Fox – Page 2 – See Animals Wild

Pale fox

The pale fox (Vulpes pallida) is a species of fox found in the band of African Sahel from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east. It is one of the least studied of all canid species, in part due to its remote habitat and its sandy coat that blends in well with the desert-like terrain.

There are 5 recognized sub-species.

It is found in the semi-arid Sahelian region of Africa bordering the Sahara Desert, from Mauritania and Senegal via Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad to the Red Sea. The southern border of its range extends to the savanna zones of northern Guinea. It is also present in Benin, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Sudan. The habitat is sandy or stony arid terrain, and the pale fox is able to relocate southwards and northwards in relation to the periodic droughts that affect these regions.

Although the density of the pale fox is unknown, it seems to be a common species throughout its wide range. No particular threats have been identified although this fox is sometimes hunted in retaliation on raids on villages and predating poultry, and it is sometimes killed by vehicles at night. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of “least concern”.

Kit fox

The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a fox species that inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. These foxes are the smallest of the four species of Vulpes occurring in North America and are among the smallest of the vulpines worldwide. It has also been called a North American counterpart of the fennec fox due to its large ears.

It has been suggested that this fox is the same species as the Swift fox – though genetic analysis suggests that this is not the case. It has also suggested that, due to its ears, this is essentially the American Fennec fox

The endangered San Joaquin kit fox is a recognized subspecies. It is found in around 8 states in the USA. Its population has been depressed, in parts of its range – as a result of the extinction of the wolf in California. As a result of this local extinction, there is far less predation on the coyote, which has lead to the coyote eating more of these kit foxes.

Tibetan fox

Corsac Fox

Corsac foxes are found in steppes, semi-deserts and deserts in central Asia, ranging into Mongolia and northern China. Since 2004 it has been listed as least concern. However, its population fluctuates wildly with history of its population dropping ten times over in a single year.

Blanford’s fox

This small fox is native to central Asia and the middle east. It should be noted, that it is named for its British discoverer, but has a wide variety of other names including Afghan fox, royal fox, dog fox, hoary fox, steppe fox, black fox, king fox, cliff fox or Baluchistan fox

Once only known from southwest Asia, this species was reported in Israel in 1981 and was later found to be more widespread in the Arabian Peninsular. Peters and Rödel (1994) reviewed the available distribution records of this species and presented, for the eastern part of the range, what they considered to be definitive records from around the Iranian Plateau in Iran, Turkmenistan and Pakistan, with more doubtful records (usually based on skins collected from fur bazaars or otherwise indirectly) from Afghanistan and Tajikistan (though there is no such record).

There are also now confirmed records in the middle east from Jordan, the Sinai Peninsular (Egypt), Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They have long been suspected of occurring in Yemen and have been reported at an altitude of about 1,200 m above sea level in Hawf Forest Al Mahre Governorate, in the far east of Yemen, near the border with Oman. It also seemed possible that they may have lived in western Yemen, where the mountains in southwestern Arabia were contiguous, and the camera trapping record in February 2014 in Wadi Sharis inHajjah Governorate, NW of Sana’a, now confirms their existence. There is a single record from Egypt, west of the Suez canal, of an animal captured in 1988, originally believed to be Vulpes rueppellii. There are no verified documents from here, but they may have existed.

At the current time, there is little directed persecution, and they are thought to have healthy populations across the middle east.

It was also sighted in northern Saudi Arabia^[8] and in the Western Hajar Mountains of Ras Al Khaimah.^[9] In 2019, it was spotted in Jebel Hafeet, United Arab Emirates.

Cape fox

Also called assa, Cama fox and silver backed fox, it is a small species of fox native to Southern African – it is sometimes called the South African version of the Fennec fox. It is the only animal from the genus Vulpes in Africa South of the equator.

It is nocturnal, most active just before dawn, or just after dusk. Mostly found alone, when they pair to breed, they often look for food together. They are opportunistic eaters, eating almost anything they find. This includes everything from carrion and human waste food, to fruit and vegetables to, and a whole range of rodents, hares, rabbits, reptiles and insects. They have also been known to hunt animals as large as steenboks. They have been found to have 16% of their stomach contents being sheep. It is thought, however, that they would only be able to take small lambs under 3 months old, or are eating dead sheep as carrion.

