The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a small canid Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes the wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and the domestic dog; a member of this family is called a canid (/ˈkeɪnɨd/). The Canidae family is divided into the "wolf-like" and "dog-like" animals of the tribe Canini and the "foxes" of the native to much of North America North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast and Eurasia Eurasia is a large landmass covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface (36.2% of the land area). Often considered a single continent, Eurasia comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia (with Eurasia being a portmanteau of the two), concepts which date back to classical antiquity and the borders for which are, as well as northern Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With a billion people (as of 2009, see table) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.72% of the world's human population. It is the most recognizable species of fox Fox is a common name for many species of carnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail (or brush) and in many areas it is referred to simply as "the fox". As its name suggests, its fur is predominantly reddish-brown, but there is a naturally occurring grey morph known as the “silver” fox; a strain of domesticated silver fox has been produced from these animals by systematic domestication.

The red fox is by far the most widespread and abundant species of fox Fox is a common name for many species of carnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail (or brush), found in almost every single habitat in the Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of equator—the word hemisphere literally means 'half sphere'. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator. Earth's northern hemisphere contains most of its land area and most of its human population, from the coastal marshes In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, and other herbaceous plants of United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language, to the alpine tundras Alpine tundra is an ecozone that does not contain trees because it is at high altitude. Alpine tundra is distinguished from arctic tundra, because alpine soils are generally better drained than arctic soils. Alpine tundra transitions to subalpine forests below the tree line; stunted forests occurring at the forest-tundra ecotone are known as of Tibetan Plateau The Tibetan Plateau , also known as the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Chinese: 青藏高原; Pinyin: Qingzang Gaoyuan) is a vast, elevated plateau in Central Asia covering most of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province in China and Ladakh in India-controlled Kashmir. It occupies an area of around 1,000 by 2,500 kilometers, and has an average. It was introduced into Australia in the 19th century.[2] It is capable of co-existing with more specialized A generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources . A specialist species can only thrive in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet. Most organisms do not all fit neatly into either group, however. Some species are highly specialized, species of foxes, such as Arctic fox The Arctic Fox , also known as the White Fox, Polar Fox or Snow Fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. The Greek word alopex, (ἀλώπηξ) means a fox and Vulpes is the Latin version. Lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lago (λαγως), meaning "hare&, in the same habitat. The red fox can withstand and sometimes thrive in areas with heavy human disturbance.

The red fox is frequently featured in stories of many cultures Culture is a term that has different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:, and is often portrayed as a sly animal.

Contents

Distribution

Red fox (V. v. schrencki) lying in snow in Hokkaidō Hokkaidō (北海道?, literally "North Sea Circuit"), formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island and the largest, northernmost of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshū, although the two islands are connected by the underwater Seikan Tunnel. The, Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is

Today, the red fox has a range spanning most of North America North America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast and Eurasia Eurasia is a large landmass covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface (36.2% of the land area). Often considered a single continent, Eurasia comprises the traditional continents of Europe and Asia (with Eurasia being a portmanteau of the two), concepts which date back to classical antiquity and the borders for which are, southern Australia For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of the roughly 250 language groups. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north and discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by the British, and with several populations in North Africa North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes seven countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, and. In Australia the red fox is an introduced species An introduced, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental. Some introduced species are damaging to the ecosystem they are introduced into, others negatively affect agriculture and a conservation problem.[3] Introduction occurred about 1850, for recreational fox hunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback,[4] In North America the red fox is native in boreal regions, introduced in temperate regions.[5][6] There is a recent fossil record of Red foxes in boreal North America, and one subspecies of these native boreal foxes extends south in the Rocky Mountains.[7] In temperate North America, Red foxes are derived from European Red foxes, which were introduced into the Southeastern United States The US Southeast is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. The Census Bureau does not provide a standard definition of a "Southeast" region of the United States, and organizations that need to subdivide the US are free to define a "Southeast" region to fit their needs. However, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas are around 1650-1750[8][9] for fox hunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback,[10], and from there to California California's geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east, to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood–Douglas fir forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. California is the most for the fur trade Before the colonization of the Americas, Russia was a major supplier of fur-pelts to Western Europe and parts of Asia. Fur was a major Russian export as trade developed in the Early Middle Ages, first through the Baltic and Black Seas. With the development of railways, Russia traded through the German city of Leipzig. In 1950 it came to an abrupt. The first introduction is attributed to Robert Brooke, Sr., who is said to have imported 24 Red foxes from England.[11]. The introduced European Red fox may have interbred with the scarce indigenous population to produce a hybrid In biology and specifically genetics, hybrid has several meanings, all referring to the offspring of sexual reproduction population.[12] Three subspecies of Red fox are found in India India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with 1.18 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Mainland India is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the: Vulpes vulpes montana (the Tibetan Red fox), found in Ladakh Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Kashmir and the Himalayas The Himalaya Range (Sanskrit: literally, "abode of snow", Hindi/Sanskrit: हिमालय, IPA: /hɪˈmɑːləj/), or the Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. By extension, it is also the name of a massive mountain system that includes the Karakoram, the Hindu, Vulpes vulpes griffithi (the Kashmir Fox) found in Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir (Dogri: जम्मू और कश्मीर; Urdu: جموں اور کشمیر) is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the less the Ladakh sector, and Vulpes vulpes pusilla (the Desert Fox) found in the Thar Desert The Thar Desert , also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. With an area of more than 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq. mi.), it is the world's 9th largest subtropical desert of Rajasthan Coordinates: 26°34′22″N 73°50′20″E / 26.57268°N 73.83902°E Rājasthān , pronounced [raːdʒəsˈtʰaːn] ( listen)) is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along and in Kutch Kutch district (Gujarati: કચ્છ જિલ્લો, Sindhi: ڪڇ ضلو) is a formerly-independent district of Gujarat state in western India. Covering an area of 45,612 km², it is the largest district of India, Gujarat Gujarat (Gujarati: ગુજરાત, Hindi: गुजरात, Gujǎrāt, - [ɡudʒɾat]( listen)) is a state in India. Its capital is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad. Gujarat is home to the Gujarati speaking people of India. The state encompasses major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization such as Lothal and Dholavira. A subspecies Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, or a taxonomic unit in that rank (plural: subspecies). A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one, the Japanese Red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) migrated from India India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with 1.18 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Mainland India is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the to China and eventually to Japan.[citation needed]

Physical description

Red fox colour variations A red fox is sitting in a meadow A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . It may be cut for hay or grazed by livestock such as cattle, sheep or goats in Denmark Denmark (pronounced /ˈdɛnmɑrk/ ; Danish: Danmark, pronounced [ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊], archaic: [ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊]) is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark borders. A red fox photographed in Pont, Valsavarenche - Valle d'Aosta - Italy Italy (pronounced /ˈɪtəli/ ; Italian: Italia [iˈtaːlja]), officially the Italian Republic (Italian: Repubblica italiana), is a country located partly on the European Continent and partly on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine. A red fox in its winter coat in Evergreen, Colorado Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it was admitted to the Union as the 38th state in 1876, the centennial year of the United States Declaration of Independence. Colorado is bordered on the north by Wyoming and Nebraska, on the east by Nebraska and Kansas, on the south by Oklahoma and New Mexico, and on the west by Utah.

