaa Tumendelger, Gobi (Mongolia); Magnet Soronzonbold, Övörkhangai (Mongolia); Purevsuren Tsolmonjav, Ömnögovi (Mongolia); Darren Shemya (Kazakhstan).
VULPES VULPES SCHRENCKI AND SPLENDIDISSIMA
BL: 78 cm. TL: 32.2-44 cm. H: 31.9-38.7 cm. W: 4.8-6.2 kg (♂), 4-5 kg (♀). SL: 13.8 cm. SW: 7.5 cm. DF: 42. CN: 36-40. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. Pelage is variable in color, usually orange red, with a distinct cross on back and shoulders. Flanks are yellower. Neck and throat are white. Underparts are white with a reddish-brown wash. Head is orange above, with the crown not paler than back and shoulders. Backs of ears are black. Lips are white. Tail is long and bushy, reddish yellow to dark orange buff, with a whitish tip. Legs are orange, with a variable black pattern on front of carpal joints.
Vulpes vulpes splendidissima
OTHER NAMES Schrenck’s Red Fox, Sakhalin Red Fox, Kuril Island Fox. French: Renard roux de Sakhaline, renard roux d’Hokkaido. German: Hokkaido-Rotfuchs, Sachalin-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Hokkaido. Russian: Russian: Лисица острова Хоккайдо (schrencki), Курильская рыжая лисица (splendidissima). Japanese: Kita-kitsune.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Two subspecies occur on the Japanese islands: V. v. schrencki on Hokkaido Island, V. v. japonica on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Islands, geographically separated by Tsugaru Strait between Hokkaido and Honshu Islands, a biogeographical boundary known as Blakiston’s Line. Additionally, population in S Hokkaido seems genetically well differentiated from other groups on the island.
SIMILAR SPECIES V. v. japonica has a smaller body size, but a wider skull, with smaller molars and premolars.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 53 days. Young per birth: 3-4 (mean litter size). Weaning: 42-56 days. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: 4 years. Breeding season: Late January to February, usually behind other areas in Japan. Most births occur in late March to late April. Survival rate of adult Foxes is much higher than in other areas of Japan. Dens are usually associated with relatively steep slopes near streams and open spaces in woodlands, and mainly used during the mating, parturition and rearing season, although they utilize dens throughout the year, except in August and September.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous. Diet: Omnivorous; in Hokkaido, the main food in winter is voles (Clethrionomys rufocanus), fish, livestock (carrion), wild birds, hares and poultry; coastal Foxes feed mainly on fish, livestock and wild birds, while inland Foxes take mainly voles, hares and poultry. They prefer some specific food species, such as the gray red-backed vole and the tara vine fruit, over similar food species. Solitary hunters. While on Honshu, they tend to be completely nocturnal, on Hokkaido they are also diurnal in winter and not particularly shy. Home ranges from 1.5 to 8.1 km2 in size on Hokkaido, varying with habitat condition. In rural farmland and unmanipulated environments, they usually are strictly territorial, with exclusive family ranges, whereas in urban environments ranges may overlap, even in high-density areas.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Japan, Russia. Found on Sakhalin, Southern Kuril Islands (Kunashiri, Etorofu) in E Asian Russia, and Hokkaido in N Japan. Introduced in Saitama and Chiba Prefectures in Japan, where it competes and hybridizes with native V. v. japonica.
HABITAT Various habitat. Tundra, deserts, forests, grasslands, city areas in coastal to alpine zones.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. Widely distributed on Hokkaido, although sarcoptic mange has participated in the reduction of populations. They play an important role as a host of the small Fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, which is the causative agent of a serious zoonosis (alveolar echinococcosis) on Hokkaido.
PHOTO CREDITS Greg Miles, Shu Hui Neo (Yagizaneo Photography), Stuart Price and Tomoko, Hokkaido (Japan).
VULPES VULPES JAPONICA
BL: 55.5-70 cm (♂), 51.5-67 cm (♀). TL: 28.5-42 cm. H: 32.2-42.3 cm. W: 4.4-6.6 kg (♂), 3.3-6 kg (♀). SL: 14.3 cm. SW: 7.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. Pelage is very variable from ochraceous buff to reddish bay, with variable amounts of white. Throat and chest are white. Underparts are white to light gray. Back of ears is black. Muzzle slender and pointed, without definite blackish stripes, white on upper lip. Legs darker than flanks, with some white hairs on their front surfaces, and usually lacking the black pattern on their anterior parts. Tail is very long, thick and bushy, white tipped. Females are slightly smaller than males. Pups are black brown in color, with the exception of the white tip of the tail.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux japonais. German: Japan-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común japonés. Russian: Японская рыжая лисица. Japanese: Hondo-kitsune.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Two subspecies occur on the Japanese islands: V. v. japonica on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Islands, and V. v. schrencki on Hokkaido Island, geographically separated by Tsugaru Strait between Hokkaido and Honshu Islands, a biogeographical boundary known as Blakiston’s Line.
