56-504: All other species in Canini Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae . They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout ; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species belong to the monophyletic "true fox" group of genus Vulpes . Another 25 current or extinct species are sometimes called foxes – they are part of
112-461: A bushy tail. They are digitigrade (meaning they walk on their toes). Unlike most members of the family Canidae, foxes have partially retractable claws . Fox vibrissae, or whiskers , are black. The whiskers on the muzzle, known as mystacial vibrissae, average 100–110 millimetres ( 3 + 7 ⁄ 8 – 4 + 3 ⁄ 8 inches) long, while the whiskers everywhere else on the head average to be shorter in length. Whiskers (carpal vibrissae) are also on
168-401: A fox. Canini (tribe) Canini is a taxonomic rank which represents the dog-like tribe of the subfamily Caninae (the canines), and is sister to the fox-like tribe Vulpini . The Canini came into existence 9 million years ago. This group was first represented by Eucyon , mostly by Eucyon davisi that was spread widely across North America and is basal to the other members of
224-412: A more progressive form in the direction of carnivory . Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, the species often produces individuals with other colourings, including leucistic and melanistic individuals. Forty-five subspecies are currently recognised, which are divided into two categories:
280-413: A particular pouncing technique, such that they crouch down to camouflage themselves in the terrain and then use their hind legs to leap up with great force and land on top of their chosen prey. Using their pronounced canine teeth, they can then grip the prey's neck and shake it until it is dead or can be readily disemboweled. The gray fox is one of only two canine species known to regularly climb trees;
336-449: A pest and furbearer for many centuries, as well as being represented in human folklore and mythology. Because of its widespread distribution and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade . Too small to pose a threat to humans, it has extensively benefited from the presence of human habitation, and has successfully colonised many suburban and urban areas . Domestication of
392-457: A woman in Clapham, London was bitten on the arm by a fox after she had left the door to her flat open. The fox appears in many cultures, usually in folklore . There are slight variations in their depictions. In European, Persian, East Asian, and Native American folklore, foxes are symbols of cunning and trickery —a reputation derived especially from their reputed ability to evade hunters. This
448-643: Is Eurasian in origin, and may have evolved from either Vulpes alopecoides or the related Chinese V. chikushanensis , both of which lived during the Middle Villafranchian of the Pleistocene Epoch . The earliest fossil specimens of V. vulpes were uncovered in Baranya County , Hungary , dating from 3.4 to 1.8 million years ago. The ancestral red fox was likely more diminutive compared to today's extant foxes, as
504-572: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Red fox The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora , being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America , Europe and Asia , plus parts of North Africa . It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List . Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia , where it
560-413: Is also eaten sometimes. Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as wolves , coyotes , golden jackals , large predatory birds such as golden eagles and Eurasian eagle owls , and medium- and large-sized felids . The species has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as
616-572: Is characteristic of a carnivore . These pairs consist of the upper premolar and the lower first molar, and work together to shear tough material like flesh. Foxes' canines are pronounced, also characteristic of a carnivore, and are excellent in gripping prey. In the wild, the typical lifespan of a fox is one to three years, although individuals may live up to ten years. Unlike many canids, foxes are not always pack animals. Typically, they live in small family groups, but some (such as Arctic foxes ) are known to be solitary. Foxes are omnivores . Their diet
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#1732757813213672-528: Is considered harmful to native small and medium-sized rodents and marsupials . Due to its impact on native species, it is included on the list of the " world's 100 worst invasive species ". The red fox originated in Eurasia during the Middle Pleistocene at least 400,000 years ago and later colonised North America sometime prior to 130,000 years ago. Among the true foxes, the red fox represents
728-508: Is considered to be a more specialised form of Vulpes than the Afghan , corsac and Bengal fox species, in regards to their overall size and adaptation to carnivory ; the skull displays far fewer neotenous traits than in other foxes, and its facial area is more developed. It is, however, not as adapted for a purely carnivorous diet as the Tibetan fox . The sister lineage to the red fox
784-408: Is known; British red foxes have crossbred extensively with red foxes imported from Germany, France, Belgium, Sardinia and possibly Siberia and Scandinavia. However, genetic studies suggest very little differences between red foxes sampled across Europe. Lack of genetic diversity is consistent with the red fox being a highly agile species, with one red fox covering 320 km (200 mi) in under