The largest species In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are often used, such as based on similarity of DNA or within the genus In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank (a taxon) used in the classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender", cognate with Greek: γένος – genos, "race, stock, kin" Vulpes Vulpes is a genus of the Canidae family. Its members are referred to as 'true foxes', although there are species in other genera whose common names include the word 'fox' and the largest of the true foxes, adult red foxes range in weight from 3.6 to 7.6 kg (7.9 to 17 lb) depending on region, with those living in higher latitudes being larger In zoology, Bergmann's rule is an ecogeographic rule that correlates latitude with body mass in animals. Broadly it asserts that within a species the body mass increases with latitude and colder climate, or that within closely related species that differ only in relation to size that one would expect the larger species to be found at the higher – foxes living in Canada The land occupied by Canada was inhabited for millennia by various groups of Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French expeditions explored, and later settled, along the Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1867, with the union of three and Alaska Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for $7.2 million at about two cents per acre . The land went through several administrative changes before becoming an organized territory on May 11, 1912, and the 49th state of the U.S. on January 3, 1959 tend to be larger than foxes in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland[note 7] is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, and many small islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land, which are in turn larger than those inhabiting the Southern United States The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, Down South, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive region in the southeastern and south-central United States. Because of the region's unique cultural and historic heritage, including Native Americans, early European settlements of English, Ulster Scots,.[13][14] Very large red foxes can weigh up to 14 kg (31 lb).[15] Head and body length is 46 to 90 cm (18 to 35 in), with a tail of 30 to 55 cm (12 to 22 in)[15][16] Size can be estimated from tracks. Red fox footprints are normally about 4.4 cm (1.7 in) wide and 5.7 cm (2.2 in) long. A normal Red fox's trotting stride is about 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in).[17] Sexual dimorphism is noticeable and males are typically 15% heavier than females.[18]

The red fox is most commonly a rusty red, with white underbelly, black ear tips and legs, and a bushy tail usually with a distinctive white tip. The "red" tone can vary from dark chestnut to golden, and in fact can be "agouti Agouti refers to a number of species of rodents as well as a number of genes affecting coat coloration in several different animals. Agouti fur contains a pattern of pigmentation in which individual hairs have several bands of light and dark pigment with black tips", with bands of red, brown, black and white on each individual hair. In North America, the red fox's pelt has long, soft hair, whereas the fur of European Red foxes is flatter and less silky.[19]. In the wild, two other colour phases are also seen. The first is silver or black, comprising 10% of the wild population. Approximately 30% of wild individuals have additional dark patterning, which usually manifests as bold markings on the face, with a stripe across the shoulders and down the centre of the back. The stripes form a "cross" over the shoulders, and these foxes are therefore often called cross foxes. Various phases can interbreed and offspring of different phases can occur within one litter. Farmed stock are mostly silver, but may be almost any colour including spotted or blotched with white.

As seen in this silver fox on San Juan Island, the color of the red fox varies considerably between individuals.

Fox eyes are gold to yellow and have distinctive vertical-slit pupils, similar to those of domestic cats. Their eyesight, despite having cat-like eyes, has been described by fox expert J. David Henry as "poor" and "near-sighted".[20] Their behavior, and eye-slits, combined with their extreme agility for a canid, warrants the red fox to be referred to as the "cat-like canine". Its strong legs allow it to reach speeds of approximately 72 km/h (45 mph), a great benefit to catching prey or evading predators.[20]

The red fox's prominent bushy tail is another one of its iconic features. It accounts for about one third of the body length, and is used for insulation and a soft pillow for sleeping, as well as a tool for communication. It also provides balance for large jumps and complex movements. The distinctive white tip, or "tag", is used as a field mark for distinguishing the red fox from other canids.[21]

In general, the spacing between the canine teeth is approximately 18 to 25 mm (0.7 to 1.0 in) apart. Foxes lack the facial muscles necessary to bare their teeth, unlike most other canids.[14]

During the autumn and winter, the red fox will grow more fur. This so-called "winter fur" keeps the animal warm in the colder environment. The fox sheds this fur at the onset of spring, reverting back to the short fur for the duration of the summer.

Ecology

Red fox with prey

The red fox is found in a variety of biomes, from prairies and scrubland to forest settings. It is most suited to lower latitudes but does venture considerably far north, competing directly with the Arctic Fox on the tundra. The red fox has also become a familiar sight in suburban and even urban environments both in Europe and in North America.

Dietary habits

Although classified as a carnivore, red foxes are omnivorous and are highly opportunistic. Prey can range in size from 0.5 cm insects to 150 cm red-crowned cranes. The majority of their diet consists of invertebrates, such as insects, mollusks, earthworms and crayfish. They also eat plant material, especially blackberries, apples, plums, sunflower seeds, and other fruit. Common vertebrate prey includes rodents (such as mice and voles), rabbits, birds, eggs, amphibians, small reptiles and fish.[22] Foxes have been known to kill deer fawns. In Scandinavia, predation by Red fox is the most important mortality cause for neonatal Roe deer.[23] They will scavenge carrion and other edible material they find, and in urban areas, they will scavenge on human refuse, even eating from pet food bowls left outside. Analysis of country and urban fox diets show that urban foxes have a higher proportion of scavenged food than country foxes.[24] They typically eat 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb) of food a day.

