Red Fox Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
- This article is about the animal called the Red Fox. Information on the comedian John Elroy Sanford can be found at Redd Foxx.
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), the most familiar of the foxes, has the widest range of any terrestrial carnivore. The largest species within the genus Vulpes, Red Foxes have a native range spanning most of North America and Eurasia, with several populations in North Africa.
In the 19th century the Red Fox was introduced into Australia with dire results. It is now thought to be the most destructive of feral species on that continent, responsible for more damage than both feral cats and rabbits, see also fox.
Red Foxes have both positive and negative standing with humans; while they are vectorss of disease and a bane of poultry farmers, these foxes are also important to the fur industry. A prominent cultural impact is that of fox hunting, a long-practised but now controversial British tradition.
A subspecies, the Japanese Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) migrated from India to China and eventually to Japan. It is also known by the Japanese name kitsune (狐).
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2 Habitat and diet 3 Behaviour 4 Reproduction |
Resembling a small dog in build, Red Foxes may reach an adult weight of 4.1-5.4 kilograms (9-12 pounds) and have yellow eyes.
Red Foxes eat rodents, insects, fruits, worms, eggs, mice, and other small animals. They also eat various kinds of fruits. They have 42 very powerful teeth that they use to catch their food. The foxes regularly consume from 0.5-1 kilogram of food per day.
In recent decades, many foxes have established themselves in urban neighbourhoods in Britain. These urban foxes probably depend mainly on scavenging household waste, though they will also take rodents and birds from gardens and wasteland.
Being nocturnal and crepuscular, Red Foxes are most active at night and at twilight. A pair may claim a territory as large as 50 square kilometres; ranges are much smaller (<12 square kilometres) in healthy habitats, 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.
Males will supply food to females up to and after birthing, otherwise leaving the female alone with her pups in a "maternity den". An average litter size is 5 pups, but may be as large as 13. Pups are born blind and may weigh as much as 150 grams. Their eyes are open by two weeks and the pups have taken their first exploratory steps out of the den by five weeks; by 10 weeks they are fully weaned.
In autumn of the same year, the young foxes will disperse and claim their own territories. Red Foxes reach sexual maturity by 10 months of age, and may live for 12 years.
This is an Article on Red Fox. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Red Fox Physical description
Most commonly a rusty red, the fur of a Red Fox may also be pale yellow or most rarely silver to black (silver foxes, comprising 10% of the population); a more common variant is the so-called cross fox, named for the black stripes running across its shoulders and down its back. Underpart coloration ranges from white to gray. Red Foxes have long, bushy tails with either white or black tips; the lower legs are also typically black.Habitat and diet
Red Foxes are found in a variety of biomes, from prairies and scrubland to forest settings. They are most suited to lower latitudes but do venture considerably far north, competing directly with the Arctic Fox on the tundra. Red Foxes have also become a familiar sight in suburban and even urban environments, sharing territory with the much maligned raccoon.Behaviour
Solitary hunters, Red Foxes most commonly form monogamous pairs. Occasionally these pairs will cohabitate with several non-breeding "helpers", both male and female. Sometimes this gives rise to litters of mixed paternity. The reason for this "group living" behaviour is not agreed upon; some researchers believe the non-breeders boost the survival rate of the litters while others believe there is no significant difference, and such arrangements are made spontaneously due to a resource surplus.Reproduction
The Red Fox's 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 1-6 days; ovulation is spontaneous. Copulation is loud and short, usually lasting no more than 20 seconds. Although a female may mate with several males (who fight amongst each other for the right to), she will eventually settle with one only.