Vulpes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vulpes |
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| Various true foxes: left to right, then top to bottom: red fox, Rüppell's fox, corsac fox, Bengal fox, Arctic fox, Blanford's fox, Cape fox, and fennec fox | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | Caninae |
| Tribe: | Vulpini |
| Genus: | Vulpes Garsault, 1764 |
| Type species | |
| Canis vulpes Linnaeus, 1758
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The group of animals known as Vulpes includes what we call true foxes. These are a special family of canids, which are dog-like animals. While many animals are called "foxes," true foxes belong to this specific scientific group. They are different from other canids like dogs, wolves, jackals, and coyotes.
True foxes are usually smaller, weighing about 5 to 11 kilograms. They have a long, fluffy tail and a flatter skull. You can often spot them by the black, triangle-shaped markings between their eyes and nose. The tip of their tail is also often a different color. Most true foxes live for about two to four years, but some can live up to ten years.
Contents
Meet the True Foxes: Genus Vulpes
Different Kinds of True Foxes
There are 12 different types of true foxes alive today. Each one has its own special home and way of life. Here are some of them:
- Vulpes bengalensis: These foxes live only in the Indian subcontinent.
- Vulpes cana: Found in the Middle East, including Iran and Israel. They like dry, semi-desert areas.
- Vulpes chama: Lives only in Southern Africa, in places like Zimbabwe and South Africa. They enjoy dry grasslands.
- Vulpes corsac: These foxes live in Central Asia and prefer semi-desert habitats.
- Vulpes ferrilata: As their name suggests, they live on the high Tibetan and Ladakh plateaus in countries like China and India. They can live at very high altitudes.
- Vulpes lagopus: These foxes live all around the Arctic Circle, in cold places like Russia and Greenland.
- Vulpes macrotis: A North American fox found in dry areas of the United States and Mexico.
- Vulpes pallida: Lives in the Sahel region of Africa, which is a dry, arid area.
- Vulpes rueppellii: Found in North Africa and parts of the Middle East.
- Vulpes velox: Lives in the western grasslands of North America, in places like Montana and Kansas.
- Vulpes vulpes: This is the most common and widespread true fox. They live across North America, Asia, and Europe. They were also brought to Australia by humans.
- Vulpes zerda: These small foxes live in North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula.
Foxes Through Time: Early History
The oldest known true fox fossil is V. riffautae. It was found in Chad and is about 7 million years old. This makes it one of the earliest dog-like animals found in the Old World. These ancient foxes were quite small, weighing between 0.7 and 1.6 kilograms. Another fossil, V. skinneri, was found in South Africa and is about 5 million years younger.
Other extinct fox species include V. praeglacialis from Greece and V. hassani from northwestern Africa. During the Ice Age, many different Vulpes species lived across North America. Today, three of those species still live there: the swift fox, kit fox, and red fox.
Fossil Species
Here are some of the true fox species that are now extinct:
- †Vulpes hassani
- †Vulpes odessana
- †Vulpes praeglacialis
- †Vulpes qiuzhudingi
- †Vulpes riffautae
- †Vulpes rooki
- †Vulpes skinneri
- †Vulpes stenognathus
What Makes a True Fox Special?
True foxes are generally small to medium-sized animals. They are usually smaller than other canids like wolves and dogs. For example, the largest true fox, the red fox, weighs about 4 to 9 kilograms. The smallest, the fennec fox, weighs only about 0.7 to 1.6 kilograms.
They have thick, soft fur and a bushy tail that is at least half as long as their body. Their bodies are long with shorter legs, a narrow snout, and large, pointy ears. Their front paws have five toes, but their back paws only have four. True foxes have special eyes with pupils that look like vertical slits in bright light, similar to a cat's eyes. This helps them see well.
Like most canids, foxes have strong bodies, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth for catching prey. Their blunt claws help them grip the ground when they are hunting. Some foxes have a strong "foxy" smell. This comes from a special gland near the base of their tail. Male foxes are usually a little bigger than females, but they look very similar.
Foxes are good at leaping and grabbing prey. Their back legs are longer than their front legs, which helps them jump. Their muscles are also well-suited for these quick movements. The color and thickness of a fox's fur depend on where it lives. Fennec foxes in the desert have big ears and short fur to stay cool. Arctic foxes have small ears and thick fur to stay warm. Some foxes, like the red fox, have white-tipped tails. Others, like the Arctic fox, have tails that are all one color.
Where Do Foxes Live? Distribution and Habitat
True foxes live in many different places around the world. You can find them in deserts, in the Arctic, high in the mountains, and on open plains. They are very adaptable animals. Foxes can find food and shelter almost anywhere. They even live in towns and cities, often finding food left by humans. However, they usually avoid big industrial areas. Foxes often do well in places where people live, like farms and woodlands.
How Foxes Live: Behavior and Ecology
Most true foxes are active at night. However, they might also hunt in the morning or evening. Sometimes, they even look for food during the day in winter. Many fox species live alone for most of their lives. They only come together to mate. When they do, they usually stay with one partner. Some foxes live in small family groups, while others are more social.
Foxes can have different social structures depending on how many foxes live in an area. If there are many foxes, they might form social groups. These groups usually have one main pair and a few other adult foxes, often related to them. The main pair usually has better access to food. If foxes fight over who is in charge, the loser might leave the group. These groups can have up to ten adult foxes.
What Do Foxes Eat?
True foxes eat many different things. They are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They often scavenge for food too. Their favorite foods include insects, small animals, grasses, and some flowers. A fox usually eats about 1 kilogram of food each day. Foxes also hide food for later, a behavior called caching. This helps them save food for another day.
Who Hunts Foxes? Predators
Adult foxes have few natural enemies. Depending on where they live, coyotes, bears, and wolves might hunt them. Young foxes, called kits or cubs, face more dangers. Small meat-eating animals and large birds like eagles can be a threat to them.
The Fox Life Cycle: Reproduction
Most true foxes have one partner for life. However, some might have more than one partner. The time when foxes breed changes depending on the species and where they live. It usually happens between late December and late March. Most foxes dig dens underground. These dens are safe places to raise their young.
Baby foxes, called kits or cubs, are born blind and deaf. They need their mother's milk and care for the first four to five weeks. After about a month, they start to eat less milk and try insects. Their parents also bring them small mammals and birds to eat. By early to mid-July, the kits can hunt on their own. Soon after, they leave their parents to live independently.
Foxes and Humans: A Long Relationship
Friendly Foxes: Domestication
The silver fox is a type of red fox with dark fur. Scientists have studied how to make silver foxes tamer. A famous experiment happened in Novosibirsk, Russia. For 50 years, scientists chose the friendliest silver foxes to breed. Over time, these friendly foxes started to act like dogs. They developed spots, wagged their tails, enjoyed being touched by humans, and barked.
Foxes in Stories and Art
Foxes have appeared in many stories, myths, and works of art for a long time. They are often shown as clever, tricky, or wise characters. People around the world have been fascinated by foxes and their unique behaviors. You can find them in ancient fables, children's books, and even modern movies.
See also
In Spanish: Vulpes para niños
Images for kids
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A Bengal fox in a grassland.
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A Blanford's fox.
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A Cape fox in Etosha National Park.
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A Corsac fox at Halle Zoo.
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A Tibetan sand fox.
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An Arctic fox.
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A Kit fox.
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A Pale fox.
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A Rüppell's fox.
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A Swift fox.
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A Red fox.
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A Fennec fox.
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 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