There are lions who will actively hunt them, while a range of animals such as honey badgers and leopards will eat one if they come across it. Black backed jackals have also been known to eat them.

The Bengal fox

The Bengal fox (also known as the Indian fox, and is found from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north through Southern India, and from eastern Pakistan to eastern India and South-eastern Bangladesh.

They are smaller than red foxes, and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It has been recorded 1500m up in the mountains (at almost a mile above sea level). Generally crepuscular (active in early mornings and late evening) as well as nocturnal.

As with other foxes, generally, they are thought to pair long-term, and then live together, and that this is the standard social structure in this species. However, often pups will stay around after they are capable of living alone. There have also been groups of up to 4 adults have been recorded sharing the same den.

Although found across a large area, they tend to live at very low densities, which means that they can quickly disappear from an area, in Southern India less than 2% of bengal fox habitat is protected. They are hunted for both skin and flesh Narikuruva tribes hunt them and have done for a very long time – however, with the increased number in these tribes, and other pressures on the fox, we need to keep an eye on this situation – otherwise it could rapidly become endangered.

Bat-eared fox

The bat-eared fox, like many so called species of fox is not a true fox, but actually comes from the Genus Otocyon. Recent work genetic work has allowed them to be placed (with reasonable confidence) as sister clade to Nyctereutes (racoon dogs) and Vulpes – the true foxes.

There are two subspecies, one which exists in Southern Africa, and the other which inhabits east Africa, however these are not different enough to be separate species. As you can see from the map, these two populations are not split by a huge distance and it is quite possible that at one time they were one super population.

They are found in the Kruger, though only seemed to arrive in recent times.

Below is a video of this species. Below that is a list of any blog posts which mention this species.

Beneath both of this, we are eager to list any places where you can see this species in the wild. Should you run somewhere, where this species is found, get in touch, we are eager to help people to find you. Click on “list your wild place” it is quick and simple to add your destination, should anyone wish to then visit you, there is a simple form which allows them to book your destination through the website (we work on commission so there is no risk to being listed).

The bat-eared fox is in a safe position, being listed as IUCN as least concern.

In Africa the big 5 is famous, what is the UK’s equivalent

Tim
August 31, 2020

Apart from b the big 5 and ecotourism big 7 there are a whole host of 5s that have been invented-some are relatively easy, others almost impossible

Big 5: lion...

The common raccoon dog (also known as the (Chinese or Asian racoon dog, to distinguish it from the Japanese racoon dog)is a species which is found in east Asia. Although named for its facial markings, it is not closely related to raccoons and, although part of the dog family, it is more closely related to the fox.

This animal has been widely introduced in Europe due to regular escapes from fur farms.

Common raccoon dogs are omnivores that feed on insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, molluscs, crabs, sea urchins, human garbage, carrion, and eggs, as well as fruits, nuts, and berries.

Wolves predate them, and eat many in the spring. In Russia, wolves can account for as much as 2/3 of the deaths. Other animals like badgers and lynx will kill them, but generally do not go out of the way to do so. A range of birds of prey also target them.

They are the only canid to hibernate. There are around 4 subspecies. The Japanese racoon dog was thought to be a subspecies until recently when it was elevated to being its own species. They are one of the species that is thought to be have spread covid, and there are other illnesses that their introduction has caused to arrive in new countries.

Species watch

All species are important, often reintroductions have failed because a small unnoticed animal was missed. Over time, we will amass pages for as many species as possible. However, just as important is seeing how species are closely related. As such as well as looking at species from a specific ecosystem or family, we will also include family trees of many of the families on earth. It should be noted, that this is to help you find wildlife you wish to see, so will never link to every species. In either way, these links to these will be placed at the top.

Bovini or cattle family tree

Equidae: Genus for horses (horses, donkeys and zebra)

Cervidae family (deer) here red deer

Camelid family (camels and Llamas)

Aardvark