Foxes are any of the omnivorous, dog-like mammals belonging to the family Canidae. Characterized by a small- or medium-sized furry body, these animals can be easily distinguished by their flattened skull, a narrow snout, upright triangular ears, and bushy tail. They have black markings between their eyes and noses, while the color of their tail tip is different than the rest of their bodies.
Scientific Classification
| Animalia | |
| Chordata | |
| Mammalia | |
| Carnivora | |
| Canidae |
Scientific Classification
| Animalia | |
| Chordata | |
| Mammalia | |
| Carnivora | |
| Canidae |
List of Common Types of Fox Species
There areapproximately 37 fox species (both surviving and extinct) that are divided intosix genera, Cerdocyon (crab-eatingfoxes), Lycalopex (South Americanfoxes), Urocyon (Western Hemispherefoxes), Otocyon (bat-eared foxes), Vulpes (true foxes), and the extinct Dusicyon. Here are the different typesof commonly existing fox species:
- Fennec Fox
- Red Fox
- Marble Fox
- Gray Fox
- Silver Fox
- Arctic Fox
- Cross Fox
- Kit Fox
- Swift Fox
- Pale Fox
- Blanford’s Fox
- Cape Fox
- Corsac Fox
- Tibetan Sand Fox
- Rüppell’s Fox
- Bengal Fox
- CulpeoAndean Fox
- Darwin’s Fox
- Pampas Fox
- South American Gray Fox
- Sechuran Fox
- Hoary Fox
- Island Fox
- Bat-eared Fox
Physical Description and Appearance
Size: Foxes are typically shorter thanits Canidae cousins, jackals, and wolves, but are larger than the Raccoon dogs.The red fox, the largest fox species, measures 35-50 cm at the shoulders whilethe smallest fennec fox stands at 20 cm.
Weight: Their weight varies depending onthe species. The red fox, being the heaviest, weighs between 4-9 kg while theweight of the lightest fennec fox species is 0.7-1.6 kg.
Color: Their color ranges from black topearly white and spotted black with a gray or white underside. The texture andcolor of their coat also vary with seasonal changes. The fur is much denser andmore abundant in the winter than in the summer months.
Teeth: As in other members of the Canidaefamily, the fox’s jaw has 42 teeth in total with incisors = 3/3, canines = 1/1,premolars = 4/4, and molars = 3/2. The carnassial and canine teeth areconspicuous, like all carnivores.
Whiskers: They have black whiskers, with theones on the muzzle measuring 3.9-4.3 in while those on the head are relativelyshorter. Whiskers on their forelimbs have an average length of 1.6 in.
Distribution
Being highlyversatile and adaptable by nature, foxes are found across the world. The rangeof distribution spans from the Arctic to Europe, Asia, North America, SouthAmerica, North Africa, and Australia. The most widespread species is the redfox, which also has 47 recognized subspecies.
What kind of Habitats are they found in
Foxes livein diverse habitats, including grasslands, forested areas, snow-clad mountains,and deserts. They usually dig shallow burrows in which they live in smallgroups.
How long do they live
In the wild,the average lifespan of foxes is about one to five years. On the other hand,captive foxes have been reported to live up to approximately ten years. The applicationof fox control in semi-urban and urban settings causes most of the foxpopulation to survive up to a year or so.
What do they eat
They eat adiverse variety of food, and their diet includes small mammals, reptiles, frogs,birds, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, crickets, fruits, and grasses. Theyare also scavengers, feeding on carcasses and rotten meat.
Behavior
- Theystand and walk on the toes, for which they are called digitigrade animals.
- Notall foxes live in packs, as some species like the Arctic fox are solitary.
- Theystore excess food for later consumption by hiding them from conspecifics,typically under the snow, soil, or leaves.
- Foxestypically pounce on their prey by crouching down in the terrain and then usingtheir hind legs to leap up and land with great force on the targeted animal.
- Theyuse a set of vocalizations for communicating with members of the same pack. Thesesounds include whining, yelping, high-pitched explosive howling, sharp barking,growling, and a warning bark.
- Foxesinhabiting semi-urban and rural environments often attack small livestock anddomestic fowl. For this reason, they are considered nuisance creatures orpests.
- Video
Adaptations
- Somespecies, such as the fennec fox has short fur that helps keep their body coolwhile some like the Arctic fox has an insulating, dense fur to keep the bodywarm. Thus, the coat is useful for maintaining constant body temperature.
- Thelower molar and upper premolar are specially designed to cut and tear fleshwhile the canines are large and sharp enough to catch and grip the prey.
- Foxeshave an excellent sense of hearing. They are sensitive to low-frequency soundsand the soft rustling noises made by prey deep in their burrows.
- Becauseof their vertical pupils, they have an outstanding vision that helps them withhunting.
How do they Reproduce and Mate
Females arein heat for about 1-6 days, with their reproductive cycle lasting for 12 months.As with other canids, foxes release the ova during estrus. Sperm production inmales starts from August-September, and it reaches its peak duringDecember-February.
Once theovum is fertilized, the female enters her gestation period that lasts for 52-53days. Although the litter size varies depending on the species, they typically givebirth to four or five babies in a litter on average.
What do the Baby Fox look like
After thebabies are born, they have a fuzzy appearance due to their soft first coat. Theirpupils are of striking blue shade while their ears are small and floppy.
Conservation
Numerous foxspecies like Darwin’s fox and Island fox are considered endangered andnear-threatened respectively in their native environment due to excessivehunting for pelts and habitat loss. Researchers and conservationists have removedhealthy breeding pairs from the wild population and bred them in captivity sothat they could have enough healthy foxes to set free into the wild.
Fox-FAQs
1. Are foxes canines or felines?
Foxes arecanines or canids, which along with jackals, wolves, and domestic dogs, belongto the Canidae family.
2. Are foxes nocturnal animals?
Althoughfoxes are primarily active at night, they are frequently seen moving from placeto place in urban or suburban areas during the daytime.
3. What is a baby fox called?
Pups, cubs,or kits
4. What predators may eat a fox?
Foxes arehunted and eaten by predators like bears, wolves, eagles, owls, and badgers.
5. Do foxes eat cats?
Foxes aremore likely to attack and eat kittens than adult cats.
6. Do foxes hibernate?
Foxes do nothibernate during the winter months. In the face of extreme weather, they takeshelter and remain hidden until bad weather passes.
7. Can foxes climb trees?
The gray foxis the only fox species that climb trees regularly.
8. What is a male fox called?
A tod,reynard, or dog
9. What is a female fox called?
A vixen
10. What is a group of foxes called?
A leash,skulk, or earth
Interesting Facts
- Foxes shed their winter coat once a year, and the process starts from their feet, through the legs, and finally along their back.
- Unlike most canids, some species, such as gray foxes have retractable claws.
- Foxes are quite fast. Red foxes, for example, have a top speed of 30 mph (50 kph).
