Black fox with blue eyes. Fox - description, species where it lives

From arctic zone to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The fox was acclimatized in Australia and spread throughout the continent, with the exception of some northern regions with a humid subequatorial climate.

It was previously believed that a separate species of fox lives in America, but in Lately it is considered as a subspecies of the red fox.

Appearance

Vulpes vulpes- Scull

The color and size of foxes vary in different localities; in total there are 40-50 subspecies, not taking into account smaller forms. In general, as you move north, the foxes become larger and lighter in color, and as you move south, they become smaller and more dull in color. In the northern regions and in the mountains, black-brown and other melanistic forms of fox coloration are also more common. The most common color: bright red back, white belly, dark paws. Often foxes have brown stripes on the ridge and shoulder blade, similar to a cross. Common distinguishing features: dark ears and a white tip of the tail. Outwardly, the fox is a medium-sized animal with a graceful body on low paws, with an elongated muzzle, sharp ears and a long fluffy tail.

Molting begins in February-March and ends in mid-summer. Immediately after this, the fox begins to grow winter fur, in which she is fully dressed by the turn of November and December. Summer fur is much more rare and short, winter - more dense and lush. Foxes are distinguished by large auricles-locators, with which they pick up sound vibrations. Ears for foxes are a "catcher" of prey.

The vocalization of the red fox is the same howl as that of a wolf, only lower in tone.

Ecology

red fox

A significant variety of color and size of the fox is associated with the breadth of its range and the great variety of living conditions in its individual parts. Suffice it to say that foxes inhabit, although with different densities, all landscape-geographical zones, starting from the tundra and subarctic forests and up to the steppe and deserts, including mountain ranges in all climatic zones Oh. At the same time, the fox is found not only in wild nature, but also in cultural landscapes, as well as on the outskirts of cities, including large ones (such as Kyiv and Warsaw; in London, foxes are quite common on the outskirts, and sometimes appear in the central part of the city). Moreover, at times in an urbanized area, the fox finds a particularly favorable environment for itself. They often inhabit city dumps, parks and basements.

In all parts of its range, the fox prefers open area, as well as areas where there are separate groves, copses, hills and ravines, especially if in winter the snow cover in them is not too deep and loose. Therefore, of all climatic zones, most foxes live in the steppe and forest-steppe, and not in the forest.

The fox is a fairly sedentary animal. In most areas, it is not characterized by regular migrations. Cases of such are noted only in the tundra, deserts and mountains. For example, one of the foxes tagged in the Malozemelskaya tundra (Arkhangelsk region, Russia) was then killed 600 kilometers to the southwest. Young animals that settle from the parental den are usually located at a distance of 2-5 to 15-30 km from it.

The number of foxes fluctuates markedly over the years. Its condition is influenced by such factors as the number of rodents, weather conditions the presence of infectious diseases in the population. In famine years, not only does the fertility of females fall and a smaller number of puppies survive, but conditions arise that are favorable for the spread of epizootics, which sometimes cover large territories. Epizootics characteristic of foxes are rabies, plague of predators, scabies.

In the wild, foxes rarely live more than seven years, often life expectancy does not exceed three. In captivity, animals live up to 20-25 years.

Nutrition

Fox with prey

The fox, although it belongs to typical predators, eats a very diverse diet. Among the food that she eats, more than 400 species of animals alone have been identified, not counting several dozen species of plants. Everywhere the basis of its nutrition is small rodents, mainly voles. It can even be said that the state of the population of this predator largely depends on the sufficiency of their number and availability. This is especially true in the winter period, when the fox lives primarily by hunting field mice: the beast, smelling a rodent under the snow cover, listens to its squeak, and then quickly dives under the snow, or scatters it with its paws, trying to catch prey. This method of hunting is called mouse-mouse.

Economic importance

The fox has a big economic importance as a valuable fur animal, as well as a regulator of the number of rodents and insects. At the same time, the damage caused by game foxes and poultry is much less than the benefit that they bring by destroying rodents - grain consumers.