They usually hunt alone. With their acute sense of hearing, they can locate small mammals in thick grass, and they jump high in the air to pounce on the prey. They also stalk prey such as rabbits and other small mamals, keeping hidden until close enough to catch them in a short dash. Foxes tend to be extremely possessive of their food and will not share it with others. Exceptions to this rule include dog foxes feeding vixens during courtship and vixens feeding cubs.[14]

Red foxes have disproportionately small stomachs for their size and can only eat half as much food in relation to their body weight as wolves and dogs can (about 10% compared with 20%). In periods of abundance, foxes will cache excess food against starvation at other times. They typically store the food in shallow holes (5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) deep). Foxes tend to make many small caches, scattering them across their territories rather than storing their food in a single central location. This is thought to prevent the loss of the fox's entire food supply in the event that another animal finds the store.[25]

Interspecific relationships

Red fox kits in their natural habitat.

Along with the Gray Fox, the red fox is the most common species of fox in North America. The two species prefer different habitats. The red fox prefers sparsely-settled, hill areas with wooded tracts, marshes and streams. The Gray is found in brushy areas, swamplands and rugged, mountainous terrain. Where their ranges overlap, the smaller Gray Foxes tend to be the dominant species due to higher levels of aggression.[26] Red foxes tend to be dominant in areas where they co-exist with Arctic Foxes. The larger, more aggressive Red fox can dominate Arctic Foxes in direct competition for den sites and other limited resources.[27] Red foxes in the San Joaquin Valley of California compete with the smaller endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox.[28]

In areas in North America where Red fox and Coyote populations are sympatric, fox territories tend to be located outside of coyote territories. The principal cause of this separation is believed to be active avoidance of coyotes by the foxes. Interactions between the two species vary in nature, ranging from active antagonism, to indifference. The majority of aggressive encounters are initiated by coyotes, and there are few reports of Red foxes acting aggressively toward coyotes except when attacked or when their pups were approached. Foxes and coyotes have sometimes been seen feeding together.[29]

In Israel, the red fox shares its habitat with the Golden Jackal. Where their ranges meet, the two canids compete due to near identical diets. Foxes ignore jackal scents or tracks in their territories, and avoid close physical proximity with jackals themselves. Studies show that in areas where jackals became very abundant, the population of foxes decreases significantly, apparently because of competitive exclusion.[30]

Red foxes sometimes compete with Eurasian Badgers for earthworms, eggs, fruits and den sites. Badgers have been known to kill and eat fox kits. However, violence between the two animals is thought to be uncommon, and most encounters amount to little more than mutual indifference.[31] Foxes have on occasion shared dens with Eurasian Badgers.[32]

Eurasian Lynxes tend to depress fox populations in areas where the two species are sympatric. The killing of Red foxes by Eurasian Lynxes is uncommon but occurs during winter and spring, the main period when foxes establish new territories.[33] Beyond coyotes, badgers and lynxes, red foxes are known to be preyed on by golden eagles, gray wolves, cougars and bears.[15]

Behavior

Fox playing with its kit

Living as it does in a wide variety of habitats, the red fox displays a wide variety of behaviours. In Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids,[34] MacDonald and Sillero-Zubiri state that two populations of the red fox may be behaviourally as different as two species.

The red fox is primarily crepuscular with a tendency to becoming nocturnal in areas of great human interference (and artificial lighting); that is to say, it is most active at night and at twilight. It is generally a solitary hunter. If a fox catches more food than it can eat, it will bury the extra food (cache) to store it for later.

In general, each fox claims its own territory; it pairs up only in winter, foraging alone in the summer. Territories may be as large as 50 km² (19 square miles); ranges are much smaller (less than 12 km², 4.6 sq mi) in habitats with abundant food sources, however. Several dens are utilized within these territories; dens may be claimed from previous residents such as marmots, or dug anew. A larger main den is used for winter living, birthing and rearing of young; smaller dens are dispersed throughout the territory for emergency and food storage purposes. A series of tunnels often connects them with the main den. One fox may only need a square kilometre of land marked by recognition posts that are special smells that come from a scent gland located just above a fox's tail.

The scent from this gland is composed of or very closely related to the thiols and thioacetate derivatives used by skunks (most notably Mephitis mephitis) as a defensive weapon. This gives the red fox a skunklike scent detectable by humans at close proximity (about 2 to 3 meters or less) but which is not easily transferred to other animals or inanimate objects; so the concentrations secreted and/or produced by the gland must be very much less than that of the skunk. The red fox cannot spray the thiolates like the skunks and does not appear to use the secretion as a defense.

The red fox primarily forms monogamous pairs each winter, who cooperate to raise a litter of 4–6 kits (also called pups) each year. Young foxes disperse promptly on maturity (approx. 8–10 months).

Though usually monogamous, evidence for polygamy (polygyny and polyandry) exists, including males’ extraterritorial movements during breeding season (possibly searching for additional mates) and males’ home ranges overlapping two or more females’ home ranges. Such variability is thought to be linked to variation in the spatial availability of key resources such as food.[1]

The reason for this "group living" behaviour is not well understood; some researchers[who?] believe the non-breeders boost the survival rate of the litters while others[who?] believe there is no significant difference, and such arrangements are made spontaneously due to a resource surplus.

Socially, the fox communicates with body language and a variety of vocalizations. Its vocal range is quite large and its noises vary from a distinctive three-yip "lost call" to a shriek reminiscent of a human scream. It also communicates with scent, marking food and territorial boundary lines with urine and faeces.

John James Audubon noted that cross foxes tended to be shyer than their fully red counterparts. He conjectured that the reason was due to the greater commercial value its fur, thus forcing it to adopt a warier behaviour to evade hunters.[35]

Reproduction

Fox kits nursing near the den

The red fox breeding period varies widely due to its broad distribution; southern populations breed from December to January, central populations from January to February and northern populations from February to April. Females have an annual estrous period of between 1 and 6 days; ovulation is spontaneous. Although a female may mate with several males (who fight amongst each other for the right), she will eventually settle with only one. Gestations lasts between 49 and 56 days, but is most typically from 51 to 53 days.

A fox kit sitting on sand

Males will supply food to females up to and after birthing, otherwise leaving the female alone with her kits (also called cubs or pups) in a "maternity den". An average litter size is five kits, but may be as large as 13. Kits are born blind and may weigh as much as 150 grams (5.3 oz). Their eyes are open by two weeks and the kits have taken their first exploratory steps out of the den by five weeks; by ten weeks they are fully weaned.

In autumn of the same year, the young foxes will disperse and claim their own territories. The red fox reaches sexual maturity by ten months of age, and may live for 12 years in captivity but will usually only live three years in the wild.