SIMILAR SPECIES V. v. schrencki has larger body size than V. v. japonica and differs in coat color, but has a narrower cranium and shorter mandible, with long molars and premolars. The classification of the two subspecies is controversial and in need of phylogeographic investigation.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 53-60 days. Young per birth: 3-4 (mean litter size). Weaning: Unknown. Sexual maturity: 12 months. Life span: Unknown. Breeding season: From November to late January. Most births occur from mid-March to mid-May. They use dens for residence, particularly in the breeding season in order to provide security for their litter, and for temporary visiting throughout the year, either for periodical retreat or for advertising territories. Entrance of dens measures 20-30 cm in diameter, and the burrow descends to a depth of 50-100 cm. At between 45 and 60 days the young come out of the dens and follow the mother. At 3-4 months of age the young start eating independently of the mother.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous. Diet: Field vole (Microtus montebelli) is a main source of food during all seasons, but also field mouse (Apodemus specious), wood mouse (A. argenteus), Japanese hares, and dead bodies of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Human activities provide a major source of food for Foxes in spring and summer; in winter, when insects and small mammals probably are less available, food derived from human activities might even increase. Mainly nocturnal. Size of home range on Kyushu is 2.8-6.3 km2, and 0.8 km2 on Kumamoto, without apparent differences between sexes, similar with the sizes found in other temperate farmland. As in other subspecies, scent marking is through urine, feces, anal sac secretions, the supracaudal gland and glands around the lips, jaw and the pads of the feet. Urine is the main scent marker. Facial expression can be used for communication. Vocalization is limited to simple barking and growling, although 28 sounds have been described. Vocalizations are used to communicate with both nearby and distant foxes. Red Foxes have excellent senses of vision, smell and touch.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Japan. Found on Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu (Japan).
HABITAT Grasslands, sandy riversides and craggy slopes, whereas forests are usually avoided. They prefer flat and gentle slopes, and avoid slopes steeper than 30°.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern.
PHOTO CREDITS Tomoko Ichishima, Inokashira Park Zoo (Japan); Asante, Nayer Youakim, Zoorasia (Japan).
VULPES VULPES PECULIOSA
BL: 57-60 cm. TL: 35-45 cm. H: 38 cm. W: 3.5-4.7 kg. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. Pelage is variable in color, from pale yellowish red to reddish brown. Underparts are white, ashy or slate. Neck and throat are white. Tip and back of ears are black. Lips are white. Lower part of the legs and feet are black. Eyes of mature animals are yellow. The nose is dark brown or black. Tail is long and bushy, with a white, sometimes black, tip. Females are slightly smaller than males.
OTHER NAMES French: Renard roux de Corée. German: Korea-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de Korea. Russian: Корейская рыжая лисица. Korean: Kumiho.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes kiyomasai (NE population).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 52-56 days. Young per birth: 5-6, maximum size is 13 pups. Weaning: Unknown. Sexual maturity: Unknown. Life span: 3 years, 12 years in captivity. Breeding season: Late January to late February in Korea. Mating behavior varies substantially. Often ♂ and ♀ are monogamous, but ♂ may be polygynous with multiple ♀ mates. ♂/♀ pairs use non-breeding ♀ helpers in raising their young. ♀ mated to the same ♂ may share a den. Ovulation is spontaneous and does not require copulation to occur. Mother and pups remain together until the autumn after the birth. They use a den that is excavated, an abandoned badger den, or a rocky crevice. Larger dens may be dug and used during the winter and during birth and rearing of the young. The main purpose of a den is breeding and rearing pups. Just before and after giving birth, ♀ remain in or around the den. Individuals and family groups have main earthen dens and often other emergency burrows in the home range. The same den is often used over a number of generations.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Adult ♂ and 1 or 2 adult ♀ with their associated young; they do not form packs. Diet: Essentially omnivorous, preying primarily on small mammals and birds, but may also eat soy, cereals, vegetables, reptiles, carrion, insects and fruits. It caches surplus food. They eat between 0.5 and 1 kg of food each day. Main predators: Unknown. Generally nocturnal but also coincide activities with activity patterns of prey. They are also more active in undisturbed environments. They are highly mobile, foraging over 10 km per day, and dispersal can be as far away as about 400 km. Good habitats may range between 5 and 12 km2, while poor habitats are larger, being between 20 and 50 km2. Partly territorial.
DISTRIBUTION Native: North Korea. Regionally extinct: South Korea.
HABITAT They prefer ecotone habitats or mixed vegetation communities, such as edge habitats and mixed scrub and woodlands from sea level to 4,500 m elevation. However, Red Foxes prefer relatively open habitats to dense forests and inhabit grasslands, cultivated fields, suburban areas, riparian habitats or forest edges with soil to dig.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Endangered (South Korea). It was once very common and distributed throughout Korea, except Jeju Island and remote islands. It was extirpated from S Korea and declined in the N part in the early 1960s. Although there have been doubtful reports of Foxes, it is extirpated in South Korea. Only small populations are presumed to remain in the extreme NE part of North Korea. The cause of the extirpation of Red Foxes on the Korean Peninsula is not well known. Instead, the Raccoon Dog has taken its ecological niche. In 2011, the Korean government initiated a project to restore its population in Sobaeksan National Park, from individuals genetically and geographically close, as in North Korea, China and Russia.
PHOTO CREDITS Based on photos from Alex Kantorovich and Chris Davidson, Seoul Zoo and Sobaeksan National Park (South Korea).
VULPES VULPES HOOLE AND TSCHILIENSIS
BL: 61.3 cm (♀). TL: 38.7 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 3.6-7 kg. SL: 13.2 cm. SW: 7.4 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. A small to medium-sized Canid, with long and slender legs and pointed muzzle, and long brush-like tail. A small to medium-sized subspecies of Red Fox. Pelage color is reddish brown, similar to the European Red Fox, less fulvous but duller chestnut. Flanks and thighs are bright ochraceous, mixed with gray-tipped hairs. Throat, chest and belly are buffy white, with grayish underfur. Black stripe on the front of forelegs is usually narrow, bordered by rufous, but may be broad and extend up on the shoulders. Muzzle slender and pointed, with a variable blackish area on the sides, white on upper lip. Ears relatively large, pointed, erect, black or brown backed, white inside. Tail is long and bushy, rufous to chestnut in color, buffy white below, with long hairs tipped with black and a white tip. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Vulpes vulpes hoole
Vulpes vulpes tschiliensis
OTHER NAMES Southern Chinese Fox (hoole), Northern Chinese Fox (tschiliensis). French: Renard roux de Chine. German: Südchinesischer Rotfuchs, Nordchinesischer Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro común de China del sur. Russian: Китайская рыжая лисица: cеверокитайская (tschiliensis), южнокитайская (hoole).
