Types of foxes (foxes). The most beautiful species of foxes in the world Wood fox

Description

Small gray fox. Around the dark brown nose, the wool is "colored" with a white spot, the main color is reddish brown, the sides, neck and paws of a gray fox are covered with wool of this color. The belly area is covered with white hair. A black line is also characteristic, stretching from the base of the tail to its tip. Another distinctive feature is another black line that crosses the face from the nose to the eyes, then “extending” along the sides of the head back. The height at the withers is 30-40 cm.The gray fox is very agile and dexterous, for its family, it runs fast, and also knows how to climb trees (it is also called wood fox).

The gray fox is of a dense build, with shorter paws compared to the red fox, so it is smaller in stature, but its long fluffy tail looks more luxurious than that of its rival, but its undercoat does not save so well from the cold than the red fox. Therefore, the gray fox cannot live in a particularly cold climate.

Reproduction and population

Gray foxes are monogamous and live with a partner for the rest of their lives. After mating, in February, the mother can give birth to 4 to 10 cubs, which, after 11 months of age, already leave their parents. Perhaps it was because of this ability of its fertility that this species was not on the verge of death. The annual extermination of the gray fox, for example, in Wisconsin, due to its soft fur, has reduced the population of the species by half.

Subspecies

• Urocyon cinereoargenteus borealis
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus californicus
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus colimensis
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus costaricensis
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus fraterculus
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus furvus
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus guatemalae
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus madrensis
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus nigrirostris
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus orinomus
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus peninsularis
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus scotti
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus townsendi
• Urocyon cinereoargenteus venezuelae

Notes (edit)

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• Wu-hou (Kingdom of Wei, Zhanguo era)
• O-Ban

See what "Gray Fox" is in other dictionaries:

gray fox- pilkoji lapė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rusis atitikmenys: lot. Urocyon cinereoargentatus angl. eastern gray fox; gray fox; Virginian fox vok. Festland Graufuchs rus. gray fox pranc. renard gris; renard gris argenté ... Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

Argentine gray fox-? Argentine gray fox Scientific classification Kingdom ... Wikipedia

Island gray fox-? Island fox Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordates ... Wikipedia

Fox- This term has other meanings, see Fox (meanings). Fox, or fox is the general name of several species of mammals of the canine family. Only 11 species of this group belong to the genus of foxes proper (Latin Vulpes). Most ... ... Wikipedia

FOX- (fur) skin of a predatory animal of a fox. In the USSR, foxes are hunted almost everywhere; in addition, they are bred in fur farms. From wild foxes, skins are obtained: ordinary foxes, or the so-called. red, sivodushki, cross, black-brown; from ... ... Brief Encyclopedia of Household

Korsak fox

Fox korsak-? Korsak Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordates Class ... Wikipedia

gray flying fox- pilkoji skraidančioji lapė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Pteropus griseus angl. gray flying fox rus. gray flying fox ryšiai: platesnis terminas - skraidančiosios lapės ... Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

Fox crabeater-? Maikong Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordates Subtype ... Wikipedia

Andean fox-? Culpeo Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type ... Wikipedia

Books

• Gray neck, Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak. A small, defenseless duck named Gray Neck was injured by a fox, and she could not fly away with the others when autumn came. About her friendship with the hare and the wood grouse, about their struggle with the fox, about her ...

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), or tree fox, is a very unusual mammal because it looks more like a small dog with a fluffy tail. They live in Canada, in the central and southwestern states of America, Venezuela, and are found in California and Mexico. They got their name for the gray-silver saddlecloth on the back and sides. Although the lower part on the sides, neck, base of the tail, back, paws, as well as the lower part of the tail are the same bright rusty red color as that of the common red fox. They are also distinguished by a black stripe that runs along the top of the croup and along the entire fluffy tail. The strip ends with a black tip on the tail. The animal's muzzle is silvery-gray, with a white rim around the black nose. This fur color camouflages well from predators.

The gray fox is also unusual in that it is the only species in the wolf family that can climb trees. There she hides from enemies and sits in ambush, tracking down prey. And to climb a tree, she has to climb up the trunk, pushing off with long hooked claws on her hind legs. No worse than a squirrel, the animal can move along the crown of trees, jumping from branch to branch or sliding down in the opposite direction.

This mammal cannot be called a particularly fast runner, but at short distances it can also develop good speed. The short, very powerful and developed paws give the animal a huge advantage when it climbs trees or rocks, and the strong, hooked claws allow it to cling to trunks and branches.

Gray foxes are nocturnal animals, and hide in their dens during the day, the boundaries of the territory are marked with urine. Females reach sexual maturity a year and mate from February to March. The pairs are constant and the father of the cubs stays with the female until they are born, but then he is expelled from the den.