Foxes are bred in captivity specifically for fur. IN late XIX centuries, a breed of silver-black (black-brown) foxes was artificially bred. Then, thanks to selection, the quality of fur was significantly improved in this breed (compared to the wild type), and a number of other fur breeds based on it were bred: platinum, Bakurian, Dakota and others.

In the south of Europe wild foxes- the largest carrier of the rabies virus, so they are vaccinated everywhere.

domestication

Subspecies

The species is very rich in variety of subspecies. There are more than 40 of them in total, this variety of the Red Fox species is second only to the wolf, the progenitor of the domestic dog and shows an amazing adaptive ability to survive in the process of evolution and life of this amazing omnivore animal:

Vulpes vulpes abietorum
Vulpes vulpes aeygptica
Vulpes vulpes alascensis
Vulpes vulpes alpherakyi
Vulpes vulpes alticola
Vulpes vulpes anatolica
Vulpes vulpes arabica
Vulpes vulpes atlantica
Vulpes vulpes barbaras
Vulpes vulpes beringiana
Vulpes vulpes cascadensis
Vulpes vulpes caucasica
Vulpes vulpes crucigera
Vulpes vulpes daurica
Vulpes vulpes diluta
Vulpes vulpes dolichocrania
Vulpes vulpes dorsalis
Vulpes vulpes flavescens
Vulpes vulpes fulva
Vulpes vulpes griffithy
Vulpes vulpes harrimani
Vulpes vulpes hoole
Vulpes vulpes ichnusae
Vulpes vulpes induta
Vulpes vulpes jakutensis
Vulpes vulpes japonica
Vulpes vulpes caragan
Vulpes vulpes kenaiensis
Vulpes vulpes krimeamontana
Vulpes vulpes kurdistanica
Vulpes vulpes macroura
Vulpes vulpes montana
Vulpes vulpes necator
Vulpes vulpes ochroxanta
Vulpes vulpes palaestina
Vulpes vulpes peculiosa
Vulpes vulpes pusilla
Vulpes vulpes regalis
Vulpes vulpes rubricosa
Vulpes vulpes schrencki
Vulpes vulpes silacea
Vulpes vulpessplendidissima
Vulpes vulpes stepensis
Vulpes vulpes tobolica
Vulpes vulpes tschiliensis

Reflection in art

The red fox is a very common character in folklore. different countries peace. IN European countries oh, she, as a rule, embodies cunning and deceit, acting in quite a variety of roles: from treacherous villains (as in a number of Russian fairy tales) to smart advisers (As in Boris Shergin's fairy tale, Poig and the fox). One of the most famous fox characters is Renard the Fox, a character in the classic medieval poem The Romance of the Fox.

In Mesopotamian mythology, the fox is a sacred animal. She serves the goddess Ki as a messenger. In Finland, the fox is a symbol of cunning, but not of evil.

In Japanese mythology, there are kitsune foxes that can take on human form. They have great knowledge and wield magic. Kitsune later became popular in literature, film, and video games. Spirits similar to kitsune also appear in Chinese and Korean myths.

Literature

1100 - Medieval poem "The Romance of the Fox"
1793 - "Reineke-fox" J. W. Goethe
1879 - “Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit. From Uncle Remus' Tales by Joel Chandler Harris
1883 - The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi: Fox, one of the negative characters
1905 - "Red Fox" Charles Roberts: about the life of a fox from the remote forest regions of Eastern Canada
1909 - "Domino" by E. Seton-Thompson: about the adventures of a fox named Domino
1935 - "The Golden Key, or the Adventures of Pinocchio" by Alexei Tolstoy: the fox Alice
1943 - "The Little Prince" A.-E. Exupery. Fox has a classic speech about domestication.
1965 - “Tutta Carlson the first and only, Ludwig the Fourteenth and others” by Jan Ekholm: about the friendship of the fox cub Ludwig and the chicken Tutta Carlson
1965 - "Fox Vuk" Istvan Fekete
1967 - "The Fox and the Hound" by Daniel Pratt Mannix
1970 - Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl: Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox and their children
1989 - "Moon Beast" by Harry Kilworth: about the life of the fox O-ha
2001 - "The Case of the Were-Foxes" by Holm van Zaychik: alternative history with elements of mysticism
2004 - " holy book werewolf "V. Pelevin: about the werewolf fox A Huli