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes aurantioluteus, lineiventer, huli, ognevi and ussuriensis. The validity of this and other subspecies has not been confirmed by genetic analysis.
SIMILAR SPECIES Corsac Fox is smaller, and noticeably paler, and prefers the open steppe land to the forest margins and rugged terrain favored by the Red Fox.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 51-53 days. Young per birth: 1-10, up to 13. Weaning: 40-60 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Life span: Probably 5 years. Breeding season: Late December to late March. The young are born from March to May. ♂ help with parental care. Dispersal occurs in the fall, with the ♂ generally dispersing farther than ♀.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, monogamous. Diet: Small ground-dwelling mammals, including lagomorphs and sciurids, but may also take galliformes, frogs, snakes, insects, berries and vegetables. Carrion may be seasonally important. Surplus food is buried. Main predators: Birds of prey, Dogs. Nocturnal. Very mobile, often covering 10 km per day, with non-overlapping territories. Territories are larger in winter than in summer.
DISTRIBUTION Native: China, Russia. South China Red Fox (V. v. hoole) is found in SW China to SE China, Szechuan, eastward to Fujian, Hunan, Guizhou. North China Red Fox (V. v. tschiliensis) is found in N China, Hebei, Shansi, Shensi, Gansu and Manchuria.
HABITAT Almost every habitat, farmlands, forests, high mountain tundra and semi-deserts, but they prefer brushy habitats with a mix of open areas and cover.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Near Threatened (China). Once widespread in S China, its population has declined severely; it is extinct in Hong Kong.
VULPES VULPES AEGYPTIACUS, ATLANTICA AND BARBARA
BL: 46.5-64.2 cm. TL: 30.2-41.1 cm. H: 35 cm. W: 1.8-3.8 kg. SL: 12.9 cm. DF: 42. CN: 34. Ruddy to gray brown above, darker on the back of the neck. Flanks grayer, tinged buff. Throat and belly dark, even blackish, darker in winter, chin white. Forelegs brownish, marked with white and with black stripe down the rear side. Hind legs similar but with black limited to foot. Muzzle slender, beige above and reddish at the side with a dark streak running from muzzle to eye of varying distinctness. Whiskers black. Reddish brown below eyes, grayer on forehead. Ears large, inner side pale with long, whitish fringe hairs. Back of ear black. Tail full and bushy, paler below and with white tip. Juveniles paler and more uniform. In early spring, they look very shabby as they shed their winter coats.
Vulpes vulpes aegyptiacus
Vulpes vulpes atlantica
Vulpes vulpes barbara
OTHER NAMES Egyptian Red Fox, Nile Red Fox, Atlas Fox, Barbary Red Fox. French: Renard pâle d’Egypte, renard des Monts Atlas, renard pâle de Barbarie. German: Ägyptischer Rotfuchs, Atlas-Rotfuchs. Spanish: Zorro del norte de Africa, zorro de Egipto. Russian: Североафриканская рыжая лисица. Arabic: Tha’lab ahmar.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of Red Fox (V. vulpes). Includes anubis, niloticus, vulpecula, algeriensis and acaab.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 50 days. Young per birth: 3-5. Weaning: 40-60 days. Sexual maturity: 10 months. Life span: 5 years. Breeding season: Probably from December to February. Births occur in February and March. Dens may be burrowed in ground or it may make use of palm groves, fields, gardens, quarries and beneath walls, stables, houses, ruins and tombs. In Egypt, clay hills or karms, excavations from Roman cisterns, S of Burg el Arab are well-known burrowing sites.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Generally solitary, but larger groups can be found in winter during the mating season, where a group of ♂ may harass a ♀. Live in pairs during the rearing of the pups. Diet: Extremely varied, and includes invertebrates (particularly beetles, mole crickets, earthworms and crabs), small mammals (rodents, lagomorphs and weasels), birds (including game species), fishes, fruits and carrion. At Ras Muhammad, it digs for crabs. Must have daily access to water. Main predators: Dogs. Generally nocturnal but often seen during the day. In many areas, it excavates a den in the desert and comes down to farmland to feed at dusk. They spend the day in the den or merely lying in a scrape in the shade but also sunbathe. Hearing, smell and sight are all acute. They are most vocal during mating when the ♂ use a triple bark. They may also growl, chatter and whine. They coexist alongside feral Dogs, which are much larger; though the wild Dogs chase the them, the Foxes are much faster.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia. V. v. aegyptiacus is found in Egypt along the N coast from Sallum to Alexandria, the Delta, Wadi, Natrum, the Fayoum, Cairo and its environs, including Saqqara, Abu Sir, and Gebel Asfar, Kharga, Dakhla, the N Red Sea coast, Suez, and the Nile Valley S to the Sudanese border; recently expanded into S Sinai and now resides in the Ras Muhammad National Park. It is also found in N Cyrenaica in Libya, and N Sudan toward Khartoum. V. v. atlantica occurs in N Africa, in Algeria (Atlas Mountains) and Tunisia. V. v. barbara occurs in NW Africa, along the coast of Morocco.