Usually, from 3 to 5 cubs are born after 50-55 days of gestation, but there are also large litters up to 11 cubs. Babies are dark brown and blind from birth, but already on the 10th day they open their eyes. The mother stops caring for the cubs after 10 weeks. All this time, the father regularly supplies the family with food. By winter, the couples disperse, and the cubs are already completely independent, everyone must survive the most severe time alone. The average lifespan of this species is up to 6 years in the wild and about 12 years in captivity.

The gray fox is a solitary hunter, but its diet is very diverse: berries, nuts, birds, insects, and all types of rodents, in addition, the ability to climb trees allows you to find food that is not available to an ordinary red relative. If she manages to get more food than she can eat at a time, then she will definitely hide it and return later. And to find the burial site, he will mark it with urine. In arid regions, animals eat more insects, arthropods, and plant foods than foxes living in the east.

The gray fox has several predators besides humans. Hawks, eagles, owls, lynxes, dogs and even

Red fox

Wild red, or red, fox is characterized by red color of various shades, ranging from fiery red to almost gray. There are six main types of red fox coloration:
1) fire- reddish-red (fiery);
2) red- bright red, but without a fiery shade;
3) scarlet- light red or reddish yellow;
4) bright- light sandy yellow color;
5) red-gray- gray, with a reddish belt along the spine;
6) gray- gray, with a dull red back.

The variability of the color of wild foxes is largely related to their habitat. The chest of red foxes is white or light yellow, the belly is white or reddish (like the sides) or with a black spot on a red background. The ears and tips of the feet (up to the wrist in the front and up to the hock in the hind) are black. The end of the tail is usually white or gray due to gray undercoat or detached
pigmented hair. Separate black hairs are scattered along the tail, and often all over the body. The underfloor all over the body is gray or brown in various shades.

Most red foxes are characterized by the presence of zone-colored hair (agouti) located on the back and sides. Only among the moths are specimens often found that have no zonal hair. Often, red foxes have gray hair - pure white hair, scattered all over the body, and white spots on the chest, abdomen and legs. The white spot is characterized by a white color in its area of ​​not only awn, but also underfur.

In terms of its biology, as well as breeding technology, the red fox practically does not differ from the silver-black one. There is only a slight delay (2-3 weeks) in the period of active mating of females and worse maternal qualities, which determines a decrease in the yield of puppies in comparison with the silver-black fox.

This disadvantage can be eliminated by selection. The main task in breeding work with the red fox is to improve the color of their pubescence. The most desirable color is considered to be characteristic of the Kamchatka fox (moth) and bastard. The presence of significant silvery, which is determined by a light ring on the guard hair, located between the tops of the underfur and the pigmented tip of the awn, is undesirable.

White fox

Foxes, like other animals, have albinos. They have a pure white color of pubescence, depigmented tip of the nose and nails, light blue, with a reddish tinge, eyes. Their coloration is recessive in relation to the coloration of wild foxes.

Ermine fox

In the wild, there are white foxes with black ears, paws and separate black hair, scattered over the body and tail. The underfloor is gray. When examining such foxes, it seems that they lack yellow pigment, and black is preserved where it is present in wild red foxes. But in some cases, the development of black pigment is weakened. These foxes are of no industrial value, and they are not bred on fur farms.

Chromists

Among wild foxes, specimens are relatively common that lack black pigment, as a result of which their underfur is brown, often lighter than usual, paws and ears are also brown, and black hair on the tail and back is absent. Otherwise, these foxes do not differ in color from normal red foxes. The heredity of chromists has not been studied, economic
they are of no value.

Silver-black and black-brown

The most widespread on fur farms were changes in the color of the fur, which caused the appearance of a black color. In foxes, two such breeds are known, which determine the color of silver-black and black-brown foxes. The first arose among wild foxes in Canada, the second - among the foxes of Eurasia and Alaska. Therefore, in foreign literature, black-brown foxes are often called Alaskan silver-black foxes.

In appearance, silver-black and black-brown foxes can differ only in that in black-brown foxes, the bundle of hair located at the inner edge of the base of the auricle has a brown color. In some black-brown foxes, there is sometimes a significant development of red (of different tone and intensity) spots behind the ears, on the sides, behind the shoulder blades and at the root of the tail.

Guard hairs with a white area in the middle are called silvery. The peculiarity of the silvery of foxes is that it can be spread over the entire back, along the sides (there is no silvery hair on the belly) and on the neck, or it can capture only part of the body. Depending on the area of ​​the body occupied by the silvery hair, the percentage of silvery is determined: the silvery, located from the root of the tail to the ears, is taken as 100%; over 75% - from the root of the tail to the shoulder blades; for 50% - from the root of the tail to half of the body. The area of ​​the body, occupied by silver, can be any (10%, 30%, 80%), but always starts at the root of the tail.