Animation

1937 - "Reineke Fox" directed by Vladislav Starevich: based on the poem of the same name by I. V. Goethe
1973 - Disney's "Robin Hood": Robin Hood and Maid Marian
1978 - “Poyga and the Fox": based on the fairy tale by B. Shchergin
1980 - “How foxes made friends with chickens
1981 - "Vuk": based on the fairy tale by I. Fekete about an orphaned fox
1981 - Disney's "The Fox and the Hound": Tod the fox and his girlfriend Vixie. Based on the book of the same name by Daniel Pratt Mannix
1984 - "Pillow for the sun": Alice the fox and her grandmother
1986 - "A Winter Story": Welsh cartoon about Mika the fox and his parents
1986 - "Wonderful Forest": one of the cartoon characters is the fox Lily. Based on the book by Suncana Skrinjaric
1987 - "Abduction in Tytyurlistan": the fox Khitrunya is one of the main characters
1989-1993 - "Fox": a series of Soviet cartoons about a fox and his friends
1992-1995 - "The Animals of Farthing Wood": Fox and Fox and their cubs
1999 - "Foxbusters": a fox tribe led by King Gluttonous
1995 - "The Incredible Adventures of the Gnomes": the fox is a friend of the main character of the dwarf David
2003 - "Cunning Little Vixen": based on the opera "Příhody lišky bystroušky" by Leoš Janáček
2005 - "The Fox Renard" directed by Thierry Schiel: based on the medieval "Romance of the Fox"
2006 - "The Night of the Autumn Full Moon": based on Japanese fairy tales. The story of the Fox and the Badger
2009 - "Fantastic Mr. Fox": Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox, their son, and nephew

Cinema

1975 - "The Adventures of Pinocchio": adaptation of the fairy tale by Alexei Tolstoy
1984 - "Red honest lover": based on the fairy tale by Jan Ekholm
2005 - "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" - Mr. Fox
2006 - "Fox Helen"

Music

1923 - The Adventures of the Cunning Fox (Czech Příhody lišky bystroušky): opera by Leoš Janáček about the life of the fox Ostroushka

The fox is often associated in people with cunning and deceit, with a red tail and a wary look. However, not all so simple. In our selection - seven such different and such charming species of foxes, which differ from each other not only in color, but also in their character.

fenech

Fennec fox can't boast large sizes is an animal smaller than a domestic cat. But the fenech's ears are the envy of all predators - almost half the length of the animal's body! Such ears help the fox to hear the rustles of prey - small insects and lizards that live in the sands. North Africa. In addition, huge ears contribute to better cooling of the body during the heat.

red fox

red fox is the most numerous widespread species among foxes. This animal can be seen throughout Europe, in North America, in India and China, as well as in Australia, where foxes were specially brought as natural enemies without a measure of bred rodents. Red foxes tend to live in burrows. They may dig them themselves or may take over an empty burrow of other animals such as marmots, badgers or arctic foxes. However, there are times when a fox settles in someone else's mink, even though its owner has not yet "moved" to another place.

marble fox

Actually arctic marbled fox is a subspecies of the common red fox artificially bred for exotic fur.

gray fox

gray fox lives in North and Central America. They are known for being monogamous animals and living with their partner for the rest of their lives. In addition, it is the only fox that can climb trees.

