Fox
Cunning, adaptable, and widespread—the fox is a master of survival across every continent except Antarctica.
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. Twelve species belong to the monophyletic 'true fox' group of genus Vulpes. Another 25 current or extinct species are sometimes called foxes but are either part of the paraphyletic group of the South American foxes or belong to an outlying group, the latter consisting of the bat-eared fox, the gray fox, and the 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.
Quick Facts
- Family
- Canidae
- Dietary classification
- Omnivore
- Primary habitat
- Global (except Antarctica)
- Distinctive feature
- Bushy Tail (Cauda)
- Social structure
- Solitary or Small Family Groups
Lore & Background
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 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, which 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. A group of foxes may be referred to as a skulk, leash, or earth.
Reader's Guide
Foxes are generally smaller than some other members of 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, while the smallest species, the fennec fox, weighs less (exact weight not specified). Fox features typically include a triangular face, pointed ears, an elongated rostrum, and a bushy tail. They are digitigrade and have partially retractable claws.
Fox vibrissae are black. 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. A fox's dentition is I 3/3, C 1/1, PM 4/4, M 3/2 = 42 (bat-eared foxes have six extra molars, totaling 48 teeth).
In the wild, the typical lifespan of a fox is one to three years, although individuals may live up to ten years. Foxes are omnivores; their diet is made up primarily of invertebrates such as insects and small vertebrates such as reptiles and birds. They may also eat eggs and vegetation. Most species of fox consume around 1 kg of food every day (exact amount not specified in source). Foxes cache excess food. The gray fox is one of only two canine species known to regularly climb trees.
Did You Know?
- The word 'vixen' is one of very few modern English words that retain the Middle English southern dialectal 'v' pronunciation instead of 'f'.
- Arctic foxes can have up to eleven kits in a litter.
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