In the same foxes, the percentage of silvery can vary from year to year.

In puppies in the first two weeks, silvery is absent. It gradually begins to appear in two- or three-month-old young animals, first on the rump, and then gradually spreads to the head. Silveriness reaches its full development after the change of summer awn to winter.

The basic coloration of black-brown and silver-black foxes can range from dark brown (an undesirable type for breeding) to bluish-black, which is rated most highly.

Hair that has only the top colored is called platinum. The presence of a large amount of platinum hair in the pubescence of foxes is undesirable. They, to a greater extent than silvery, are prone to breakage of the stem, which leads to the development of a pubescence defect - cuttings. The black ends of the hair form a veil over the silvery zone.

The fact that silver-black foxes never have clearly reddish tones can be explained by the different pigmentation of the hairline. There is evidence that black-brown foxes have both black and yellow pigment (but black suppresses the appearance of yellow), while silver-black foxes have only black. In both cases, black pigment develops on all pigmented areas of the hair.

In the early years of animal husbandry, silver-black and black-brown foxes were also bred abroad, but the number of the latter gradually decreased, and they were completely replaced by the silver-black fox.

The silver-black fox was the first object of domestic fur farming.

When crossing silver-black foxes with black-brown foxes, the offspring has the coloration of siblings or bastards.

Sivodushki, bastards and "zamarayki"

When crossing silver-black or black-brown foxes with red, the inheritance of the color of the offspring differs in appearance from both parents. But the color can vary considerably: sivodushki (krestovka), bastards and "zamarayki" can be obtained. Foxes of these colors are not bred on farms.

Sibushches are characterized by a significantly greater development of black pigment than red foxes. They have a dark muzzle, with the exception of red patches near the ears, a dark stripe running between the ears and extending to the back and shoulder blades. Around the ears, on the neck, behind the shoulder blades, red spots remain, as a result of which a more or less pronounced dark cross is formed on the shoulders. The black color sometimes passes to the abdomen. On the rump, the dark color descends on the hind legs, but the areas at the root of the tail remain red. The chest, abdomen, and legs are dark. In addition to black hair, all, even very dark ones, have red cushions on their backs, in which way foxes of this type differ from black-brown ones with a highly developed red spotting.

Bastards are similar in color to red foxes, but always have black spots on both sides of the upper lip ("whiskers"). The black color on the legs is much more developed and extends on the front legs to the elbow, and on the hind legs along the front surface of the leg to the knee joint. A significant amount of black hair is scattered over the entire surface of the body and especially on the tail, which gives the color a thicker tone. Their abdomen is gray or black.

"Zamaraiki" (the term of Kamchatka hunters) are widespread in Kamchatka, in those areas where black-brown foxes are found. "Zamaraiki" are very similar to bastards.

At birth, sivodushki and bastards have the same color: they are gray, like black fox puppies, and have only small brown areas near the ears and on the trunk behind the front legs. In red foxes, the puppies are also gray, but the brown color covers the entire upper part of the head. Subsequently, in bastards, earlier than in sibushi, gray hair is replaced with red hair. In puppies of red foxes, the change of gray hair to red is the most intensive.

Pastel fox

The pastel fox is chocolate brown in color. Her eyes, nose and claws are significantly lighter than those of the silvery black. This fox did not receive distribution.

"Beige amber"

Fromm's farm in the United States bred foxes called Mauve amber. These animals are beige in color with a pinkish-blue tint. The guard hair is light and has only beige tips; fluff - from gray-beige, with a blue tint, to light beige. When crossed with silver-black foxes, they produce silver-black offspring.

Platinum fox

The pubescence of the platinum fox is characterized by a weakening of color and the appearance of a pattern in the form of a white spot, forming a certain pattern: a white stripe runs from the tip of the nose between the eyes and ears to the back of the head, where it merges with a wide white collar. On the chest, the collar connects to the white belly. The tips of the paws are white, but they usually have individual pigmented spots. The white pattern is not clearly expressed in all platinum foxes. In darker forms, there are pigmented areas on the white spot, especially often they are observed on the neck, forming an incomplete collar, and sometimes the total area of ​​the pattern decreases. In lighter forms, white spots on the muzzle are very large: the ears are also white, the white spot spreads along the frontal part and around the eyes. In this case, the eyes become blue in color.