Black-brown fox

Black-brown fox, or silver fox, differs from the red one only in that there are absolutely no red hairs in its color. Sometimes completely black, sometimes gray with a bluish tint, sometimes ashen - foxes of such an exotic color are very popular in animal husbandry, where they are used to obtain fur.

polar fox

polar fox, also known as the arctic fox, is famous for its fluffy snow-white fur, which helps the animal withstand colds down to -70 C. However, in summer this fox cannot be recognized - the arctic fox is the only one among foxes that changes its color, and in warm time year it becomes a dirty brown color.

Common fox or red fox (Vulres vulres) - predatory mammal which belongs to the canine family. Currently, the common fox is the most common and most close-up view from the fox family.

Description of the common fox

The red fox is an extremely widespread predator in our country, belonging to the class of mammals and the canine family. Such an animal is of high economic importance as a valuable animal. fur animal, as well as a regulator of the number of insects and rodents. In appearance, the fox is a medium-sized wild animal with an elongated muzzle, a very graceful body and low, fairly thin paws.

Appearance

The color and size of the fox have noticeable differences depending on the habitat. In the northern regions, the mammalian predator has a larger body size and a light coat color, while in the south, rather small and dull-colored individuals are more common. Among other things, in the northern regions, as well as in mountainous areas, the presence of black-brown and other melanistic forms of fox color is very often noted.

However, the most common coloration is with a bright red back area, a whitish belly and dark legs. Often, the common fox has brown stripes located on the ridge and in the region of the shoulder blades, resembling appearance cross. The average body length of an adult predator varies between 60-90 cm, and the tail length is 40-60 cm with a shoulder height of 35-40 cm. The standard weight of a mature fox can range from 6.0 to 10.0 kg.

This is interesting! General hallmarks red fox, regardless of the main color, is the presence of dark-colored ears and a very characteristic white tip on the tail.

Fox subspecies

Currently, there are about forty or fifty subspecies of the red fox, not counting the smallest forms of this mammalian predator. About fifteen subspecies live on the territory of European countries, and on the rest of natural range about thirty main subspecies are known.

Lifestyle and character

An individual site occupied by a mature pair or family of foxes provides predators not only with a sufficient food supply, but is also suitable for arranging holes that this mammal digs on its own. Quite often, foxes use empty burrows abandoned by badgers, marmots, arctic foxes and other types of burrowing animals as dwellings.

Cases are well known when a fox adapted for its needs a separate part of another wild beast and thus inhabited the hole at the same time as such an animal as, for example, the badger.

Most often, the fox settles on ravine slopes or among hills, represented by sandy soils protected from the bay by rain, ground or melt water. In any case, the hole of such a predator necessarily has several entrance holes at once, as well as long tunnels and a convenient nesting chamber. In some cases, foxes use natural shelters in the form of voluminous caves and rocky crevices or a hollow in a thick fallen tree for living.

This is interesting! As a rule, foxes use permanent shelters exclusively for the period of birth and rearing of cubs, and the rest of the time the predator is content with resting in the den open type, arranged in grass or snow.

Common fox moving in calm state, moves in a straight line, so it leaves behind a fairly clear and well-marked chain of traces. A frightened animal is characterized by a fast run with a low inclination of the body and a fully extended tail. The vision of a predator is perfectly adapted for the dark time of the day, when the animal is most active.

Along with other predatory animals, the fox reacts with lightning speed to any movement, but it recognizes colors very poorly, especially during daylight hours.

Lifespan

In captivity, the average life expectancy of an ordinary fox reaches a quarter of a century, and a wild predatory animal that lives in natural conditions can live no more than ten years.

Range and habitats

The common fox inhabits almost all territories of our country, with the exception of the northern tundra and the island parts of the Polar Basin, where it lives en masse. Such a common predator is very well adapted to the most different conditions habitat, therefore, it is found in mountainous areas, taiga and tundra, as well as in steppe and desert regions. However, regardless of the habitat, the fox prefers open or semi-open spaces.