Foxes and humans

Red fox sculpture in Japan

The red fox has both positive and negative standing with humans, often being loved or hated. This has been most visible in the United Kingdom where fox hunting with dogs was a traditional sport and an occasional localised means of culling, until this was made illegal in Scotland in August, 2002, and in England and Wales in February, 2005. The fox features in much folklore (see Reynard), usually as a wily villain, though sometimes also as the underdog who triumphs over human efforts to control or destroy it.

Like other wild animals, foxes are considered vectors of disease. The red fox helps farmers by preying on animals that damage crops but is considered to be a pest by farmers involved in poultry farming. In some places,[vague] the red fox is used as a food animal.[36]

In June 2010, an urban fox entered a family home in London and attacked twin baby girls, who were sleeping in their cots. A similar attack happened in the UK in 2002. [37][38]

Greater visibility in nature documentaries and sympathetic portrayals in fiction have improved the red fox's reputation and appeal in recent years.

In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170.

In Japan, foxes, known as kitsune, are considered as messengers of Inari, the god of farming, possibly because they prey on rodents that destroy harvests.[39]

Fur trade

Silver fox fur

The red fox is of some importance in the fur industry. The fur of a silver fox was once considered by the natives of New England to be worth over 40 beaver skins. A chieftain accepting a gift of silver fox fur was seen as an act of reconciliation.[36] Silver foxes were first commercially bred on Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1878. Red foxes are among the most commonly bred animals in fur farms, along with American Minks.[40] Today, silver fox is traditionally used for collars and cuffs, wraps and stoles, while common Red fox fur is used for trimming and for full fur garments.[19]

Livestock predation

An urban fox investigating a domestic pet in a garden in Birmingham, UK

Red foxes are generally considered to be the most serious predator of free range poultry. The safest option known in poultry protection is to keep the flock and the fox physically separated, usually with fencing. A fence needs to be at least 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high to keep out most foxes, though on some rare occasions, a determined fox might succeed in climbing over.[41] Surplus killing will often occur in enclosed spaces such as huts, with discarded feathers and headless bodies usually being the main indicators of fox predation.

Although poultry is the most commonly-taken domesticated prey, Red foxes will on some occasions kill young or small animals, particularly lambs and kids. In exceptional circumstances, they may attack sub-adult and adult sheep and goats and sometimes small calves.[17] Foxes will usually kill lambs or kids by repeatedly biting the neck and back, which is usually the result from young animals being caught while lying down. Other than with poultry, fox predation on livestock can be distinguished from dog or coyote predation by the fact that foxes rarely cause severe bone damage when feeding.[17] Red foxes also are noted for carrying small carcasses back to their dens to feed their young which may account for some poultry, lambs and kids that disappear and are never found.[17] Scientific studies in Britain found that between 0.5 % and 3 % of otherwise viable lambs may be taken by foxes, described as a small amount when compared to the mortality caused by exposure, starvation and disease.[42]

In culture

Further information: Foxes in culture "Reynard the Fox" as depicted in an 1869 children's book.

The emblematic Red fox is a frequent player in the stories of many cultures. A trickster character, the word Sly is almost invariably associated with foxes in English, and the connotation of a sneaking intelligence (or even magic powers of stealth) are seen in traditional tales of Europe, Japan, China, and North America (though in North America the Coyote usually plays this role).

In the European fable tradition, running from Aesop's Fables, to Jean de La Fontaine's Fabliaux and the Reynard tales, the fox ranges from immoral villain (as the Fox in the hen house), to sly operator (either foolish or crafty), to wise observer (as a mouthpiece for the moral in some Aesop tales) to clever underdog (exemplified by the Reynard tradition). Some historians argue that the fox came to symbolize the survival strategies of European peasantry from the Medieval period to the French Revolution. Peasants admired guile and wit needed to outmaneuver the powers of aristocracy, state and church, just as they saw the fox use these same qualities to raid their livestock under cover of darkness.[43]

Japan, hosting two subspecies of red fox, also uses foxes in much of its mythology. The Japanese believed foxes (which are called kitsune) to possess mystical powers, which advance as they age. As in Europe, the kitsune were portrayed in numerous ways, from being mischievous troublemakers to noble guardians, and even taking human form and becoming wives. The Japanese Kitsune have cultural similarities in both China, called Huli jing and Korea, called Kumiho.

Feral foxes in Australia

A feral fox in Mornington Peninsula National Park

Feral foxes in Australia pose a serious conservation problem. According to the Australian Government, the red fox was introduced to Australia for hunting in 1843 near Melbourne, but has since become widespread, and is considered responsible for the decline in a number of species of native animals in the "critical weight range". In a program known as Western Shield, Western Australia state government authorities conduct aerial and hand baiting on almost 35,000 km² (8.75 million acres) to control foxes and feral cats. The West Australian conservation department, CALM, estimates introduced predators are responsible for the extinction of ten native species in that state, while Western Shield targets the conservation of 16 others.

According to the Tasmanian government, red foxes have recently been introduced to the previously fox free island of Tasmania. An eradication program is being conducted by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water.[44] An independent member of the Tasmanian state Parliament, Ivan Dean, has claimed that the fox introductions are a hoax, a claim the Minister for Primary Industry, David Llewellyn described as a "load of rubbish".[45]

In Australia, foxes are usually controlled with baits or the animals shot with the aid of spotlighting. The eyeshine signature (from the tapetum lucidum in the eye) of foxes, and body shape and silhouette are used to identify them. Success has also been found with the reintroduction of the native "Australian Dog", the Dingo, which has been shown to control the number of wild foxes, and a consequential increase in native fauna.[46]

Subspecies

(Ordered alphabetically)[47]