Platinum foxes are characterized by the presence of platinum hair, in which only the top is pigmented, and the middle and lower parts are white. The lack of color is considered a very light tone and brownish spots. When bred in purity, the fertility of this form of foxes is 25% lower. When crossed with silver-black foxes, females are normal.

This breed appeared in 1933 in Norway on a farm of silver-black foxes. After the nickname of the first male platinum foxes, they are often called "mons". When platinum foxes are crossed with red foxes, both puppies with the color of ordinary sivodushki and bastards, as well as platinum sivodushki and platinum bastards (also called golden ones), will be born. Platinum cakes and bangs
stardos black and yellow pigments are located on the body, as in ordinary ones, with an unabated coloration, but the general tone is much lighter, and they have a white pattern characteristic of platinum animals.

Pearl fox

Like platinum, pearl foxes have a weakened coloration, but there is no pattern formed by the white color of the hair. When platinum and pearl foxes are crossed, a glacial fox is obtained.

Washington platinum and radium foxes

These foxes have gray hair covering their entire torso, head, legs and tail. These mutations have not spread, we do not breed them.

White-faced fox

The white-faced fox has the same skin pattern as the platinum fox, but the intensity of the color corresponds to that of the silver-black foxes. Some breeders even note that white-faced silver-black foxes have a more intense black color. Sometimes the pattern is reduced to small white spots on the forehead, chest and legs.

The most widespread are white-faced silver-black foxes.

When crossing white-faced and platinum foxes, young animals are obtained in three colors: silver-black, white-faced and platinum, in a ratio close to 1: 1: 1.

Snow fox

Other names for the snow fox are Georgian white, Bakurian. The coloration is white, with black ears and black spots on the face, back and legs. Cream shades are considered undesirable. This breed was obtained in the 40s of the XX century in the Bakurian fur-breeding state farm.

Photo © Alan Harper on iNaturalist.org. www.alanharper.com. California, USA. CC BY-NC 4.0

Habitat: from southeastern Canada to Venezuela and Colombia, with the exception of parts of the Great Plain and mountainous regions (Rocky Mountains) of the northwestern United States and the eastern coast of Central America (watersheds of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama). Over the past 50 years, the common range of the gray fox has expanded to new areas and areas where the gray fox was previously exterminated, including New England, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Ontario, Manitoba, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Utah.

Gray foxes resemble small, slender dogs with bushy tails. The body is elongated, the legs are relatively short.

In adult gray foxes, the fur consists of a mixture of white, red, black and gray. Their tail is about one third of their total body length and has a distinct black stripe along the dorsal surface and a black tip. The upper part of the head, back, sides and the rest of the tail are gray. The belly, chest, legs and sides of the head are reddish brown. The cheeks and throat are white. The area around the eyes has a thin black stripe from the outer corner of the eye towards the head. In addition, a wide black stripe runs from the inner corner of the eye, down the muzzle to the mouth. Newborn puppies are dark brown.

The pupils of the eyes are oval, than gray foxes differ from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), in which the pupils are slit.

There is no sexual dimorphism, but males are slightly larger than females. Males have longer pelvic regions and heel bones, as well as wider shoulder blades and more powerful leg bones.

Length 80-112.5 cm, tail length 27.5-44.3 cm, height at withers 10-15 cm.Weight 3.6-6.8 kg, maximum up to 9 kg.

Gray foxes prefer to live in deciduous forests alternating with dense woodlands. Many populations thrive where forests alternate with agricultural land, but unlike the red fox, they do not live in purely agricultural areas. Proximity to water is a key feature of the preferred habitat. In areas where gray foxes and red foxes are found, the former prefer mixed forests with dense undergrowth. In the absence of red foxes, other habitats are preferred.

Most often they live at altitudes up to 1000-3000 m above sea level.

In eastern North America, the gray fox is most closely associated with deciduous or southern pine forests, interspersed with some old fields and clear forests. In western North America, it is commonly found in mixed agricultural, forestry, chaparral, coastal, and bushy environments. This species occupies forested and abundant prey habitats in Central America and wooded mountainous areas in South America. Also, gray foxes are found in semi-arid areas in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where there are enough hiding places. Apparently they do well to live in some urban areas.

The territoriality of gray foxes is poorly understood. Areas are marked with urine and faeces, but in many areas there is significant overlap. Family parcels are formed so that the individual areas of the couple overlap. The family plots themselves usually do not overlap. The fox probably reaches peak densities every 10 years, with an average density of about one colony for every 10 km².