On the territory of the tundra and forest-tundra, the predatory mammal adheres to forests, which are located in river valleys and near lakes. The best place, which is optimally suited for the habitat of the fox, is represented by the central and southern regions of our country, where small in area forest zones interspersed with numerous ravines and rivers, meadows or fields.

If in the autumn-winter period the animal spends a significant part of its time in fairly open areas, then with the onset of spring and summer, at the stage of active reproduction, the predator moves to more remote places.

Food of an ordinary fox

Despite belonging to the category typical predators, the food of the red fox is very diverse. feed base of such an animal is represented by four hundred species of animals, as well as several dozen species of plant crops. However, almost everywhere the diet of a predatory mammal includes small rodents. With the onset winter period The fox preys mainly on voles.

This is interesting! Mouse hunting is a way of hunting a common fox, in which the animal, smelling the cover of a rodent under the snow, practically dives under the snow with quick jumps, and also scatters it with the help of its paws, which makes it easy to catch prey.

Less important in the diet of a predator play enough large mammals, including hares and roe deer cubs, as well as birds and their chicks. Individuals living in desert and semi-desert areas trade by catching reptiles, and predators of Canada and the northeastern part of Eurasia, inhabiting coastal regions, seasonally use salmon that died after spawning for their food. IN summer period fox eats a large number of beetles and any other insects, as well as their larvae. In a particularly hungry period, a predatory mammal is able to use the collected carrion for food. Vegetable food is represented by fruits, fruits and berries, and sometimes vegetative parts of plants.

Reproduction and offspring

The beginning of the breeding season of the red fox falls on the middle or end of winter, when five or six males, yelping and fighting with each other, can pursue one female at once. In preparation for the birth of babies, the female carefully cleans the hole, and after the birth of foxes, the mother practically stops leaving her home. During this period, the male hunts, leaving his prey at the very entrance to the hole.

In a litter, as a rule, there are five or six, blind and with closed auricles cubs, whose body is covered with a short children's fluff of a dark brown color. From the very first days of life, the cubs have a characteristic white tip of the tail. Growth and development in foxes occur quite quickly. At the age of two or three weeks, the babies are already opening their ears and eyes, as well as teething, so they begin to gradually crawl out of the hole to try the "adult" food.

This is interesting! The growing offspring at this time are fed by both parents.

Milk feeding lasts no more than a month and a half, after which the cubs begin to gradually get used to independent hunting. As a rule, during adult life fox cubs do not enter until the onset of autumn. As observational practice shows, some young females begin to breed as early as next year, but in most cases they become fully sexually mature only at the age of one and a half to two years. The male is acquired puberty about a year or two later.

Photos of foxes taken in their natural environment habitat, and short descriptions species will give you an idea of these colorful furry wild animals.

Photo by: Roselyn Raymond

Photo by: Kai Fagerstrom

Photo by: Wenda Atkin

The red fox is the most widespread, therefore the most diverse species of all foxes. They can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in Australia. These agile hunters are known to be able to jump over fences two meters high. (Photo by: Roselyn Raymond)

marble fox

Photo by: unknown

The Arctic marbled fox is a subspecies of the red fox. She does not occur in nature with this color, people raised her for the sake of fur. (Photo credit: Ewald Mario)

Gray fox or tree fox

Photo credit: Variegated Vibes

The gray fox is common in North America. It is distinguished by pale gray fur with a black tail tip. This fox is one of the few canids that can climb trees. (Photo credit: John Payne)

Black-brown fox or silver fox

Photo by: Shelley Evans

This is another type of fox with a beautiful color from completely black with a white tail tip to gray with a blue or brown tint. The silver fox is known as one of the most valuable fur-bearing animals. They are still bred and raised for their fur. (Photo credit: Matt Knot)

Photo by: Daniel Parent

Source: imgur.com

Photo by: Einar Gudmann

Photo by: William Doran

The arctic fox lives beyond the Arctic Circle. Thick fur saves him from the most low temperatures down to -70 degrees Celsius. These foxes have relatively short legs and muzzles, which helps keep them warm. (Photo by Cecile Sonsteby)

Who is this fox? How she looks, where she lives and what she eats, what habits she has - our message will tell about all this.

