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Photo of a gray fox - the behavior of a gray fox. Gray fox Foxes black white gray red brown

The fox is without a doubt the most interesting animal on our planet. How many stories, fables and fairy tales we know about this fiery red beauty. It is not only beauty that makes her so popular, but also a peculiar disposition, intelligence and ingenuity. The wild fox brought a lot of trouble to agriculture with its thieving, especially its poultry attracts. However, in addition to the well-known red fox to all of us, there are more than 40 species of it in the world, different in size and color of the fur. All of them are united by the canine family, and have their characteristic features. Inhabiting different continents, all species are united by basic similarities, way of life, way of feeding and reproduction.

The brightest of the kind of foxes. The red fox can be found throughout Eurasia and North America, it is difficult to say where they do not live, this is all her home. Her phenotype is characterized by a strong body structure, large size, good health, and a frisky temperament. Animals of this type have a thick, lush and silky hairline of the same length throughout the body. The chest is light or yellowish, the belly is white or reddish (like the sides), or with a black spot on a red background. The ears and toes are black. The tip of the tail is usually white, but black hair is scattered along the entire length, and not rarely and over the body. The down throughout the body is gray or brown in various shades. The ridge and sides of the animal are bright red in color, which can be of various shades. The red fox is the largest species of the fox genus. The length of her body reaches 90 cm, tail -60 cm, weight from 6 to 10 kg.

The fox is the most typical predator who does not know pity for the object of his hunt. Her usual diet is rodents, insects, but she is not averse to eating hares, bird eggs, and even the bird itself. Jumping high like a cat, it will not be difficult for her to catch her.

Vegetable foods, such as fruits, berries or fruits, although they do not play a role in the livelihood of the fox, are included in its diet.

Foxes breed only once a year. Pregnancy of the female lasts from 7 to 9 weeks. From 4 to 12 puppies are born in the litter, painted in a dark brown color. Outwardly, they can easily be confused with wolf cubs, if you do not see the white tip of the tail. After 14 days, the cubs can already see and hear, and can already boast of sharp teeth. Foxes cannot be called bad parents; both mom and dad take care of the offspring. However, the constant absence of parents in search of prey leads to the early development of offspring, and already after 1.5 months of life, fox cubs can gradually develop a new territory and eat adult food. After half a year, they are considered quite adults and can live independently.

In Alaska, there is a mutation of the Canadian red breed, the black-brown fox. Currently, various breeds of foxes are known in fur farming, characterized by the type of color of animals bred by humans in captivity to obtain fur, which are the result of crossing the red fox and silver fox.

Korsak, the second representative of the fox genus. Outwardly, it resembles a red wild fox, but smaller in size with large ears and long legs. With wide cheekbones and not small triangular ears, the corsac's muzzle is short and pointed. The fur of this chanterelle is light gray and reddish gray in color. But, there are individuals with an element of red on a fur coat. The belly is white, or slightly yellowish, and the chin is light. The tail tuft is dark brown or completely black. In winter, the animal can observe the appearance of a gray coating near the ridge. Hair length in animals is also subject to seasonal variation. In winter, he changes his short summer coat for a longer and heavily pubescent fur. It is a colonizing species of the southern and eastern parts of Europe and Asia. They inhabit steppes and deserts with a small amount of vegetation. The corsac avoids dense thickets, which is why it is also called the steppe fox. As a dwelling, it exploits ready-made badger burrows, burrows of marmots, gerbils or other foxes.

Corsacs usually hunt at night. The main diet is made up of rodents, reptiles, insects or birds, which competes with the common fox. With a shortage of food, it does not disdain carrion or various garbage. Vegetable food does not attract them. At the sight of a man, the corsac shows fox cunning, he often pretends to be dead, and runs away at the first opportunity. Interestingly, representatives of this species are apparently monogamous, which is not typical of an ordinary fox. And, in the rest, with regard to reproduction, nutrition of puppies, they are almost similar. The female bears from 2 to 11 puppies (rarely 16) within 2 months. From the second week, the offspring shows the first activity, they begin to see and hear. After 5 months they leave their home.

Korsak is listed in the Red Book.