However, the total size of the personal and family plots of the gray fox has not been determined. Foxes tracked from May to August 1980 and January to August 1981 had an average monthly home plot of 299 hectares and an average family plot of 676 hectares. The complexity of the definition lies in the fact that some individuals, although they occupy the same area for a long time, their personal areas, as a rule, change from month to month. Only part of the home range is used this night. Composite home plots of 4 gray foxes in another study ranged from 106 to 172 ha.

Gray foxes are more active at night and at dusk, resting during the day in dense vegetation or secluded rocky areas. The level of activity drops sharply at sunrise and increases at sunset. Typically, gray foxes leave the recreation area in the daytime shortly before sunset, explore the nearest territory and then move to the hunting area. They usually return to their daytime resting area shortly before sunrise. At the same time, gray foxes are often active in the daytime.

Gray foxes usually change their resting places every day, starting in late spring, when new vegetation is growing. Shelters are reused in winter.

The gray fox is the only member of the family that can climb trees, especially in order to avoid danger. However, these foxes often climb trees to rest, sometimes quite high. One gray fox was observed resting 4.6 m above the ground on a branch of a giant saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).

Gray foxes oh opportunisticallyomnivorous. Although they prey on small vertebrates and birds, fruits and invertebrates also make up a significant part of their diet, usually the proportions depend on the season. So, rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), mouse-like (Peromyscus spp., Neotoma spp., Sigmodon hispidus, etc.) make up most of their winter diet. Since spring, invertebrates, fruits, nuts and grains are included in the diet. Preferred insects are Orthoptera and beetles. Depending on the region, the fox is often mainly dependent on rabbits and other small mammals in the winter, insects and fruits in the summer. In some areas, the general diet may consist of predominantly plant-based foods.

If the prey is large, foxes hide the remains, often burying it. After that, they usually mark the cache with urine or use the scent of glands on their paws and tail. If possible, gray foxes can also feed on carrion.

Like other family members, gray foxes communicate by barking and growling. Young foxes usually play with each other. Males, in an attempt to attract potential mates for breeding, raise their hind leg to show their genitals. Adult animals use their smells to mark territory.

Lairs, as a rule, are arranged in hollow trees (the highest discovered den was in a hollow at a height of 9.1 m) or logs, in small caves, cracks between rocks, abandoned buildings, tangled bushes, less often in the burrows of other mammals left behind. Occasionally, gray foxes themselves dig holes in loose soil.

Considered monogamous, but direct evidence is lacking. There are reports of rare cases of polygamy and polyandry.

During the rearing of offspring, there are family groups consisting of a male, female and young. Pairs form in the fall, prior to breeding in winter. During October and September, when females attract partners, males usually show great aggression. Like domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), gray foxes have a violet gland. Foxes also have additional scent glands on their faces and pads. While these glands are primarily used to demarcate territory, they can also be used to attract potential partners.

Reproduction takes place annually. The breeding season varies with geographic region, altitude and habitat quality and starts from late winter to early spring (December to March). Where the gray fox is sympathetic to the red fox, it starts breeding 2-4 weeks later than the red fox.

Pregnancy from 53 to 63 days. The maximum births usually occur in April. Litter from 1 to 7 puppies, average 3.8. However, litter size is not well understood. Puppies are born blind and almost naked. Average birth weight 86-95 g. Eyes open 9 days after birth. Milk feeding lasts up to 6 weeks, but weaning begins from 2-3 weeks, then only complementary feeding continues. Solid food begins at around 3 weeks of age, mostly delivered by the father. Parents start teaching puppies to hunt at about 4 months old. Until then, both parents hunt separately, and the puppies practice their hunting skills by lashing out and chasing the half-dead prey brought. First of all, their father teaches them to hunt. Puppies depend on their parents for up to 10 months, after which they become sexually mature and dispersed. According to other sources, families break up in late summer and autumn.

At about 10 months young, both males and females become sexually mature. Most females give birth in the first year of life.

Life expectancy both in captivity and in the wild ranges from 6 to 8 years. However, the oldest recorded wild gray fox was 10 years old and the oldest in captivity was 12 years old.

The main enemies of gray foxes in nature are red lynxes (Lynx rufus), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), eagle owls (Bubo virginianus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). Unlike red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), which run away from predators using speed and maneuverability, gray foxes hide in shelters (for example, in thickets). From land-based predators, gray foxes can use their ability to climb trees.

Aside from natural deaths, humans are responsible for the greatest number of deaths and are therefore the greatest threat.

Fox (fox) ( Vulpes) Is a carnivorous mammal, belongs to the order carnivorous, canine family. The Latin name of the fox genus, most likely, comes from distorted words: Latin "lupus" and German "Wolf", translated as "wolf". In the Old Slavonic language, the adjective "fox" corresponded to the definition of a yellowish, reddish and yellowish-orange color, characteristic of the color of a widespread common fox.