HABITAT It occurs in most habitats except extremely arid regions, including vegetated wadis, desert margins, gardens, hillsides, farmlands. In parts of its range, it appears closely associated with humans, as at the Step Pyramid in Egypt.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed.
NYCTEREUTES PROCYONOIDES PROCYONOIDES AND ORESTES
BL: 50-58 cm. TL: 13-25 cm. H: 26-50 cm. W: 3-6 kg (6-10 kg before winter hibernation). DF: 42. CN: 54. A small, Fox-like Canid, with a stout body, short legs and a distinctive face mask like a North American Raccoon (Procyon lotor). Coat is long and dense, brownish gray to yellow brown in color, mingled with black tips. White morphs are common in captive-bred individuals. Forehead and muzzle are white while the eyes are surrounded by black. Cross-shaped pattern on the anterior part of the back. Chest, limbs and feet are dark brown to black. Head is short and narrow with a relatively short and pointed muzzle. Small rounded ears, edged in black, white inside. Short tail covered by shaggy hairs, blackish dorsally, lighter yellow ventrally, tipped in black. No sexual dimorphism. Neonates are covered with soft, black fur.
Nyctereutes procyonoides orestes
OTHER NAMES Yunnan Raccoon Dog, Asiatic Raccoon Dog. French: Chien viverrin, tanuki. German: Gewöhnlicher Marderhund, Festland-Marderhund, Festland-Waschbärhund. Spanish: Perro mapache de China. Russian: Китайская енотовидная собака: западнокитайская (procyonoides), южнокитайская (orestes). Chinese: He.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of N. procyonoides (Raccoon Dog): N. p. procyonoides (Chinese Raccoon Dog), N. p. orestes (Yunnan Raccoon Dog), N. p. ussuriensis (Siberian Raccoon Dog), N. p. koreensis (Korean Raccoon Dog). Includes kaliniensis (Kalinin Raccoon Dog), stegmanni and sinensis. Japanese Raccoon Dog (N. v. viverrinus and N. v. albus) is also considered a subspecies by some authors, but here it has been elevated to full species, based on a number of karyotypic (2n=38), phenotypic, craniometric and behavioral differences.
SIMILAR SPECIES N. p. orestes has a whiter tail, only tinged with gray at the extreme base, and darker legs. N. p. ussuriensis is larger in size, with denser, longer hair. N. v. viverrinus is smaller, with a smaller skull and teeth, and shorter fur. The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) has shorter legs and a much longer and slim tail.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 59-64 days. Young per birth: 5-9, up to 19. Weaning: 45-80 days. Sexual maturity: 9-11 months. Life span: 14 years. Breeding season: From January to March, depending on its geographic location. Tail in ♂ forms an inverted U shape during sexual arousal, and ♂ and ♀ do not achieve the typical back-to-back tie. Probably monogamous. Both parents help out with rearing the young; ♂ bring food to the pregnant ♀. Most juveniles disperse at 4-5 months of age.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but may live in family groups. Diet: True omnivores and opportunistic; small mammals, birds, eggs, fish, amphibians and invertebrates; they rely heavily on plants. Main predators: Wolf, marten, eagle, Dog. Mainly nocturnal. Not territorial. In northern parts of range, they hibernate from November to March, after increasing weight nearly 50%, but presumably not farther south. During hibernation their body temperature is 1.4 to 2.1°C lower than during summer. Nocturnal. Home ranges from 5 to 10 km2. They can climb trees. They regularly participate in social grooming. Their vocalizations are limited to high-pitched whines and mewing sounds; they cannot bark.
DISTRIBUTION Native: China, Vietnam. N. p. procyonoides is found in W and SW China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang) and N Indochina. N. p. orestes occurs in central and S China (Gansu, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan).
HABITAT Open broadleaf forests near water or open meadows, thick brushy areas, and reeds, usually associated with water. Seldom found in high mountains or dense forests. The N limit of distribution lies in areas where the mean temperature of the year is just above 0°C, the snow cover about 800 mm, the duration of the snow cover 175 days and the length of the growing season 135 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Vulnerable (China). Once though to occur widely in China, but today it is likely to be threatened. China has well-established captive-breeding fur farms.
PHOTO CREDITS Blickwinkel and Christian Schmalhofer, based on photos from China.
NYCTEREUTES PROCYONOIDES USSURIENSIS
BL: 50-69 cm. TL: 13-25 cm. H: 38-50 cm. W: 3.8-12.4 kg. DF: 42. SL: 12.1 cm. SW: 6.8 cm. CN: 54. A small to medium-sized, Fox-like Canid, with a stout body, short legs and a distinctive face mask. The largest subspecies of Raccoon Dog, with longer, denser hair. Coat is long and dense, especially in winter, grizzled gray to yellowish brown in color, darker and less heavy in summer. Fur of the tail and sides is tinged with cinnamon. Individuals exhibit a wide range of color from albinistic to melanistic and wholly yellowish, with white morphs being common in captive-bred individuals. Forehead and muzzle are white while the eyes are surrounded by black. Shoulder, tip of tail and legs are blackish. Head is short and narrow with a relatively short and pointed muzzle. Small rounded ears, edged in black with white inside. Short tail covered by shaggy hairs, dorsally and distally tipped in black. No sexual dimorphism. Neonates are black.
OTHER NAMES Finnish Raccoon Dog, Ussuri Raccoon Dog. French: Chien viverrin, tanuki. German: Ussuri-Marderhund. Spanish: Perro mapache de Siberia. Finnish: Supikoira. Russian: Уссурийская енотовидная собака.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of N. procyonoides (Raccoon Dog). Includes amurensis (Amur Raccoon Dog).