840-612: Is limited to the forests that extend from the southernmost to the northwesternmost part of the island. Though the Nahuelbuta National Park is protected, 90% of the species live on Chiloé Island. A major issue the species faces is their dwindling, limited habitat due to the cutting and burning of the unprotected forests. Because of deforestation, the Darwin's fox habitat is shrinking, allowing for their competitor's ( chilla fox ) preferred habitat of open space, to increase;
896-464: Is made up primarily of invertebrates such as insects and small vertebrates such as reptiles and birds. They may also eat eggs and vegetation. Many species are generalist predators, but some (such as the crab-eating fox ) have more specialized diets. Most species of fox consume around 1 kg (2.2 lb) of food every day. Foxes cache excess food, burying it for later consumption, usually under leaves, snow, or soil. While hunting, foxes tend to use
952-546: Is often pressure to exclude them from these environments. The San Joaquin kit fox is a highly endangered species that has, ironically, become adapted to urban living in the San Joaquin Valley and Salinas Valley of southern California. Its diet includes mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, hares, bird eggs, and insects, and it has claimed habitats in open areas, golf courses, drainage basins, and school grounds. Though rare, bites by foxes have been reported; in 2018,
1008-507: Is simply called "the fox" in colloquial British English. The word "fox" comes from Old English , which derived from Proto-Germanic * fuhsaz . Compare with West Frisian foks , Dutch vos , and German Fuchs . This, in turn, derives from Proto-Indo-European * puḱ- 'thick-haired; tail'. Compare to the Hindi pū̃ch 'tail', Tocharian B päkā 'tail; chowrie', and Lithuanian pūkas 'fur / fluff'. The bushy tail also forms
1064-690: Is the Russian silver fox , which resulted in visible and behavioral changes, and is a case study of an animal population modeling according to human domestication needs. The current group of domesticated silver foxes are the result of nearly fifty years of experiments in the Soviet Union and Russia to de novo domesticate the silver morph of the red fox. This selective breeding resulted in physical and behavioral traits appearing that are frequently seen in domestic cats, dogs, and other animals, such as pigmentation changes, floppy ears, and curly tails. Notably,
1120-497: Is the Rüppell's fox , but the two species are surprisingly closely related through mitochondrial DNA markers, with Rüppell's fox nested inside the lineages of red foxes. Such a nesting of one species within another is called paraphyly . Several hypotheses have been suggested to explain this, including (1) recent divergence of Rüppell's fox from a red fox lineage, (2) incomplete lineage sorting , or introgression of mtDNA between
1176-414: Is usually represented as a character possessing these traits. These traits are used on a wide variety of characters, either making them a nuisance to the story, a misunderstood hero, or a devious villain. In East Asian folklore, foxes are depicted as familiar spirits possessing magic powers. Similar to in the folklore of other regions, foxes are portrayed as mischievous, usually tricking other people, with
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#17327578132131232-506: The IUCN have since downgraded the conservation status from crictically endangered in their 2004 and 2008 assessments to endangered in the 2016 assessment, following findings of a wider distribution than previously reported. On the Chilean mainland, the population is limited to Nahuelbuta National Park and the surrounding Valdivian rainforest . Similarly on Chiloé Island , their population
1288-755: The Sacramento Valley red fox ( V. v. patwin ) only in a narrow hybrid zone. In addition, no evidence is seen of interbreeding of eastern American red foxes in California with the montane Sierra Nevada red fox ( V. v. necator ) or other populations in the Intermountain West (between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west). The 3rd edition of Mammal Species of
1344-469: The San Joaquin Valley , Monterey and north-coastal San Francisco Bay Area (including urban San Francisco and adjacent cities). In spite of the red fox's adaptability to city life, they are still found in somewhat greater numbers in the northern portions of California (north of the Bay Area) than in the south, as the wilderness is more alpine and isolated. The eastern red foxes appear to have mixed with
1400-600: The ova are shed during estrus without the need for the stimulation of copulating. Once the egg is fertilized, the vixen enters a period of gestation that can last from 52 to 53 days. Foxes tend to have an average litter size of four to five with an 80 percent success rate in becoming pregnant. Litter sizes can vary greatly according to species and environment – the Arctic fox , for example, can have up to eleven kits. The vixen usually has six or eight mammae . Each teat has 8 to 20 lactiferous ducts , which connect
1456-561: The paraphyletic group of the South American foxes or an outlying group, which consists of the bat-eared fox , gray fox , and island fox . Foxes live on every continent except Antarctica. The most common and widespread species of fox is the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) with about 47 recognized subspecies . The global distribution of foxes, together with their widespread reputation for cunning, has contributed to their prominence in popular culture and folklore in many societies around