Fox (fox): description, characteristics, photo

Depending on the species, the size of the fox varies from 18 cm (for Fenech) to 90 cm, and the weight of the fox ranges from 0.7 kg (for Fenech) to 10 kg. Foxes have a characteristic generic feature - a slender elongated body with rather short limbs, a slightly elongated muzzle and tail.

The fluffy tail of the fox serves as a kind of stabilizer while running, and in winter cold it is used for additional protection from frost.

The length of the fox's tail depends on the species. In it, it reaches 20-30 cm.The length of the tail of an ordinary fox is 40-60 cm.

Foxes rely more on touch and smell than sight. They have a sensitive nose and excellent hearing.

Their ears are rather large, triangular, slightly elongated, with a sharp tip. The largest ears of the Fenech (up to 15 cm in height) and the big-eared fox (up to 13 cm in height).

The vision of animals, adapted for nocturnal lifestyle, allows representatives of the genus to respond perfectly to movement, however, the structure of the fox's eye with vertical pupils is not adapted for color recognition.

In total, the fox has 42 teeth, except for the big-eared fox, which grows 48 teeth.

The density and length of the hairline of these predators depends on the season and climatic conditions. In winter and in areas with harsh weather conditions, the fox's fur becomes thick and lush; in summer, the puffiness and length of the coat decreases.

The color of the fox can be sandy, red, yellowish, brown with black or white markings. In some species, the color of the fur can be almost white or black-brown. In northern latitudes, foxes are larger and have a lighter color, in southern countries, the color of the fox is dimmer, and the size of the animal is smaller.

When chasing a victim or in case of danger, the fox is capable of speeds up to 50 km / h. During the mating season, foxes can make barking sounds.

The life span of a fox in natural conditions ranges from 3 to 10 years, however, in captivity, the fox lives up to 25 years of age.

Fox classification

In the canine family (wolf, canine), several genera are distinguished, which include different types of foxes:

• Maykongs ( Cerdocyon)
  • Maykong, Savanna Fox ( Cerdocyon thous)
• Small foxes ( Atelocynus)
  • Little fox ( Atelocynus microtis)
• Big-eared foxes ( Otocyon)
  • Big-eared fox ( Otocyon megalotis)
• South American foxes ( Lycalopex)
  • Andean fox ( Lycalopex culpaeus)
  • South American fox ( Lycalopex griseus)
  • Darwin Fox ( Lycalopex fulvipes)
  • Paraguay fox ( Lycalopex gymnocercus)
  • Brazilian fox ( Lycalopex vetulus)
  • Sekuran fox ( Lycalopex sechurae)
• Gray foxes ( Urocyon)
  • Gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
  • Island fox ( Urocyon littoralis)
• Foxes ( Vulpes)
  • Common or red fox ( Vulpes vulpes)
  • American fox ( Vulpes macrotis)
  • Afghan fox ( Vulpes cana)
  • African fox ( Vulpes pallida)
  • Bengal fox (Indian) ( Vulpes bengalensis)
  • Korsak, steppe fox ( Vulpes corsac)
  • American Corsac ( Vulpes velox)
  • Sand fox ( Vulpes rueppelli)
  • Tibetan fox ( Vulpes ferrilata)
  • Fenech ( Vulpes zerda, Fennecus zerda)
  • South African fox ( Vulpes chama)

Fox species, names and photos

Below is a brief description of several species of foxes:

• Common fox (red fox) ( Vulpes vulpes)

The largest representative of the genus of foxes. The weight of the fox reaches 10 kilograms, and the length of the body together with the tail is 150 cm. Depending on the area of ​​residence, the color of the fox may slightly differ in tone saturation, but the main color of the back and sides remains bright red, and the belly is white. Black "stockings" can be clearly traced on the legs. The characteristic feature is the white tip of the tail and dark, almost black ears.

Habitat includes all of Europe, North Africa, Asia (from India to South China), North America and Australia.

Representatives of this species of foxes gladly eat field, young roe deer, if the opportunity arises, they ravage the nests of geese and wood grouse, feed on carrion, and insect larvae. Surprisingly, the red fox is a fierce exterminator of oat crops: in the absence of a meat menu, it attacks the farmland of cereals, causing them damage.

• American fox (Vulpes macrotis )

Medium-sized predatory mammal. The body length of a fox varies from 37 cm to 50 cm, the tail reaches 32 cm in length, the weight of an adult fox ranges from 1.9 kg (for a female) - 2.2 kg (for a male). The back of the animal is painted in yellowish-gray or whitish tones, and the sides are yellowish-brown. Distinctive features of this type of fox are a white belly and a black tip of the tail. The lateral surface of the muzzle and sensitive whiskers are dark brown or black. The length of the hairs of the fur cover does not exceed 50 mm.