SIMILAR SPECIES North American Raccoon is smaller in size and has larger ears, and a tail with several rings. Asian Badger also has a facial black mask, which is close to vertical (horizontal in Raccoon Dog).
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 63 days. Young per birth: 7-9, up to 16. Weaning: 45-80 days. Sexual maturity: 9-11 months. Life span: 16 years. Breeding season: From February to April, usually in March; pups are born from April to June. Climatic conditions, especially the length of the summer, and food availability influence reproductive output. Both the ♀ and the ♂ help out with rearing the young; ♂ guard the litter at the dens when ♀ are out foraging to satisfy their increased energy requirement during lactation.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but may live in family groups and forage in pairs. Diet: Opportunistic omnivore, with a food niche much wider than those of most other carnivores; diet composition varies geographically: ungulate and other carcasses and amphibians in forest areas, plant material, small mammals and invertebrates in woodland and farmland mosaic, waterfowl, amphibians and plant material on marshlands, lake shores and small islands. It may potentially compete with native species such as Red Fox and badger. Main predators: Wolf, Dog. Underdeveloped territoriality, with high tolerance toward conspecifics, and individual home ranges that have large overlap with adjacent individuals. Monogamous, with probable lifelong pair bonds. The paired mates share their home ranges and move together throughout the year. Home-range sizes vary from 5 to 7 km2, larger during August-October to feed especially in maize fields to accumulate fat reserves, and smaller during the mating season. In cold climates they hibernate during winter. In winter, they settle in shelters that protect them against cold and predation.
DISTRIBUTION Native: China, Mongolia, Russia. Introduced: Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine. The natural range includes NE China (Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, E Nei Mongol), E Mongolia, and SE Russia, in the Amur and Ussuri regions of Siberia and the Khankai lowland, the shores of the Sea of Japan and also areas as far inland as Komsomolsk. It was introduced as a fur game species to the European part of the former Soviet Union. Today, this subspecies is widespread in N and E Europe, thriving in moist forests with abundant undergrowth.
HABITAT Meadows and moist deciduous and mixed forests with abundant understory, river valleys, lakeshores, marshes and moist heath. They may also occupy a mosaic of woodland and agricultural areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Abundant in almost all its range.
PHOTO CREDITS Manfred Meier, Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen (Germany); Michelle Bender and Maarten de Ruiter, Dierenrijk (Netherlands); Ulli Joerres, Zoodyssée (France).
NYCTEREUTES PROCYONOIDES KOREENSIS
BL: 50-58 cm. TL: 18 cm. H: 26-50 cm. W: 3.8-5.6 kg. SL: 11.6 cm. SW: 6.7 cm. DF: 42. CN: 54. A small, Fox-like Canid, with a stout body, short legs and a distinctive face mask. A medium-sized subspecies of Raccoon Dog. Coat is long, soft, and thick, brownish gray, mingled with black tips. Conspicuous dorsal black stripe, from the top of the head over the neck to the shoulders, and extending to the upper part of the body and down the tip. Head is short and narrow with a relatively short and pointed muzzle. Cheek black, darker than in other subspecies. Nose tawny olive. Forehead and part under the ear whiter than in other subspecies. Small rounded ears, rufous with dark brown margins. Chin dark slate, throat and breast dirty fawn to dark brownish. Feet are blackish slate. Tail is bushy, blackish dorsally, buff ventrally, tipped in black. There is no sexual dimorphism. Neonates with soft, black fur.
OTHER NAMES French: Chien viverrin. German: Korea-Marderhund. Spanish: Perro mapache de Korea. Russian: Корейская енотовидная собака. Korean: Nurgoori.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of N. procyonoides (Raccoon Dog). Karyotype of this subspecies is the same as that of the other continental subspecies (procyonoides, orestes and ussuriensis): 2n=54, whereas all those from the Japanese islands (viverrinus and albus) are 2n=38; the phylogenetic and taxonomic significance of the two distinct karyotypes within this genus is still unclear, and it is unknown whether they can produce hybrids or fertile offspring in captivity. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that South Korean populations are unique, despite being relatively close to other continental populations, with low genetic diversity.
SIMILAR SPECIES Smaller than N. p. ussuriensis, which may be found in N North Korea; there is no geological barrier or significant morphological differences between these two subspecies.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 63 days. Young per birth: 7-9, up to 16. Weaning: 45-80 days. Sexual maturity: 9-11 months. Life span: 16 years. Probably monogamous. No specific information is given for this species, but probably similar to N. p. ussuriensis.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but may live in family groups and forage in pairs. Diet: Opportunistic omnivore, with a food niche much wider than those of most other carnivores. Main predators: Feral Dogs. Crepuscular or nocturnal, spending a great deal of the day asleep hidden in vegetation. They are not territorial, with overlapping home ranges, which range from 0.37 km2 to 0.98 km2, similar in ♂ and ♀. Home range sizes are smaller in winter. In Korea, reduction of its predators and competitors as well as high adaptability to diverse environments has resulted in rapid growth of its population, raising concerns about its role in the ecosystem and the zoonotic transfer of various contagious diseases. It has also become a top predator despite its modest size, moderating prey densities and contributing to biodiversity in this area. It produces poor-quality fur compared to other subspecies. In several cases, it has been the core species spreading rabies and canine distemper between Domestic Dog and wild Canidae species in Korea.
DISTRIBUTION Native: North Korea, South Korea.
