This is a poster with some types of foxes on it. In this post I will cover twleve types of 'true' foxes, including scientific names, habitat and conservation status.
The most well known fox is the Red fox. Their scientific name is Vulpes Vulpes, and it is the largest of the twelve. They are listed as Least concern due to them being very adapatable and coping with human progression. Despite having the colour 'red' in their name, there are genetic variations of them including leucism and melanism, meaning that they are whiter or darker than the average fox. Foxes can travel in groups, mainly parental units with kits, or as siblings. They are part of the carnivora order and eat rabbits and small rodents. In Russia, there are experiments on the domestication of red foxes. It follows the same theory of the domestication of dogs and cats, and has had good results.
Next is the Arctic fox, which is scientifically called Vulpes Lagopus. As their name suggests, they live in cold areas. Sadly, in the wild many do not live over the age of one, but there have been cases where they have reached eleven years old. Like the Red fox, they are of the least concern. They are very well adapted for the arctic with thick fluffy coats and a more rounded body shape so that it is easier to conserve heat. They are monogamous animals and raise young as a pair in underground dens.
This is a Bengal fox, also called Vulpes Bengalensis. They are native to India and can be found throughout the country. They are active during the twilight hours of the day. They bond for life, however it has been recorded for them to have multiple partners. They are listed as Least concern, but have many threats including habitat and body parts being used in medicine as well as being eaten.
The fox pictured is a Blanford's fox, Vulpes Cana, they are least concern. They live in areas of the Middle East and Central Asia. They were discovered in 1877 by the English Naturalist William Thomas Blandford. Another name for them is the hoary fox, the latin 'cana' in their name is a reason for this. The word hoary means greyish white, which describes their coat colour. They have hairless footpads and sharp, curved claws. They have a very good climbing skills as they live in rocky areas. They can jump up to three meters high!
This is a Cape fox and its young, they are known to the scientific community as Vulpes Chama. They tend to be a silver colour with yellow flanks and a black tail tip. They live in south Africa and in grasslands with thickets. They are nocturnal and live in burrows. They steal burrows from other animals, normally the Springhare and modify it to their needs, however, they will also happily dig their own from scratch. They are solitary even when in a mated pair, as they hunt and forage alone. They are quiet animals but will bark when alarmed. They are considered least concern.
This pretty fox is the Corsac fox, Vulpes Corsac, that lives in central Asia. They are listed as least concern, but numbers fluctuate a lot, as in a year they can become very endangered. They have white to pale yellow coats that get thicker and silkier in the winter. They have good senses including eyesight and hearing. They also have a wide skull and small teeth, which is a bit abnormal for foxes as they tend to have smaller skulls. They are often found in steppes and semi-deserts, with their three subspecies also living in similar conditions. Due to living in arid regions, their bodies need less water to survive and get liquid from their food.
This is a fennec fox, they live in the Sahara Desert and are scientifically called Vulpes Zerda. They have large ears to get rid of heat due to living in one of the hottest deserts in the wild. They are the smallest Canid (dog) which allows them to stay safe from preditors. In some areas of the world, they can be had as pets, however this is not a good idea as they are wild animals and wild animals shoud generally be left in their own habitat. They live in family groups, with burrows linking up. They are least concern, but sightings of them are rare. Behaviour of the species is collected from animals in captivity. Their also one of my partners favourite animals.
This is a kit fox, Vulpes Macrotis, they live in North America and in some parts of Mexico. They live more in the south area of North America, in places like Texas and Arizona. There is a subspecies that lives in the San Joaquin Valley which are endangered, however the main species is considered least concern. Males are slightly larger than females, but they are the smallest animal in North America that isn't a dog breed. Kit foxes are nocturnal and hunt during the night, they eat small mammals.
Pale foxes, Vulpes Pallida, are the least studied of all Canids. Despite the lack of information on them, there are five subspecies. They live in the African Sahel, as such they have sandy coloured coats which help them blend in. Like most foxes, they live in burrows and sleep there during the day. They eat a variety of things from small mammals to berries, like many desert animals they can go for a long period of time without water.
This small fox is a Ruppell's fox, Vulpes Rueppelli, was named after the German Naturalist Eduard Ruppell. They live in North Africa, the middle East and Southwestern Asia. They are often confused with Fennec Foxes because they live in similar areas and have similar coats. Ruppells are larger than Fennecs though. There is a debatable five subspecies, but some people consider them to be monotypic. They are considered least concern.
This pretty faced fox is a Swift fox, they are scentifically called Vulpes Velox. They are the size of an average pet cat and live in grasslands in North America. In the 1930s they were pushed to near exctinction as they were considered to be a pest. Luckily, they are now least concern as their numbers grew after conservation efforts. In 1938, they were extinct in Canada, but were reintroduced to the area in 1983.
This is the final fox on the list. They are called Tibetan sand foxes, also called Vulpes Ferrilata. As their name suggests, they live in Tibet and other areas including China and Nepal. Due to their wide range they are listed as least concern. They are carnivores, and eat mainly Plataeu Pikas but will eat other small mammals and lizards.
I hope you had a great new year and a very happy christmas. I also hope you enjoyed learning about some foxes. See you all later.
-Dari
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