The fox lives in the southwestern deserts of the United States and north of Mexico, feeding on hares and rodents (kangaroo jumpers).

• Afghan fox (Bukhara, Baluchistan fox)(Vulpes cana )

A small animal belonging to the Canidae family. The length of the fox does not exceed 0.5 meters. The length of the tail is 33-41 cm. The weight of the fox ranges from 1.5-3 kilograms. The Bukhara fox differs from other species of foxes in rather large ears, the height of which reaches 9 cm, and dark stripes extending from the upper lip to the corners of the eyes. In winter, the color of the fox's coat on the back and sides acquires a rich brownish-gray color with individual black guard hairs. In summer, its intensity decreases, and the whitish color of the throat, breast and abdomen remains unchanged. The Afghan fox lacks hair on the surface of the paw pads, which protects other desert foxes from the hot sand.

The main habitat of the fox is the east of Iran, the territory of Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent. Less common in Egypt, Turkmenistan, UAE, Pakistan. The Afghan fox is an omnivorous animal. Absorbs mice with appetite and does not refuse a vegetarian menu.

• African fox(Vulpes pallida)

It has an external resemblance to the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes), however, has a more modest size. The total length of the fox's body, including the tail, does not exceed 70-75 cm, and the weight rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg. Unlike the common fox, its African relative has longer legs and ears. The coloration of the back, legs and tail with a black tip is red with a brown tint, and the muzzle and abdomen are white. A black rim is clearly visible around the eyes of adults, and a strip of dark-colored fur runs along the ridge.

The African fox lives in African countries - it can often be seen in Senegal, Sudan and Somalia. The fox's food consists of both animals (small rodents) and plant components.

• Bengal fox (Indian fox)(Vulpes bengalensis )

This type of fox is medium in size. The height of adults at the withers does not exceed 28-30 cm, the weight of the fox ranges from 1.8 to 3.2 kg, and the maximum body length reaches 60 cm.The length of the tail of a fox with a black tip rarely reaches 28 cm. The hair that forms the hairline short and sleek. It is painted in various shades of sandy brown or reddish brown.

The animal lives in the foothills of the Himalayas, feels great in India and in Bangladesh and Nepal. In the Indian fox's menu, there is always a place for sweet fruits, but preference is given to lizards, bird eggs, mice, insects.

• Korsak, steppe fox(Vulpes corsac )

It has a distant resemblance to the common fox, however, unlike it, representatives of this species of foxes have a shorter, pointed muzzle, large wide ears and longer legs. The body length of an adult corsac is 0.5-0.6 m, and the weight of a fox ranges from 4 to 6 kg. The coloration of the back, sides and tail of the fox is gray, sometimes with a red or red tint, and the color of the belly is yellowish or white. A characteristic feature of this species is the light coloration of the chin and lower lip, as well as the dark brown or black color of the tip of the tail.

The steppe fox lives in many countries: from the southeast of Europe to Asia, including Iran, the territory of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. It is often found in the Caucasus and the Urals, lives on the Don and in the lower Volga region.

Steppe foxes feed on rodents (voles, jerboas, mice), ravage nests, hunt for bird eggs, and sometimes attack hares. There is practically no plant food in the diet of the steppe fox.

• American corsac, pygmy nimble fox, prairie fox(Vulpes velox )

A small fox with a body length of 37 to 53 cm and a mass of 2 to 3 kg. The height of the animal at the withers rarely reaches 0.3 m, and the length of the tail is 35 cm. The characteristic light gray color of the thick short fox fur on the sides and back in summer acquires a pronounced reddish tint with red-ocher tan marks. The fox's throat and abdomen are lighter in color. Also a specific feature of the American Corsac are the black markings on either side of the sensitive nose and the dark tip of the tail.

The dwarf fox lives in areas of plains and semi-deserts and has practically no territorial reference.

The fox feeds on mice, loves to feast on locusts and will not refuse carrion remaining from the prey of more seasoned predators.

• Sand fox(Vulpes rueppelli )

The animal has characteristically large, wide ears and paws, the pads of which are protected from the hot sand by a thick fur cover. Unlike most relatives, representatives of this species of foxes have well developed not only hearing and smell, but also vision. The pale brown color of the back, tail and sides with individual white guard hairs serves as a good camouflage color for the fox in conditions of sand and stone placers in habitats. The weight of adult animals rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg, and the length of the body of the fox, including the tail, does not exceed 85-90 cm.