HABITAT Meadows and moist deciduous and mixed forests with abundant understory, river valleys, lakeshores, marshes and moist heath. They may also occupy a mosaic of woodland and agricultural areas. They have expanded to urban and suburban areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. One of the most abundant mammals in South Korea. Most of its predators and competitors are extinct, which has resulted in rapid growth in population, raising concerns about its role in the ecosystem and zoonotic transfer.
PHOTO CREDITS Jeon Han, Aratta Higgs and Jane Keeler, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu (Seoul).
NYCTEREUTES VIVERRINUS VIVERRINUS
(SPECIES UNCERTAIN)
BL: 29-65 cm. TL: 16-21 cm. H: 20 cm. W: 3-6.2 kg. SL: 10.9 cm. SW: 6.1 cm. DF: 42. CN: 38. A small, Fox-like Canid, with a stout body, short legs and a distinctive face mask. The smallest subspecies of Raccoon Dog, with fur shorter than in other subspecies. Coat color from yellow to gray or reddish, with gray underhair. Black hairs on the back and shoulders and dorsally on the tail. Legs, feet and chest are dark. Black facial mask. In summer, fur is thin and fat reserves are small, so the animal looks much slimmer, while in autumn and winter, it is very fat and has thick fur, giving an impression of a round animal with short thin legs. Small rounded ears. Pointed muzzle. Long hair on the cheeks. Tail is fairly short, covered with thick hair. There is no sexual dimorphism. Neonates are almost black.
OTHER NAMES Tanuki. French: Tanuki. German: Japan-Marderhund. Spanish: Perro mapache japonés. Russian: Японская енотовидная собака. Japanese: Hondo-tanuki, mujina, anappo, kainehori, danza, tonchibo, hachimujina, banbuku, bo-zu, mameda, yomono.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of N. viverrinus (Japanese Raccoon Dog). They have fewer chromosomes than continental Raccoon Dogs (2n=38). In addition there are a number of phenotypic and behavioral differences with continental Raccoon Dogs, such as skull and dental morphometrics, quality of fur, and physiology. Considered a subspecies of N. procyonoides (Raccoon Dog) by some authors.
SIMILAR SPECIES The smallest subspecies with smaller teeth and skull, and the silkiest pelt. Continental subspecies have longer fur of greater insulation value. The North American Raccoon has a shorter, fatter body, and a tail with black stripes.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 62-66 days. Young per birth: 4-5. Weaning: 45-80 days. Sexual maturity: 9-11 months. Life span: 13 years. Breeding season: From April to June. Dens are often under big rocks, in tree trunks or under outbuildings. They do not construct their own burrows, and generally seek dense vegetation for diurnal cover.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but may live in family groups and forage in pairs. Diet: Opportunistic omnivore, with a food niche much wider than those of most other carnivores; diet is dominated by fruit and seeds, insects and marine animals and differs considerably from that in other areas, where small rodents form the bulk of the diet. Carrion and fish are consumed during all seasons, being especially important in winter when other food sources are scarce. Main predators: Feral Dogs. Nocturnal, but, in contrast to earlier reports, they are also frequently active diurnally. Solitary hunters. Not territorial, with overlapping home ranges. Home range size varies greatly, from as little as 0.1 km2 in an urban setting to 6 km2 in a subalpine setting. Since winters are mild in Japan, this subspecies has no need to be inactive in winter and thus it does not gather large fat reserves or hibernate, although the activity level (nightly traveling speed and nightly range span) is lower in cold periods. In contrast to other Canids, they have poor vision and probably rely on olfactory senses for finding food items, and thus are less wide ranging as hunters.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Japan. Native to Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Islands of Japan (except the island of Hokkaido). Introduced to Chiburijima and Yakushima Islands.
HABITAT Mixed broadleaf-coniferous forests near lakes and rivers or the seashore, with similar habitat preferences as continental subspecies. However, it is also found in very urban areas, such as Tokyo metropolitan wards, requiring minimum vegetation cover and using gutters and underground drains for movement and resting sites. They are relatively undisturbed by human activity.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Game species (Japan). Large numbers are exterminated each year, primarily as nuisance animals, but some for fur, for bristles for calligraphy brushes, or for meat. Relative abundance is high in SW parts of Japan and low in extremely urban areas. Main threats include road kills, persecution and epidemics (scabies, distemper, rabies).
PHOTO CREDITS Niji55, Shimane Prefecture (Japan); Feathercollector (Japan).
NYCTEREUTES VIVERRINUS ALBUS
(SPECIES UNCERTAIN)
BL: 51-58 cm. TL: 16-21 cm. H: 26 cm. W: 3.8-5.6 kg. SL: 10.8 cm. SW: 6.2 cm. DF: 42. CN: 38. A small, Fox-like Canid, with a stout body, short legs and a distinctive face mask. A medium-sized subspecies. Coat is yellow to gray in color, with gray underhair. Black hairs on the back and shoulders and dorsally on the tail. Legs, feet and chest are dark. Black facial mask. Forehead is white. Pelage on the neck, body, tail and thighs is dense and fine, while on the lower half of each leg is scanty. Feet are very thinly haired. In winter, fur is thicker. Claws are long, slender, white or pinkish. Small rounded ears, edged in black, light brown on the back. Pointed muzzle, white on top, upper lip shows a light-colored blending of brown and white. Long hair on the cheeks. Tail is fairly short, ends abruptly at the tip, and is covered with thick hair. There is no sexual dimorphism. Neonates are almost black.