  • Vulpes vulpes abietorum
  • Vulpes vulpes alascensis
  • Vulpes vulpes alpherakyi
  • Vulpes vulpes anatolica
  • Vulpes vulpes arabica
  • Vulpes vulpes atlantica
  • Vulpes vulpes bangsi
  • Vulpes vulpes barbara
  • Vulpes vulpes beringiana
  • Vulpes vulpes cascadensis
  • Vulpes vulpes caucasica
  • Vulpes vulpes crucigera
  • Vulpes vulpes daurica
  • Vulpes vulpes deletrix
  • Vulpes vulpes dolichocrania
  • Vulpes vulpes dorsalis
  • Vulpes vulpes flavescens
  • Vulpes vulpes fulvus
  • Vulpes vulpes griffithi
  • Vulpes vulpes harrimani
  • Vulpes vulpes hoole
  • Vulpes vulpes ichnusae
  • Vulpes vulpes indutus
  • Vulpes vulpes jakutensis
  • Vulpes vulpes japonica
  • Vulpes vulpes karagan
  • Vulpes vulpes kenaiensis
  • Vulpes vulpes kurdistanica
  • Vulpes vulpes macroura
  • Vulpes vulpes montana
  • Vulpes vulpes necator
  • Vulpes vulpes niloticus
  • Vulpes vulpes ochroxanta
  • Vulpes vulpes palaestina
  • Vulpes vulpes peculiosa
  • Vulpes vulpes pusilla
  • Vulpes vulpes regalis
  • Vulpes vulpes rubricosa
  • Vulpes vulpes schrencki
  • Vulpes vulpes silacea
  • Vulpes vulpes splendidissima
  • Vulpes vulpes stepensis
  • Vulpes vulpes tobolica
  • Vulpes vulpes tschiliensis
  • Vulpes vulpes vulpes

References

  1. ^ a b Macdonald, D.W. & Reynolds, J.C. (2008). Vulpes vulpes. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 2006-08-09. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
  2. ^ "Vulpes vulpes". Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Vulpes_vulpes.html. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  3. ^ "European red fox (Vulpes vulpes)". Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources. 2004. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/fox/. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  4. ^ Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
  5. ^ World Conservation Union (IUCN) Invasive Species Specialist Group Global Invasive Species Database, accessed 2008-02-19.
  6. ^ Kamler, Jan F. ; Ballard, Warren B. 2002. A review of native and nonnative red foxes in North America. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30(2): 370-379.
  7. ^ Crabtree, Bob (April-May 1998). "On the trail of a gray ghost - studying mountain gray foxes". National Wildlife Federation. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1169/is_n3_v36/ai_20616959/pg_1. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  8. ^ Presnall, C.C. (1958). "The Present Status of Exotic Mammals in the United States". The Journal of Wildlife Management, 22(1). pp. 45–50. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-541X(195801)22%3A1%3C45%3ATPSOEM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Z.
  9. ^ Churcher, C.S. (1959). "The Specific Status of the New World Red fox". Journal of Mammalogy, 40(4). pp. 513–520. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-2372(195911)40%3A4%3C513%3ATSSOTN%3E2.0.CO%3B2-V. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  10. ^ Lioncrusher's Domain -- Carnivora Species Information
  11. ^ "Fox Hunting and the ban - Ten things you didn't know". Icons. 2006. http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/fox-hunting-and-the-ban/features/ten-things/. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  12. ^ "Index of Species Information: Vulpes vulpes". Fire Effects Information System. United States Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/vuvu/all.html. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  13. ^ Cavallini, Paulo, Variation in the body size of the red fox, Ann Zool Fennici 32:421-427 Helsinki 8 December 1995. ISSN 0003-455X Online
  14. ^ a b c Macdonald, David (1987). Running with the Fox. Unwin Hyman. pp. p224. ISBN 0-044-40199-X.
  15. ^ a b c http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Vulpes_vulpes.html
  16. ^ "Red fox profile". National Geographic. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/red-fox.html. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  17. ^ a b c d "Fox Predation — Description". Procedures for Evaluating Predation on Livestock and Wildlife. Texas Natural Resource Server. http://texnat.tamu.edu/ranchref/predator/foxes/t-foxes.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  18. ^ "Liska'sEncycVulpedia: Red Fox". http://mynarskiforest.purrsia.com/ev3rdesc.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  19. ^ a b "Facts on fur types". International Fur Trade Federation. http://www.iftf.com/iftf_2_4_2.php. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  20. ^ a b Henry, J. David (1993). How to Spot a Fox. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 1881527174.
  21. ^ "Liska'sEncycVulpedia: Red Fox — Description".
  22. ^ "Diet". Derbyshire Fox Rescue. http://www.derbyfoxes.org/diet.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  23. ^ Jarnemo, Anders (July 2004). "Predation processes: behavioural interactions between Red fox and roe deer during the fawning season". Journal of Ethology 22 (2): 167–173. doi:10.1007/s10164-004-0118-2. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w0fgbae2rpqvvtn5.
  24. ^ "Fox food". Wild about Leicester. http://www.wildaboutleicester.co.uk/?p=foxfood. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
  25. ^ "Cacheing". Derbyshire Fox Rescue. http://www.derbyfoxes.org/cacheing.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  26. ^ "Wildlife notes: Foxes". Pennsylvania Game commission. http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=458&q=150377. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  27. ^ Rudzinski, D. R.; H. B. Graves, A. B. Sargeant, G. L. Storm (October 1982). "Behavioral Interactions of Penned Red and Arctic Foxes". Journal of Wildlife Management (Allen Press) 46 (4): 877–884. doi:10.2307/3808220. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-541X(198210)46:4%3c877:BIOPRA%3e2.0.CO;2-E.
  28. ^ "Competitive interactions between endangered kit foxes and non-native red foxes". Western North American Naturalist 65 (2): 153–163. April 2005.
  29. ^ Alan B Sargeant; Stephen H Allen (1989). "Observed Interactions Between Coyotes and Red foxes". Journal of Mammology 70 (3): 631–633. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/cfoxint/.
  30. ^ "Behavioural responses of red foxes to an increase in the presence of golden jackals: a field experiment" (PDF). Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University. http://www.tau.ac.il/lifesci/zoology/members/yom-tov/articles/Behavioural_responses_of_red_foxes.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  31. ^ "Natural History of the red fox". Wildlife Online. http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/red_fox.html#predators. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  32. ^ Journal of Zoology, Volume 263, Part 4, August 2004
  33. ^ Journal of Zoology, Volume 270, Part 4, December 2006
  34. ^ Macdonald, David W; Claudio Sillero-Zubiri (2004). Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-198-51556-1.
  35. ^ Audubon, John James (1967). The Imperial Collection of Audubon Animals. pp. p307. ASIN B000M2FOFM.
  36. ^ a b Morton, Thomas (1972). New English Canaan: Or, New Canaan (Research Library of Colonial Americana). New York: Arno Press. pp. p188. ISBN 0405033095.
  37. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/10251349.stm
  38. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2078419.stm
  39. ^ 森林裡的蘑菇為什麼都有圓點？：13篇童話故事裡的奇妙生物學, Why do forest mushrooms have spots? Amazing biology in fairy tales, ISBN 9789866739682, P. 126, "狐狸是有益的動物，協助人類消滅亂啃穀物或農作物的老鼠。...... 所以在農業之神中占有一席地位。", Foxes are good animals, they help kill rodents that will destroy crops and harvests. ...... So they have a place among the god of farming.
  40. ^ "The Fur Trade". WorldAnimal.net. http://www.worldanimal.net/fur-trade.html. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  41. ^ Katie Thear. "Protecting the Poultry Flock — Foxes and Fences". Poultry Pages. http://www.poultry.allotment.org.uk/Chicken_a/fence_poultry/. Retrieved 2007-09-09.
  42. ^ McDonald, R., Baker, P. & Harris, S. (1997). Is the fox a pest?, the ecological and economic impact of foxes in Britain. Electra Publishing.
  43. ^ Robert Darnton, "Peasants tell tales: the meaning of Mother Goose" in The great cat massacre and other episodes in French cultural history. N.Y.: Vintage Basic Books, (1984)
  44. ^ "Hard Evidence of Foxes Discovered in Tasmania". Department of Primary Industries and Water, Tasmania website. http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/LJEM-6SH7FX?open. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  45. ^ "Tassie 'hoodwinked". Mercury newspaper website. http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,21582109-921,000.html. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  46. ^ Tracey Millen (Oct–Nov 2006). "Call for more dingoes to restore native species" (PDF). ECOS 133. http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=EC133p5a.pdf. (Refers to the book Australia's Mammal Extinctions: a 50,000 year history. Christopher N. Johnson. ISBN 978-0521686600.
  47. ^ Red Fox, Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Red fox
Wikispecies has information related to: Red fox
Look up Fox in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