The sand fox lives in a desert area. Numerous populations are found in the sands of the Sahara Desert - from Morocco and sultry Egypt to Somalia and Tunisia.

The sand fox does not feed very diversely, which is associated with the habitat. The fox's food includes lizards, jerboas and mice, and which the animal is absolutely not afraid of and deftly absorbs.

• Tibetan fox(Vulpes ferrilata )

The animal grows to a size of 60-70 cm and weighs about 5 kg. Rusty brown or fiery red coloration of the back, gradually turning into light gray sides and white belly, gives the impression of stripes running along the body of the fox. The fox's fur is dense and longer than that of other species.

The fox lives on the territory of the Tibetan plateau, less often found in northern India, Nepal, in some provinces of China.

The food of the Tibetan fox is varied, but its basis is pikas (senostavki), although the fox is happy to catch mice and hares, does not disdain birds and their eggs, eats lizards and sweet berries.

• Fenech ( Vulpes zerda)

This is the smallest fox in the world. The height of adult animals at the withers is only 18-22 cm with a body length of about 40 cm and a weight of up to 1.5 kg. The fennec fox is the owner of the largest ears among the representatives of the genus. The length of the ears reaches 15 cm. The surface of the pads on the fox's paws is pubescent, which makes it possible for the animal to calmly move along the hot sand. The belly of the animal is colored white, and the back and sides in various shades of red or fawn. The tip of the bushy tail of the fox is black. Unlike other relatives that make sounds when necessary, foxes of this species often communicate with each other using barking, growling, and howling sounds.

Fenecs live mainly in the central Sahara, but this fox can often be seen in Morocco, on the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, near Lake Chad and in Sudan.

Fennec fox is an omnivorous fox: it preys on rodents and small birds, eats locusts and lizards, does not give up the roots of plants and their sweet fruits.

• South African fox ( Vulpes chama)

Quite a large animal weighing from 3.5 to 5 kg and body length from 45 to 60 cm. The length of the tail is 30-40 cm. The color of the fox varies from gray with a silvery tint to almost black on the back and gray with a yellowish tinge on the belly.

The fox lives exclusively in the countries of South Africa, especially large populations are found in Angola and Zimbabwe.

An omnivorous species: small rodents, lizards, low-nesting birds and their eggs, carrion and even food waste, which the animal searches for when entering private yards or dumps, are eaten.

• Maykong, savanna fox, crabeater fox ( Cerdocyon thous)

The species has a body length of 60 to 70 cm, the tail of the fox reaches 30 cm, the fox weighs 5-8 kg. The height of the Maikong at the withers is 50 cm. The color is brown-gray with brown spots on the muzzle and paws. The color of the throat and belly can be gray, white, or various shades of yellow. The tips of the fox's ears and tail are black. The legs of the Maikong are short and strong, the tail is fluffy and long. The weight of an adult Maikong reaches 4.5-7.7 kg. The body is approximately 64.3 cm long, the tail is 28.5 cm long.

• Big-eared fox ( Otocyon megalotis)

The animal has disproportionately large ears, reaching 13 cm in height. The body length of the fox reaches 45-65 cm, the length of the tail is 25-35 cm. The weight of the fox varies between 3-5.3 kg. The hind legs of the animal have 4 toes, the front ones have five toes. The color of the animal is usually gray-yellow with brown, gray or yellow spots. The abdomen and throat of the fox are lighter in color. The tips of the paws and ears are dark, there is a black stripe on the tail, the same stripe is on the fox's face. This type of fox differs from other species by the presence of 48 teeth (the rest of the genus have only 42 teeth).

The fox lives in southern and eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, South Africa.

The fox's main food is termites, beetles and locusts. Sometimes the animal feeds on bird eggs, lizards, small rodents, plant food.

The distribution area of ​​foxes includes all of Europe, the African continent, North America, Australia and a significant part of Asia. The fox lives in the forests and groves of Italy and Portugal, Spain and France, in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Russia and Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria, the desert and mountainous regions of Egypt and Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, Mexico and the United States of America. Foxes feel at ease in the fertile climate of India, Pakistan and China, as well as in the harsh conditions of the Arctic and Alaska.

Under natural conditions, foxes live in ravines and gullies overgrown with vegetation, forests or plantings interspersed with fields, in desert and high-mountain areas. Burrows of other animals or dug ones are often used as a shelter. Burrows can be either simple or with a complex system of passages and emergency exits. Foxes can hide in caves, rock crevices, and tree hollows. They easily endure an overnight stay in the open air. The animal easily adapts to life in cultivated landscapes. Populations of foxes were observed even in park areas of large cities.

Almost all members of the family lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, but foxes often go hunting in the daytime.