This fox is also a representative of the fox genus. It lives in the Middle East up to Afghanistan. The Afghan fox is not afraid of a hot climate, it can be found both in the mountains and in the most arid areas, for example, in the Dead Sea. This representative of the fox family cannot boast of large size and bright color, but its long tail with thick fur is equal in length to the body, and draws attention to its external exterior. The height of the foxes does not exceed 30 cm, and the body length ranges from 45 to 55 cm, with a weight of 1.5-3 kg.

The animal has a small graceful head with a short and pointed muzzle, on which a black strip extends symmetrically to each other from the eyes to the upper lip. Nature, having awarded this fox with large ears, which serve it not only as an organ of hearing, but also as a heat sink in hot weather, deprived it of a protective thick layer of hair that covers the paw pads of all species of desert foxes, protecting it from hot sand.

In summer, the fox fur is covered with an unremarkable steel color with a lightish stripe on the neck and belly. Depending on where they live, animals can be light brown or almost black. And in winter, the fur coat of the Afghan fox is painted in rusty-brown hair, with a gray undercoat of black color with guard hairs. Looks very velvety and fluffy. The nutrition of the Afghan fox is quite different from other species. In addition to insects and rodents, plant food plays an important role in her life. In "love" these chanterelles are fickle, and form a couple only for the period of the mating season. In caring for offspring, a large role is given to the female. The male can only perform the protective function of the lair. The pregnancy of the fox lasts about 2 months, compared to the common fox and even the corsac fox, which does not differ in size, the Afghan fox has a low fertility. 1-3 cubs are born, less often three.

This species is also listed in the Red Book.

They are inhabitants of dry, sandy, siliceous desert types stretching from Africa to the Sahara. African foxes lead a rather secretive way of life. From the known facts of the existence of this species, we can say that these are rather small representatives of foxes: body size 38-45 cm, small tail up to 30 cm and height at the withers up to 25 cm, weight from 1.5 to 3.6 kg. The color of the body can be light red or brown, the tail is darker with a black tip. The back along the entire length in the center is colored with a dark stripe. The belly, muzzle and outer sides of the ears are white. The eyes of older individuals are framed with black edging. Interestingly, representatives of this genus of foxes have odorous glands at the base of the tail. The diet of the African fox is similar to that of other foxes.

A feature of their lifestyle is the presence of so-called family groups, which consist of the main couple, a single male and growing young foxes that have not yet reached sexual maturity. The breeding season of the African fox is unknown. Pregnancy in a female is faster and lasts almost a month and a half. The offspring has from 3 to 6 babies, in the upbringing of which all members of their social group take part.

Bengal fox or Indian

This is an animal of moderate build. The length of the body reaches 45-60 cm. The tail is half the length of the body, the height of the fox varies up to 28 cm. The brown coat can be of various shades: from light to red. But, the tip of the tail remains always black. Inhabits the foothills of the Southern Himalayas, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Avoids dense vegetation, but the bare desert is also not to her taste. The Bengal fox feels good in sparsely planted forests, in fields and in the mountains.

This chanterelle also does not adhere to a diet; floristic food in its diet is a rare occurrence. The objects of her hunting are insects, arthropods, reptiles, birds, eggs and rodents. Bengal foxes are monogamous. Females have 2-5 puppies after a month and a half of pregnancy.

It is an indigenous inhabitant of the desert stretching from Morocco to Tunisia, Egypt to Somalia. Fenech is the tiniest fox with an unusual appearance. In size, this animal is like a domestic one.

cat. At the withers, the fennec fox reaches 18-22 cm, the body length is on average 30 cm, and the animal weighs one and a half kilograms. The muzzle is short and sharp. Fenech attracts a lot of attention to itself with its ears. He is the owner of the largest ears disproportionate to the head among predators. Their length reaches almost half of the body of the animal. However, such a disharmonious addition of the fennec fox is due to its habitat. Ears, as well as pubescent feet, inherent in all steppe foxes, serve them for cooling.

The Fenech's coat is thick, silky and long. Its upper part is red or fawn, and white below. The tail is fairly hairy, with a black tip. In the wild, it digs a deep burrow with numerous tunnels, in the vicinity of bushes from thickets of grass. Fenech does not like loneliness; their family groups consist of 10 individuals. The members of such a family are usually the "married" couple, and prepubescent children from the previous litter. Chanterelle's food consists of small vertebrates, eggs, insects, carrion, plant rhizomes and fruits.