1512-595: The California Channel Islands, it was found that the population of the island fox was so low due to an outbreak of canine distemper virus from 1999 to 2000 as well as predation by non-native golden eagles . Since 1993, the eagles have caused the population to decline by as much as 95%. Because of the low number of foxes, the population went through an Allee effect (an effect in which, at low enough densities, an individual's fitness decreases). Conservationists had to take healthy breeding pairs out of
1568-512: The Darwin's fox, subsequently, is being outcompeted. Another problem they face is their inability to fight off diseases transmitted by the increasing number of pet dogs. To conserve these animals, researchers suggest the need for the forests that link the Nahuelbuta National Park to the coast of Chile and in turn Chiloé Island and its forests, to be protected. They also suggest that other forests around Chile be examined to determine whether Darwin's foxes have previously existed there or can live there in
1624-644: The North American continent in two waves: before and during the Illinoian glaciation , and during the Wisconsinan glaciation . Gene mapping demonstrates that red foxes in North America have been isolated from their Old World counterparts for over 400,000 years, thus raising the possibility that speciation has occurred, and that the previous binomial name of Vulpes fulva may be valid. In
1680-685: The World listed 45 subspecies as valid. In 2010, a distinct 46th subspecies, the Sacramento Valley red fox ( V. v. patwin ), which inhabits the grasslands of the Sacramento Valley, was identified through mitochondrial haplotype studies. Castello (2018) recognized 30 subspecies of the Old World red fox and nine subspecies of the North American red fox as valid. Substantial gene pool mixing between different subspecies
1736-457: The ability to disguise as an attractive female human . Others depict them as mystical, sacred creatures who can bring wonder or ruin. Nine-tailed foxes appear in Chinese folklore, literature, and mythology, in which, depending on the tale, they can be a good or a bad omen. The motif was eventually introduced from Chinese to Japanese and Korean cultures. The constellation Vulpecula represents
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1792-506: The basis for the fox's Welsh name, llwynog , literally 'bushy', from llwyn 'bush'. Likewise, Portuguese : raposa from rabo 'tail', Lithuanian uodẽgis from uodegà 'tail', and Ojibwe waagosh from waa , which refers to the up and down "bounce" or flickering of an animal or its tail. The scientific term vulpes derives from the Latin word for fox, and gives the adjectives vulpine and vulpecular . The red fox
1848-504: The change in seasons; fox pelts are richer and denser in the colder months and lighter in the warmer months. To get rid of the dense winter coat, foxes moult once a year around April; the process begins from the feet, up the legs, and then along the back. Coat color may also change as the individual ages. A fox's dentition , like all other canids, is I 3/3, C 1/1, PM 4/4, M 3/2 = 42. (Bat-eared foxes have six extra molars, totalling in 48 teeth.) Foxes have pronounced carnassial pairs, which
1904-401: The desert, such as kit foxes ), for example, have large ears and short fur to aid in keeping the body cool. Arctic foxes , on the other hand, have tiny ears and short limbs as well as thick, insulating fur, which aid in keeping the body warm. Red foxes , by contrast, have a typical auburn pelt , the tail normally ending with a white marking . A fox's coat color and texture may vary due to
1960-477: The earliest red fox fossils have shown a smaller build than living specimens. The earliest fossil remains of the modern species date back to the mid-Pleistocene, found in association with middens and refuse left by early human settlements. This has led to the theory that the red fox was hunted by primitive humans (as both a source of food and pelts); the possibility also exists of red foxes scavenging from middens or butchered animal carcasses. Red foxes colonised
2016-482: The early 19th century for sport, and have since become widespread through much of the country. They have caused population decline among many native species and prey on livestock, especially new lambs. Fox hunting is practiced as recreation in several other countries including Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, United States and Australia. There are many records of domesticated red foxes and others, but rarely of sustained domestication. A recent and notable exception
2072-459: The family Canidae such as wolves and jackals , while they may be larger than some within the family, such as raccoon dogs . In the largest species, the red fox , males weigh between 4.1 and 8.7 kg (9.0 and 19.2 lb), while the smallest species, the fennec fox , weighs just 0.7 to 1.6 kg ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 lb). Fox features typically include a triangular face, pointed ears, an elongated rostrum , and
2128-598: The far north, red fox fossils have been found in Sangamonian Stage deposits near the Fairbanks District, Alaska , and Medicine Hat , Alberta . Fossils dating from the Wisconsinan are present in 25 sites across Arkansas , California , Colorado , Idaho , Missouri , New Mexico , Ohio , Tennessee , Texas , Virginia , and Wyoming . Although they ranged far south during the Wisconsinan,