What kind of animal is this. What does a fox look like

The fox is a carnivorous animal that belongs to the canine family.

Externally similar to a medium-sized dog, but her habits are more cat-like. On her flexible body there is a neat head with a sharp muzzle and mobile, always alert, large dark ears, legs are short, thin, but strong.

The fur coat of this animal deserves special attention - it is magnificent, beautiful, the color can be different. Most often there are bright red foxes, but there may also be black, black-brown, silver. There is such a pattern: in the northern regions, the fur of these animals is thick and bright, but the farther south, the more modest it is both in density and in color. And the tail of the foxes is very beautiful - long, up to 60 cm, fluffy, always with a white tip. Foxes are only hunted for their valuable fur.

Hearing and sight, smell and touch

Foxes have excellent hearing. She can hear the rustling of a mouse in a hole, the distant flapping of wings and the murmur of a hare from a hundred paces away. Her large ears, like locators, are very good at identifying the source of a sound. The fox also knows how to determine the distance from where the sound flew to it.

This animal has an interesting vision: far-sighted eyes are adapted to notice even the smallest movement of a blade of grass, see well in the dark but the fox does not distinguish colors well, so it can come very close to a motionless person.

She has a good sense of smell, but many other animals have a much sharper sense of smell.

Very good for foxes developed sense of touch softly and inaudibly stepping on the ground, leaves or snow, they feel with their springy paws the smallest details. They can find a hole or with their paws alone.

Where live

Foxes can be found all over northern hemisphere Earth, even in

They are dig holes for themselves with multiple entrances and exits and underground tunnels that lead to the nest.

Sometimes they occupy other people's dwellings, for example, badger holes. Here they breed and take refuge from danger. Spend a lot of time lair on open space, under a bush, in grass or snow. They sleep very soundly.

What do they eat

A fox - predator, excellent, very fast and dexterous hunter. From the very process of hunting, she gets great pleasure. Its prey is small rodents, moles,. He likes to feast on eggs, eats insects, their larvae, worms, catches fish, crayfish. In times of famine, it does not disdain carrion. Can diversify the diet with berries and fruits.

By the way, exterminating rodents and beetles, the fox brings great benefits to agriculture.

reproduction

The mating season for foxes falls on January-February. Several males take care of one female at once, who fight to the point of blood among themselves. With the winner, the fox creates a pair. Foxes are good parents. They do everything together - dig a hole, raise offspring, get food.

Pregnancy of the female lasts 2 months, in early spring in a hole 5-7 blind and deaf puppies are born(the so-called fox cubs). At 2 weeks, puppies begin to see and hear, their teeth erupt. But for a month and a half, the babies do not leave the hole, eating mother's milk. Only in June, the cubs begin to go outside with their parents. They play and frolic in the sun, learning to hunt.

In mid-autumn, foxes leave the family for an independent life. At 2 years old, they are already able to breed.

fox species

All in nature there are more than 20 types these animals. The most common is the common Red fox. There are also African, Bengal, gray, sandy, small, Brazilian and other types of foxes.

One of the most interesting is Fenech. This is a miniature fox with an interesting appearance, it is even smaller in size than a cat .. Lives in North Africa.

habits

Why in all fairy tales, the fox is quick-witted, cunning and insidious, dexterous and smart? Because she really is. One can only wonder how this beast can confuse tracks, deceive game, pretend and dodge. Although you should not attribute any incredible abilities to the fox.

Intelligence and cunning are just an animal instinct that nature endowed her with so that the fox could survive.

If this message was useful to you, I would be glad to see you