In catching for food, they show dexterity, agility, mobility and the ability to jump high and far, up to 70 centimeters in height.

The fennec fox breeds once a year. Puppies are born in 50-53 days.

The female does not leave the lair until they are two weeks old, and does not allow the male to approach them. After 3 months of life, babies can already leave their mother.

A small fennec fox can also be found at home as a pet. Fans of exotic animals are ready to pay a considerable amount for a pretty Fenech. Domestic phoenixes are very inquisitive, affectionate and amusing animals.

This is one of the representatives of the genus of South American foxes, an inhabitant of the steppes of South America. It has rather large dimensions: height 40 cm, body length 65 cm, weight from 4 to 6.5 kg. The back of the fox is colored from reddish to black, with dark stripes in the middle. The upper and lateral parts of the head are red, the lower part of the head is also white. The ears of the animal are triangular in shape, red in color with a white pile inside. Back shoulders and sides are street grey. Hind feet are grey, flanked with black spots below. The sides of the forelimbs are red. This fox is lucky in the variety of food on the continent. In addition to the main diet: rodents, insects, birds, the Paraguayan fox can eat snails, scorpions, fish, crabs, possums or armadillos. Pregnancy in the species lasts almost two months. The offspring has from 3 to 6 cubs, which are looked after by both parents. At 2 months they are considered fully grown.

This is the only species of the genus of gray foxes.

Thickets of bushes, forest edges and mountain copses of southern Canada and northern South America are its native habitat. The tree species is characterized by an elongated, rather well-fed body on short and strong limbs, a long hairy tail. With the size (body length 48-69 cm, tail length 25-47 cm, height at the withers up to 30 cm) of foxes, quite large individuals up to 7 kg are found. Their average weight ranges from 3 to 6 kg. Unlike the American, Afghan fox and corsac fox, the tree fox has a rather remarkable appearance. The fur on the back, sides and upper part of the tail is gray or silvery. The back can be decorated with barely noticeable dark stripes. The neck, chest, front part of the forelimbs and the inside of the hind limbs are painted in white tan. Bright red-red spots flaunt on the crown, neck, edges of the abdomen and the outer parts of the paws of the animal. The muzzle of the fox is gray.

The gray fox is perfectly adapted to climb trees; for this, it has two dozen strong hook-shaped claws.

The diet of the tree species of foxes is quite diverse. For lunch, the predator can also eat fresh meat of small rodents, or it can get by with lean food in the form of nuts, fruits, and grains. And, in some cases, it will not pass by carrion. The ability to climb trees makes it easier for the fox to succeed in hunting for squirrels, birds or their nests. Foxes lead a sedentary lifestyle in pairs. The place for the lair of animals is very diverse. These can be abandoned burrows, and hollow trees, and crevices of rocks, voids under a pile of stones and trunks. The offspring of the couple appears after 51-63 days of gestation. On average, female foxes give birth to 3 to 7 black puppies.

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), or tree fox, is a very unusual mammal because it looks more like a small dog with a fluffy tail. They live in Canada, in the central and southwestern states of America, Venezuela, are found in California and Mexico. They got their name for the gray-silver saddle on the back and sides. Although the lower part of the sides, neck, base of the tail, back, paws, as well as the lower part of the tail are the same bright rusty red colors as those of an ordinary red fox. They are also distinguished by a black stripe that runs along the top of the croup and along the entire fluffy tail. The stripe ends with a black tip on the tail. The muzzle of the animal is silver-gray, with a white rim around the black nose. This coloring of the fur camouflages well from predators.

The gray fox is also unusual in that it is the only species in the wolf family that can climb trees. There she hides from enemies and sits in ambush, tracking down prey. And in order to climb a tree, she has to climb up the trunk, pushing off with long hooked claws on her hind legs. No worse than a squirrel, the animal can also move along the crown of trees, jumping from branch to branch or sliding down in the opposite direction.

This mammal cannot be called a particularly fast runner, but it can also develop good speed over short distances. Short, very powerful and developed paws give the animal a huge advantage when it climbs up trees or rocks, and strong, hooked claws allow it to cling to trunks and branches.