OTHER NAMES White Raccoon Dog. French: Tanuki. German: Hokkaido-Marderhund. Spanish: Perro mapache de Hokkaido. Russian: Енотовидная собака острова Хоккайдо. Japanese: Eno-tanuki.
SUBSPECIES Considered a subspecies of N. viverrinus (Japanese Raccoon Dog). Raccoon Dogs of the Japanese islands (albus and viverrinus) have a reduced diploid chromosome number (2n=38), in contrast to subspecies native to the Chinese and Russian mainland (2n=54), and a different skull morphology. Hokkaido Raccoon Dog (N. v. albus) is sometimes considered to be a synonym of N. v. viverrinus, although analysis of skulls and teeth shows a clear separation between these two subspecies. Considered a subspecies of N. procyonoides (Raccoon Dog) by some authors.
SIMILAR SPECIES Body size and skull are larger than in N. v. viverrinus. The narrow postorbital constriction associated with development of temporal muscles in N. v. albus suggests this subspecies is more carnivorous, while premolars and molars of N. v. viverrinus are larger, suggesting that viverrinus may be more frugivorous. Naturalized North American Raccoons (Procyon lotor) live sympatrically with Raccoon Dogs on Hokkaido.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 62-66 days. Young per birth: 2-5. Weaning: 45-80 days. Sexual maturity: 1-2 years. Life span: 13 years. Breeding season: From April to June. Both ♂ and ♀ participate in pup rearing, and take turns attending the den for 30 to 50 days after breeding.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Solitary, but may live in family groups and forage in pairs; they den communally during winter. Diet: True omnivores, seasonal food habits shift as food availability changes; small mammals, birds and fish. Main predators: Feral Dogs. They are mainly nocturnal, leaving their dens 1-2 hours after sunset. Mean home range size is 1.25 km2. This subspecies forages intensively in autumn, resulting in the accumulation of considerable subcutaneous and intraperitoneal body fat reserves. In December, the onset of snow accumulation induces a distinct decrease in activity. They decrease their body temperature by 1.3 to 2.1°C with a transient 18-36% decrease in resting heart rate while maintaining a circadian rhythm in late February. Their vocalizations are higher in tone than those of a Domestic Dog and more or less resemble the sounds of a domestic cat. Dominant Raccoon Dogs can raise their tails in an inverted U shape.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Japan. Native to the island of Hokkaido, including Okushiri Island. This subspecies is separated from the main islands of Japan by Blakiston’s Line, marking the transition to the subarctic climate.
HABITAT Mixed broadleaf-coniferous forests near lakes and rivers or the seashore. They tend to stay inside the forest during the daytime as well as the nighttime. Resting sites are located within woodland areas. They are rarely seen in farm fields or urban areas.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Game species (Japan). Numbers appear to be stable but the recently introduced North American Raccoon may be a problem.
PHOTO CREDITS Nobu, Asahikawa Zoo, Hokkaido (Japan); Tanteckken, Singapore Zoo (Singapore); TreviseGK, Sapporo, Hokkaido (Japan); Kaitlyn Fujihara, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido (Japan).
OTOCYON MEGALOTIS MEGALOTIS
BL: 40-66 cm. TL: 23-34 cm. H: 30-40 cm. W: 3-5.4 kg. SL: 11 cm. SW: 6.2 cm. DF: 46-50. CN: 72. A small to medium-sized Fox-like Canid, with slim long legs, a sharp, long muzzle, broad forehead, and disproportionately large ears. Coat is bushy, soft, and densely haired, gray brown to ashy gray in color, and undergoes a distinct molt once a year. Throat and underparts are pale. Lower legs are black. Muzzle is black on the top, white on the sides. Ears are white inside, black outside. Raccoon-like white facial mask, black below eyes, paler above eyes. Bushy tail with a black tip and a longitudinal black stripe on top. Females are slightly larger than males, with 2 pairs of mammae. Young have a slightly darker, glossier coat.
OTHER NAMES Delalande’s Fox. French: Otocyon, renard à oreilles de chauve-souris. German: Südafrikanischer Löffelhund. Spanish: Zorro orejudo sudafricano. Russian: Южноафриканская большеухая лисица. Afrikaans: Bakoorvos. Sepedi: Motlhose.
TAXONOMY Two subspecies recognized: O. m. megalotis and O. m. virgatus. Includes auritus, caffer, lalandii and steinhardtii.