"Vulpes vulpes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180604. Retrieved 18 March, 2006.

Extant Carnivora species
Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Mammalia · Infraclass: Eutheria · Superorder: Laurasiatheria
Suborder Feliformia
Nandiniidae
Nandinia African Palm Civet (N. binotata)
Herpestidae (Mongooses)
Atilax Marsh Mongoose (A. paludinosus)
Bdeogale Bushy-tailed Mongoose (B. crassicauda) · Jackson's Mongoose (B. jacksoni) · Black-footed Mongoose (B. nigripes)
Crossarchus Alexander's Kusimanse (C. alexandri) · Angolan Kusimanse (C. ansorgei) · Common Kusimanse (C. obscurus) · Flat-headed Kusimanse (C. platycephalus)
Cynictis Yellow Mongoose (C. penicillata)
Dologale Pousargues's Mongoose (D. dybowskii)
Galerella Angolan Slender Mongoose (G. flavescens) · Somalian Slender Mongoose (G. ochracea) · Cape Gray Mongoose (G. pulverulenta) · Slender Mongoose (G. sanguinea)
Helogale Ethiopian Dwarf Mongoose (H. hirtula) · Common Dwarf Mongoose (H. parvula)
Herpestes Short-tailed Mongoose (H. brachyurus) · Indian Gray Mongoose (H. edwardsii) · Indian Brown Mongoose (H. fuscus) · Egyptian Mongoose (H. ichneumon) · Small Asian Mongoose (H. javanicus) · Long-nosed Mongoose (H. naso) · Collared Mongoose (H. semitorquatus) · Ruddy Mongoose (H. smithii) · Crab-eating Mongoose (H. urva) · Stripe-necked Mongoose (H. vitticollis)
Ichneumia White-tailed Mongoose (I. albicauda)
Liberiictus Liberian Mongoose (L. kuhni)
Mungos Gambian Mongoose (M. gambianus) · Banded Mongoose (M. mungo)
Paracynictis Selous' Mongoose (P. selousi)
Rhynchogale Meller's Mongoose (R. melleri)
Suricata Meerkat (S. suricatta)
Hyaenidae (Hyenas)
Crocuta Spotted Hyena (C. crocuta)
Hyaena Brown Hyena (H. brunnea) · Striped Hyena (H. hyaena)
Proteles Aardwolf (P. cristatus)
Felidae Large family listed below
Viverridae Large family listed below
Eupleridae Small family listed below
Family Felidae
Felinae
Acinonyx Cheetah (A. jubatus)
Caracal Caracal (C. caracal)
Catopuma Bay Cat (C. badia) · Asian Golden Cat (C. temminckii)
Felis Chinese Mountain Cat (F. bieti) · Cat (F. catus) · Jungle Cat (F. chaus) · Pallas' Cat (F. manul) · Sand Cat (F. margarita) · Black-footed Cat (F. nigripes) · Wildcat (F. silvestris)
Leopardus Pantanal Cat (L. braccatus) · Colocolo (L. colocolo) · Geoffroy's Cat (L. geoffroyi) · Kodkod (L. guigna) · Andean Mountain Cat (L. jacobitus) · Pampas Cat (L. pajeros) · Ocelot (L. pardalis) · Oncilla (L. tigrinus) · Margay (L. wiedii)
Leptailurus Serval (L. serval)
Lynx Canadian Lynx (L. canadensis) · Eurasian Lynx (L. lynx) · Iberian Lynx (L. pardinus) · Bobcat (L. rufus)
Pardofelis Marbled Cat (P. marmorata)
Prionailurus Leopard Cat (P. bengalensis) · Iriomote Cat (P. iriomotensis) · Flat-headed Cat (P. planiceps) · Rusty-spotted Cat (P. rubiginosus) · Fishing Cat (P. viverrinus)
Profelis African Golden Cat (P. aurata)
Puma Cougar (P. concolor) · Jaguarundi (P. yagouaroundi)
Pantherinae
Neofelis Clouded Leopard (N. nebulosa) · Bornean Clouded Leopard (N. diardi)
Panthera Lion (P. leo) · Jaguar (P. onca) · Leopard (P. pardus) · Tiger (P. tigris)
Uncia Snow Leopard (U. uncia)
Family Viverridae (includes Civets)
Paradoxurinae
Arctictis Binturong (A. binturong)
Arctogalidia Small-toothed Palm Civet (A. trivirgata)
Macrogalidia Sulawesi Palm Civet (M. musschenbroekii)
Paguma Masked Palm Civet (P. larvata)
Paradoxurus Asian Palm Civet (P. hermaphroditus) · Jerdon's Palm Civet (P. jerdoni) · Golden Palm Civet (P. zeylonensis)
Hemigalinae
Chrotogale Owston's Palm Civet (C. owstoni)
Cynogale Otter Civet (C. bennettii)
Diplogale Hose's Palm Civet (D. hosei)
Hemigalus Banded Palm Civet (H. derbyanus)
Prionodontinae (Asiatic linsangs)
Prionodon Banded Linsang (P. linsang) · Spotted Linsang (P. pardicolor)
Viverrinae
Civettictis African Civet (C. civetta)
Genetta (Genets) Abyssinian Genet (G. abyssinica) · Angolan Genet (G. angolensis) · Bourlon's Genet (G. bourloni) · Crested Servaline Genet (G. cristata) · Common Genet (G. genetta) · Johnston's Genet (G. johnstoni) · Rusty-spotted Genet (G. maculata) · Pardine Genet (G. pardina) · Aquatic Genet (G. piscivora) · King Genet (G. poensis) · Servaline Genet (G. servalina) · Haussa Genet (G. thierryi) · Cape Genet (G. tigrina) · Giant Forest Genet (G. victoriae)
Poiana Leighton's Linsang (P. leightoni) · African Linsang (P. richardsonii)
Viverra Malabar Large-spotted Civet (V. civettina) · Large-spotted Civet (V. megaspila) · Malayan Civet (V. tangalunga) · Large Indian Civet (V. zibetha)
Viverricula Small Indian Civet (V. indica)
Family Eupleridae
Euplerinae
Cryptoprocta Fossa (C. ferox)
Eupleres Falanouc (E. goudotii)
Fossa Malagasy Civet (F. fossana)
Galidiinae
Galidia Ring-tailed Mongoose (G. elegans)
Galidictis Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose (G. fasciata) · Grandidier's Mongoose (G. grandidieri)
Mungotictis Narrow-striped Mongoose (M. decemlineata)
Salanoia Brown-tailed Mongoose (S. concolor)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. below)
Ursidae (Bears)
Ailuropoda Giant Panda (A. melanoleuca)
Helarctos Sun Bear (H. malayanus)
Melursus Sloth Bear (M. ursinus)
Tremarctos Spectacled Bear (T. ornatus)
Ursus American Black Bear (U. americanus) · Brown Bear (U. arctos) · Grizzly Bear (U. arctos horribilis) · Polar bear (U. maritimus) · Asian Black Bear (U. thibetanus)
Mephitidae (Skunks)
Conepatus (Hog-nosed skunks) Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk (C. chinga) · Humboldt's Hog-nosed Skunk (C. humboldtii) · American Hog-nosed Skunk (C. leuconotus) · Striped Hog-nosed Skunk (C. semistriatus)
Mephitis Hooded Skunk (M. macroura) · Striped Skunk (M. mephitis)
Mydaus Sunda Stink Badger (M. javanensis) · Palawan Stink Badger (M. marchei)
Spilogale (Spotted skunks) Southern Spotted Skunk (S. angustifrons) · Western Spotted Skunk (S. gracilis) · Eastern Spotted Skunk (S. putorius) · Pygmy Spotted Skunk (S. pygmaea)
Procyonidae
Bassaricyon (Olingos) Allen's Olingo (B. alleni) · Beddard's Olingo (B. beddardi) · Bushy-tailed Olingo (B. gabbii) · Harris's Olingo (B. lasius) · Chiriqui Olingo (B. pauli)