2184-519: The first nonlinear oscillation studied and led to the derivation of the Lotka–Volterra equation . Fox meat is edible, though it is not considered a common cuisine in any country. Fox hunting originated in the United Kingdom in the 16th century. Hunting with dogs is now banned in the United Kingdom, though hunting without dogs is still permitted. Red foxes were introduced into Australia in
2240-416: The forelimbs and average 40 mm ( 1 + 5 ⁄ 8 in) long, pointing downward and backward. Other physical characteristics vary according to habitat and adaptive significance. Fox species differ in fur color, length, and density. Coat colors range from pearly white to black-and-white to black flecked with white or grey on the underside. Fennec foxes (and other species of fox adapted to life in
2296-561: The fruit intact. The island fox , though considered a near-threatened species throughout the world, is becoming increasingly endangered in its endemic environment of the California Channel Islands . A population on an island is smaller than those on the mainland because of limited resources like space, food and shelter. Island populations are therefore highly susceptible to external threats ranging from introduced predatory species and humans to extreme weather . On
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2352-1189: The future, should the need to reintroduce the species to those areas arise. And finally, the researchers advise for the creation of a captive breeding program, in Chile, because of the limited number of mature individuals in the wild. Foxes are often considered pests or nuisance creatures for their opportunistic attacks on poultry and other small livestock. Fox attacks on humans are not common. Many foxes adapt well to human environments, with several species classified as "resident urban carnivores" for their ability to sustain populations entirely within urban boundaries. Foxes in urban areas can live longer and can have smaller litter sizes than foxes in non-urban areas. Urban foxes are ubiquitous in Europe, where they show altered behaviors compared to non-urban foxes, including increased population density, smaller territory, and pack foraging. Foxes have been introduced in numerous locations, with varying effects on indigenous flora and fauna. In some countries, foxes are major predators of rabbits and hens. Population oscillations of these two species were
2408-2624: The lack of lateral flare of the orbital border of the zygoma . Members of this tribe include: ( Merriam , 1918) Common names of most of the South American canines include "fox", based on resemblance, but they are more closely related to wolves than to vulpini , the Eurasian and North American foxes. The cladogram below is based on the phylogeny of Lindblad-Toh et al . (2005), modified to incorporate recent findings on Canis species, Lycalopex species, and Dusicyon . Canis latrans (coyote) [REDACTED] Canis rufus (red wolf) [REDACTED] Canis lycaon (algonquin wolf) [REDACTED] Canis lupus (gray wolf) [REDACTED] Canis familiaris (domestic dog) [REDACTED] Canis anthus (African wolf) [REDACTED] Canis simensis (Ethiopian wolf) [REDACTED] Canis aureus (golden jackal) [REDACTED] Cuon alpinus (dhole) [REDACTED] Lycaon pictus [REDACTED] (African wild dog) Lupulella adusta [REDACTED] ( side-striped jackal ) Lupulella mesomelas [REDACTED] ( black-backed jackal ) Speothos venaticus (bush dog) [REDACTED] Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf) [REDACTED] † Dusicyon australis (Falkland Islands wolf) Lycalopex vetulus (hoary fox) [REDACTED] Lycalopex sechurae (Sechuran fox or Peruvian desert fox) Lycalopex fulvipes (Darwin's fox) Lycalopex gymnocercus [REDACTED] (pampas fox) Lycalopex griseus (South American gray fox or chilla) Lycalopex culpaeus [REDACTED] (culpeo or Andean fox) Cerdocyon thous [REDACTED] (crab-eating fox) Atelocynus microtis [REDACTED] (short-eared dog) Otocyon megalotis (bat-eared fox) [REDACTED] Nyctereutes (raccoon dogs) [REDACTED] Vulpes zerda (fennec fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes cana (Blanford's fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes chama (Cape fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes vulpes (red fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes rueppellii (Ruppell's fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes corsac (corsac fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes ferrilata (Tibetan sand fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes macrotis (kit fox) [REDACTED] Vulpes lagopus (Arctic fox) [REDACTED] Urocyon littoralis ( island fox ) [REDACTED] Urocyon cinereoargenteus ( gray fox ) [REDACTED] This dog-related article
2464-551: The large northern foxes and the small, basal southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa. Red foxes are usually found in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a mated pair and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target rabbits , squirrels , game birds , reptiles , invertebrates and young ungulates . Fruit and vegetable matter
2520-676: The larger subspecies V. v. alascensis , V. v. abietorum , V. v. regalis , and V. v. rubricosa . The southern (or montane) refugium occurs in the subalpine parklands and alpine meadows of the west, from the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada ranges, consisting of the smaller subspecies V. v. cascadensis , V. v. macroura , V. v. necator , and V. v. patwin . The latter clade has been separated from all other red fox populations since at least