SIMILAR SPECIES Jackals have smaller ears, a larger, less pointed muzzle, and are considerably larger. Cape Fox (Vulpes chama) is similarly sized, but lacks the black mask.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 60 days. Young per birth: 2-5. Weaning: 28 Otocyon megalotis megalotis days. Sexual maturity: 2 years. Life span: 9 years, 14 years in captivity. Breeding season: July-August, with most births occurring in late October to early January, with the start of the annual rains, when the insect population is at its highest. Young emerge from the den at 2-3 weeks old. Several ♀ may share a den, and the pups are cared for and suckled by all the lactating ♀. ♂ help care for and protect the young. Dispersal of young is primarily ♂-biased, although adults of both sexes also disperse.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Small groups of 1 to 12 individuals, depending on food resources and Black-Backed Jackal density, consisting of a mated pair and offspring from different years. Diet: Insectivorous with a marked preference for harvester termites; when termites are less abundant, it will opportunistically take a much wider range of food, including beetles, ants and other insects, scorpions, rodents, hares, birds and eggs, fruit and sometimes carrion. Main predators: Black-Backed Jackal, and also leopard, hyena, African Wild Dogs, lion, cheetah, and large raptors. Mainly nocturnal, except during winter when they become more diurnal due to changes in termite activity. Very social and monogamous, with lifelong pair bonds. When the pups are young, groups shelter in underground dens; otherwise they lie up under shrubs, trees, or even in the open. Not very territorial, with home ranges (2-8 km2) of neighboring groups overlapping considerably, and individuals changing groups. Their teeth are much smaller than those of other Canids, as an adaptation to their insectivorous diet. They visit termite hills, follow locust swarms or stay close to herds of zebras or antelopes in order to feed on the insects landing on their excrements. Densities from 1 to 14 per km2, and may change between years based on rainfall and termite availability. Silent, communicating infrequently through soft calls, but loud barks when alarmed. Body postures, especially the raised, inverted U-shaped tail and ear positions, are used in communication.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
HABITAT Short-grass plains and areas with bare ground. Also found in open scrub vegetation and arid, semi-arid or winter rainfall (fynbos) shrub lands, and open arid savanna. Its range overlaps almost completely with that of Hodotermes and Microhodotermes, termite genera prevailing in the diet.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not listed. Regional status: Least Concern (South Africa), protected in Zimbabwe. It is common in conservation areas in South Africa, becoming uncommon in arid areas and on farms in South Africa where they are occasionally persecuted. Commercial use is very limited, but winter pelts are valued and sold as blankets, and also sold as hunting trophies in South Africa.
PHOTO CREDITS Ann and Steve Toon, and Blickwinkel, Kgalagadi (South Africa); Shumba138, Northern Cape Province (South Africa).
OTOCYON MEGALOTIS VIRGATUS
BL: 40-66 cm. TL: 23-34 cm. H: 30-40 cm. W: 3-5.3 kg. SL: 10.9 cm. SW: 6.1 cm. DF: 46-50. CN: 72. A small to medium-sized Fox-like Canid, with slim long legs, a sharp, long muzzle, broad forehead, and disproportionately large ears. Size and general appearance as in megalotis subspecies, but coat tends toward a buff pelage with dark brown instead of black, and underparts rich buff instead of whitish, brighter and more nearly a clear buff on throat, duller and more brownish between forelegs. Lower legs are black. Muzzle is black on the top, white on the sides. Ears are white inside, black outside. Raccoon-like white facial mask, black below eyes, paler above eyes. Bushy tail with black tip and longitudinal black stripe on top. No sexual dimorphism. Females with 2 pairs of mammae. Young have a slightly darker, glossier coat.
OTHER NAMES French: Otocyon, renard à oreilles de chauve-souris. German: Ostafrikanischer Löffelhund. Spanish: Zorro orejudo de África Oriental. Russian: Восточноафриканская большеухая лисица. Swahili: Bweha masigio.
TAXONOMY Considered a subspecies of O. megalotis (Bat-Eared Fox). Includes canescens (Ethiopia and Somalia).
SIMILAR SPECIES It is distinguished from megalotis by its color, smaller teeth and a less inflated auditory bulla in the skull.
REPRODUCTION Gestation: 60-75 days. Young per birth: 2-5. Weaning: 28 days. Sexual maturity: 2 years. Life span: 13 years. Breeding season: June-July, with most births shortly after the onset of the rainy season, coinciding with the period of maximum dung beetle availability. Reproductive success is correlated to the density of harvester termites on their territories. Monogamous pairs, but may also breed in small cooperative groups, which form when mature daughters delay dispersal. Within cooperative groups both mother and daughter usually breed, with ♀ giving birth to litters in a communal den, and suckling one another’s pups indiscriminately. After the pups are 2 weeks old, ♂ take over parental duties such as guarding, grooming, play and anti-predator defense.
BEHAVIOR Social behavior: Small groups of 2 to 5. Each group usually has 1 adult ♂ and 1 or 2 adult ♀. Diet: Insectivorous, with termites and dung beetles making up as much as 80% of their diet. Due to their diet, they have small 46 to 50 teeth, more than any other Canid; their jaw is also altered to open and close more quickly for speedy chewing. They seldom drink water as they obtain most of their moisture from their food. Main predators: Leopard, brown hyena, caracal, large raptors. Mainly nocturnal. Very social and monogamous, with lifelong pair bonds. Territorial in the Serengeti, urine marking and actively defending specific areas against intruding conspecifics during major parts of the year, but may be non-territorial in other areas. They are fast and good at dodging, and escape predation by fleeing to their underground dens. Size, shape and position of the ears help them to hear insects burrowing underground, and function as radiators, cooling their blood. The large, bushy tails work as a rudder when fleeing from predators in a zig-zag pattern. The alarm signal is a soft growl. Young in distress call their parents with a loud, shrill chattering.
DISTRIBUTION Native: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda. It ranges from South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia down through Uganda and Kenya to SW Tanzania, and it is separated by about 1,000 km from the South African subspecies (megalotis).
HABITAT Open grassland and woodland boundaries. Harvester termite (Hodotermes mossambicus) foraging holes and dung from migratory ungulates are more abundant in areas occupied by Bat-Eared Foxes, while grass is shorter and individual plants are more widely spaced.
CONSERVATION STATUS Least Concern. CITES: Not included. It is common in conservation areas in E Africa. Within a circumscribed habitat, numbers can fluctuate from abundant to rare depending on rainfall, food availability, breeding stage and disease. There are no major threats, but they are subject to subsistence hunting for skins or because they are perceived as being predators of small livestock.
PHOTO CREDITS Robert Harding, Masai Mara (Kenya); Stu Porter, Tomer Ben-Yehuda, Thomas Blank, Serengeti (Tanzania); Andrew Molinaro, Ruaha (Tanzania).