Bassariscus Ring-tailed Cat (B. astutus) · Cacomistle (B. sumichrasti)
Nasua (Coatis inclusive) White-nosed Coati (N. narica) · South American Coati (N. nasua)
Nasuella (Coatis inclusive) Mountain Coati (N. olivacea)
Potos Kinkajou (P. flavus)
Procyon Crab-eating Raccoon (P. cancrivorus) · Raccoon (P. lotor) · Cozumel Raccoon (P. pygmaeus)
Ailuridae
Ailurus Red Panda (A. fulgens)
Suborder Caniformia (cont. above)
Otariidae (Eared seals) (includes fur seals and sea lions) (Pinniped inclusive)
Arctocephalus South American Fur Seal (A. australis) · Australasian Fur Seal (A. forsteri) · Galápagos Fur Seal (A. galapagoensis) · Antarctic Fur Seal (A. gazella) · Juan Fernández Fur Seal (A. philippii) · Brown Fur Seal (A. pusillus) · Guadalupe Fur Seal (A. townsendi) · Subantarctic Fur Seal (A. tropicalis)
Callorhinus Northern Fur Seal (C. ursinus)
Eumetopias Steller Sea Lion (E. jubatus)
Neophoca Australian Sea Lion (N. cinerea)
Otaria South American Sea Lion (O. flavescens)
Phocarctos New Zealand Sea Lion (P. hookeri)
Zalophus California Sea Lion (Z. californianus) · Galápagos Sea Lion (Z. wollebaeki)
Odobenidae (Pinniped inclusive)
Odobenus Walrus (O. rosmarus)
Phocidae (Earless seals) (Pinniped inclusive)
Cystophora Hooded Seal (C. cristata)
Erignathus Bearded Seal (E. barbatus)
Halichoerus Gray Seal (H. grypus)
Histriophoca Ribbon Seal (H. fasciata)
Hydrurga Leopard Seal (H. leptonyx)
Leptonychotes Weddell Seal (L. weddellii)
Lobodon Crabeater Seal (L. carcinophagus)
Mirounga (Elephant seals) Northern Elephant Seal (M. angustirostris) · Southern Elephant Seal (M. leonina)
Monachus Mediterranean Monk Seal (M. monachus) · Hawaiian Monk Seal (M. schauinslandi)
Ommatophoca Ross Seal (O. rossi)
Pagophilus Harp Seal (P. groenlandicus)
Phoca Spotted Seal (P. largha) · Harbor Seal (P. vitulina)
Pusa Caspian Seal (P. caspica) · Ringed Seal (P. hispida) · Baikal Seal (P. sibirica)
Canidae Large family listed below
Mustelidae Large family listed below
Family Canidae
Atelocynus Short-eared Dog (A. microtis)
Canis Side-striped Jackal (C. adustus) · Golden Jackal (C. aureus) · Coyote (C. latrans) · Gray Wolf (C. lupus) · Dog (C. lupus familiaris) · Black-backed Jackal (C. mesomelas) · Ethiopian Wolf (C. simensis)
Cerdocyon Crab-eating Fox (C. thous)
Chrysocyon Maned Wolf (C. brachyurus)
Cuon Dhole (C. alpinus)
Lycalopex Culpeo (L. culpaeus) · Darwin's Fox (L. fulvipes) · South American Gray Fox (L. griseus) · Pampas Fox (L. gymnocercus) · Sechuran Fox (L. sechurae) · Hoary Fox (L. vetulus)
Lycaon African Wild Dog (L. pictus)
Nyctereutes Raccoon Dog (N. procyonoides)
Otocyon Bat-eared Fox (O. megalotis)
Speothos Bush Dog (S. venaticus)
Urocyon Gray Fox (U. cinereoargenteus) · Island Fox (U. littoralis)
Vulpes Bengal Fox (V. bengalensis) · Blanford's Fox (V. cana) · Cape Fox (V. chama) · Corsac Fox (V. corsac) · Tibetan Sand Fox (V. ferrilata) · Arctic Fox (V. lagopus) · Kit Fox (V. macrotis) · Pale Fox (V. pallida) · Rüppell's Fox (V. rueppelli) · Swift Fox (V. velox) · Red Fox (V. vulpes) · Fennec Fox (V. zerda)
Family Mustelidae
Lutrinae (Otters)
Aonyx African Clawless Otter (A. capensis) · Oriental Small-clawed Otter (A. cinerea)
Enhydra Sea otter (E. lutris)
Hydrictis Spotted-necked Otter (H. maculicollis)
Lontra North American River Otter (L. canadensis) · Marine Otter (L. felina) · Neotropical Otter (L. longicaudis) · Southern River Otter (L. provocax)
Lutra European Otter (L. lutra) · Hairy-nosed Otter (L. sumatrana)
Lutrogale Smooth-coated Otter (L. perspicillata)
Pteronura Giant Otter (P. brasiliensis)
Mustelinae (including Badgers)
Arctonyx Hog Badger (A. collaris)
Eira Tayra (E. barbara)
Galictis Lesser Grison (G. cuja) · Greater Grison (G. vittata)
Gulo Wolverine (G. gulo)
Ictonyx Saharan Striped Polecat (I. libyca) · Striped Polecat (I. striatus)
Lyncodon Patagonian Weasel (L. patagonicus)
Martes (Martens) American Marten (M. americana) · Yellow-throated Marten (M. flavigula) · Beech Marten (M. foina) · Nilgiri Marten (M. gwatkinsii) · European Pine Marten (M. martes) · Japanese Marten (M. melampus) · Fisher (M. pennanti) · Sable (M. zibellina)
Meles Japanese Badger (M. anakuma) · Asian Badger (M. leucurus) · European Badger (M. meles)
Mellivora Honey Badger (M. capensis)
Melogale (Ferret-badgers) Bornean Ferret-badger (M. everetti) · Chinese Ferret-badger (M. moschata) · Javan Ferret-badger (M. orientalis) · Burmese Ferret-badger (M. personata)
Mustela (Weasels) Amazon Weasel (M. africana) · Mountain Weasel (M. altaica) · Ermine (M. erminea) · Steppe Polecat (M. eversmannii) · Colombian Weasel (M. felipei) · Long-tailed Weasel (M. frenata) · Japanese Weasel (M. itatsi) · Yellow-bellied Weasel (M. kathiah) · European Mink (M. lutreola) · Indonesian Mountain Weasel (M. lutreolina) · Black-footed Ferret (M. nigripes) · Least Weasel (M. nivalis) · Malayan Weasel (M. nudipes) · European Polecat (M. putorius) · Siberian Weasel (M. sibirica) · Back-striped Weasel (M. strigidorsa) · Egyptian Weasel (M. subpalmata)
Neovison (Minks) American Mink (N. vison)
Poecilogale African Striped Weasel (P. albinucha)
Taxidea American Badger (T. taxus)
Vormela Marbled Polecat (V. peregusna)
Game animals and shooting in North America
Game birds Bobwhite Quail · Chukar · Hungarian Partridge · Prairie Chicken · Mourning Dove · Ring-necked pheasant · Ptarmigan · Ruffed Grouse · Sharp-tailed Grouse · Snipe (Common Snipe) · Spruce Grouse · Turkey · Woodcock
Waterfowl Black Duck · Canada Goose · Canvasback · Gadwall · Greater Scaup · Lesser Scaup · Mallard · Northern Pintail · Redhead · Ross's Goose · Snow Goose · Wood Duck
Big game Bighorn Sheep · Black Bear · Razorback · Brown Bear · Bison (Buffalo) · Caribou · Cougar (Mountain Lion) · Elk · Moose · White-tailed deer · Gray wolf · Mountain goat · Mule Deer · Pronghorn · Muskox · Dall Sheep · Polar Bear
Other quarry American Alligator · Bobcat · Coyote · Fox Squirrel · Gray Fox · Gray Squirrel · Opossum · Rabbit · Raccoon · Red Fox · Snowshoe Hare
See also

