Red Fox
| Red Fox Temporal range: Mid-Pleistocene–Recent |
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|---|---|
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| European red fox (V. v. crucigera) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Tribe: | Vulpini |
| Genus: | Vulpes |
| Species: | V. vulpes |
| Binomial name | |
| Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Subspecies | |
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45 ssp., see text |
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| Distribution of the red fox. Native are dark orange, introduced in light orange. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Vulpes fulva, Vulpes fulvus |
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The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a mammal of the order Carnivora. It is the most well-known species of fox. Red Foxes are sometimes hunted for sport, or killed as pests or carriers of rabies.[2]
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Description[change]
Red Foxes have short legs, pointed triangular black ears, and a long bushy tail tipped in white. Like a cat's, the fox's thick tail helps it balance[2], but it has other uses as well. The tail (or "brush") of a red fox can be like a flag to communicate with other red foxes. They also communicate with each other by urinating on trees or rocks, like dogs sometimes do. Its back, sides, and head are usually covered with orangish-red fur, and its neck and chest are covered with white fur. Its legs and paws are normally black.[3]
Behavior and Diet[change]
Red foxes hunt alone. Because they are carnivorous, they feed on rodents, birds, rabbits, and other small animals. However, some red foxes eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. The red fox will continue to hunt even when it is full.[3] It stores leftover food to eat later. When they are raised by humans domestically, they can also eat pet food. Red Foxes hunt mostly at night, sunset, and dawn.[4]
Red foxes usually mate in the winter. The vixen (female fox) normally gives birth to a litter of 2 to 12 pups. When red foxes are born, they are brown or gray. Although a new red coat usually grows in one month, some red foxes have other colored coats such as golden, reddish-brown, silver, or even black. The mother of the pups feed them at first by regurgitating food into their mouths.[4]
When it sleeps, it wraps its tail around its nose to stay warm.[3]
Habitat[change]
It is native to the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It was introduced to Australia in the 19th century.
References[change]
- ↑ Macdonald, D.W. & Reynolds, J.C. (2008). Vulpes vulpes. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 2006-08-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Terrance B. Adamson. "Red Fox Facts" (in English). National Geographic Society. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/red-fox/. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Peter A. Frid. "The Red Fox" (in English). Durham, NH 03824: New Hampshire Public Television. http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/redfox.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mark Moran. "Studies of the Red Fox from the Northern Virginia Ecology" (in English). Fairfax County Public Schools. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/red_fox.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
Other websites[change]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Vulpes vulpes |
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Wikispecies has information on: Vulpes vulpes. |