2576-524: The last glacial maximum, and may possess unique ecological or physiological adaptations. Although European foxes ( V. v. crucigera ) were introduced to portions of the United States in the 1900s, recent genetic investigation indicates an absence of European fox mitochondrial haplotypes in any North American populations. Additionally, introduced eastern North American red foxes have colonised most of inland California, from Southern California to
2632-605: The last term is not to be confused with the kit fox , a distinct species. "Vixen" is one of very few modern English words that retain the Middle English southern dialectal "v" pronunciation instead of "f"; i.e., northern English "fox" versus southern English "vox". A group of foxes is referred to as a skulk , leash , or earth . Within the Canidae, the results of DNA analysis shows several phylogenetic divisions: Foxes are generally smaller than some other members of
2688-795: The mammary gland to the nipple, allowing for milk to be carried to the nipple. The fox's vocal repertoire is vast, and includes: In the case of domesticated foxes, the whining seems to remain in adult individuals as a sign of excitement and submission in the presence of their owners. Canids commonly known as foxes include the following genera and species: Several fox species are endangered in their native environments. Pressures placed on foxes include habitat loss and being hunted for pelts, other trade, or control. Due in part to their opportunistic hunting style and industriousness, foxes are commonly resented as nuisance animals. Contrastingly, foxes, while often considered pests themselves, have been successfully employed to control pests on fruit farms while leaving
2744-594: The new foxes became more tame, allowing themselves to be petted, whimpering to get attention and sniffing and licking their caretakers. Foxes are among the comparatively few mammals which have been able to adapt themselves to a certain degree to living in urban (mostly suburban) human environments. Their omnivorous diet allows them to survive on discarded food waste , and their skittish and often nocturnal nature means that they are often able to avoid detection, despite their larger size. Urban foxes have been identified as threats to cats and small dogs, and for this reason there
2800-464: The onset of warm conditions shrank their range toward the north, and they have only recently reclaimed their former North American ranges because of human-induced environmental changes. Genetic testing indicates that two distinct red fox refugia exist in North America, which have been separated since the Wisconsinan. The northern (or boreal) refugium occurs in Alaska and western Canada, and consists of
2856-637: The other is the raccoon dog . The male fox's scrotum is held up close to the body with the testes inside even after they descend. Like other canines, the male fox has a baculum , or penile bone. The testes of red foxes are smaller than those of Arctic foxes. Sperm formation in red foxes begins in August–September, with the testicles attaining their greatest weight in December–February. Vixens are in heat for one to six days, making their reproductive cycle twelve months long. As with other canines,
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#17327578132132912-451: The red fox is also underway in Russia , and has resulted in the domesticated silver fox . Males are called tods or dogs, females are called vixens, and young are known as cubs or kits. Although the Arctic fox has a small native population in northern Scandinavia, and while the corsac fox 's range extends into European Russia , the red fox is the only fox native to Western Europe, and so
2968-453: The tribe. Its members are informally known as true dogs . The critical features that mark the Canini as a monophyletic group include the consistent enlargement of the frontal sinus , often accompanied by the correlated loss of the depression in the dorsal surface of the postorbital process ; the posterior expansion of the paroccipital process; the enlargement of the mastoid process ; and
3024-534: The two species. Based on fossil record evidence, the last scenario seems most likely, which is further supported by the clear ecological and morphological differences between the two species. Arctic fox [REDACTED] Kit fox [REDACTED] Corsac fox [REDACTED] Rüppell's fox [REDACTED] Red fox [REDACTED] Cape fox [REDACTED] Blanford's fox [REDACTED] Fennec fox [REDACTED] Raccoon dog [REDACTED] Bat-eared fox [REDACTED] The species
3080-473: The wild population to breed them in captivity until they had enough foxes to release back into the wild. Nonnative grazers were also removed so that native plants would be able to grow back to their natural height, thereby providing adequate cover and protection for the foxes against golden eagles. Darwin's fox was considered critically endangered because of their small known population of 250 mature individuals as well as their restricted distribution. However,
3136-610: The world. The hunting of foxes with packs of hounds, long an established pursuit in Europe, especially in the British Isles , was exported by European settlers to various parts of the New World . The word fox comes from Old English and derives from Proto-Germanic * fuhsaz . This in turn derives from Proto-Indo-European * puḱ- "thick-haired, tail." Male foxes are known as dogs , tods , or reynards ; females as vixens ; and young as cubs , pups , or kits , though
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