Bear hunting · Big game hunting · Deer hunting · Waterfowl hunting · Wolf hunting · Upland hunting
Game animals and shooting in the United Kingdom
Game birds Common Pheasant · Grey Partridge · Red-legged Partridge · Red Grouse · Ptarmigan · Black Grouse1 · Eurasian Woodcock · Snipe
Quarry species Mallard · Teal · Wood Pigeon · Golden Plover · Canada Goose · Greylag Goose · Pink-footed Goose · Greater White-fronted Goose2 · Wigeon · Tufted Duck · Shoveler · Northern Pintail · Gadwall · Common Pochard · Common Goldeneye · Common Moorhen · Eurasian Coot
Deer Red Deer · Roe Deer · Fallow Deer · Sika Deer · Reeves's Muntjac · Water Deer
Other quarry European Hare · Red Fox · European Rabbit
Opponents League Against Cruel Sports · Animal Aid
Law Game Act 1831 · Hunting Act 2004
See also British Association for Shooting and Conservation · Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom · Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust · Countryside Alliance · Glorious Twelfth · Gamekeeper · Deer stalking
1 Rarely shot due to declining numbers. 2 England and Wales only; protected Scotland.

Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species | Foxes | Invasive animal species | Fauna of the Arctic | Fauna of Iran | Arctic land animals | Urban animals | Mammals of Great Britain | Mammals of Europe | Mammals of Australia | Mammals of Asia

 

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'Red Fox' Images
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Characteristics The red fox has orangish red fur on its back sides and head It has white fur under its neck and on its chest It has a long bushy tail tipped in white pointed black ears and black legs and

Yahoo Images Search: Red Fox,
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