Gray foxes are nocturnal animals, and hide in their lairs during the day, the boundaries of the territory are marked with urine. Females reach sexual maturity in a year, and look for a mate from February to March. Pairs are permanent and the father of the fox cubs stays with the female until they are born, but then he is expelled from the lair.

Usually, from 3 to 5 cubs are born after 50-55 days of pregnancy, but there are also large litters of up to 11 cubs. The babies are dark brown and blind from birth, but open their eyes on the 10th day. The mother stops caring for the cubs after 10 weeks. All this time, the father regularly supplies the family with food. By winter, the couples disperse, and the cubs are already completely independent, everyone must survive the most severe time alone. The average lifespan of this species is up to 6 years in the wild and about 12 years in captivity.

The gray fox is a solitary hunter, but its diet is very diverse: berries, nuts, birds, insects, and all kinds of rodents, in addition, the ability to climb trees allows you to find food that is not available to an ordinary red relative. If she manages to get more food than she can eat at a time, then she will definitely hide it and return later. And to find the burial place, mark it with urine. In dry regions, animals eat more insects, arthropods, and plant foods than foxes living in the east.

The gray fox has several predators other than humans. Hawks, eagles, owls, lynxes, dogs and even

We know that most people love foxes, but how not to love these beauties in fluffy fur coats? Therefore, we decided that it would be interesting for you to learn about some of the most beautiful and colorful species of these forest animals. Common or red fox (Vulpes vulpes), that usually comes to mind when you hear the word "fox" and it makes sense, because this type of fox is the most common in the world and can be found anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. If you love foxes and think they look way better in the wild than on someone's neck, then you'll definitely want to see the 7 most beautiful fox species in their natural element!

Fennec Fox

Fennec foxes, living in North Africa and the Sahara Desert, are distinguished by their large ears, which serve not only to enable the animal to hunt better, but also to better cool the body in the heat of the day. Also, their cream fur helps them not to attract the scorching sun during the day and keep warm at night.

Red Fox (Red Fox)

The red fox is the largest, most widely distributed and, as a result, the most diverse species of all foxes. They can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in Australia. These foxes are very agile hunters and can even jump over a two-meter fence.

Marble Fox

The Arctic marbled fox is also a member of the red fox species, the color of which is not found in the wild - its color was bred artificially for the sake of fur.

Gray fox (Gray Fox)

The gray fox, which lives in North America, is distinguished by its salt-and-pepper coat, black-tipped tail and red muzzle.This fox is one of the few canids that can climb trees.

Black and brown fox (Silver Fox)

The black-brown fox is actually the same species of red fox, differing only in a different pigmentation. There was a time when the black fox was considered one of the most valuable fur foxes that could be found. People still breed and raise them for their fur.

Arctic fox (Arctic Fox)

Arctic fox can be found throughout the Arctic Circle. Its thick fur protects the animal from colossally low temperatures (-70 degrees Celsius). These foxes have relatively short legs and muzzle, which allows them to keep warm.

Cross Fox

Another type of red fox, which is the most common in North America.

Description

Small gray fox. Around the dark brown nose, the coat is “colored” with a white spot, the main color is red-brown, the sides, neck and paws of the gray fox are covered with hair of this color. The abdomen is covered with white fur. A black line is also characteristic, stretching from the base of the tail to its tip. Another distinctive feature is another black line that crosses the face from the nose to the eyes, then "leaving" on the sides of the head back. The height at the withers is 30-40 cm. The gray fox is very agile and dexterous, for his family, he runs fast, and also knows how to climb trees (she was also called tree fox).

A gray fox of a dense build, with shorter paws compared to a red fox, so she is smaller, but her long fluffy tail looks more luxurious than that of her rival, but her undercoat does not save so well from the cold than that of red fox. Therefore, the gray fox cannot live in a particularly cold climate.

Reproduction and population

Gray foxes are monogamous and live with a partner for the rest of their lives. After mating, in February, the mother can give birth to 4 to 10 cubs, which leave their parents for 11 months. Perhaps it is precisely because of this ability to be fertile that this species did not end up on the verge of death. The annual extermination of the gray fox, for example, in Wisconsin, because of its soft fur, reduced the population of the species by up to half.

Subspecies

Urocyon cinereoargenteus borealis
Urocyon cinereoargenteus californicus
Urocyon cinereoargenteus colimensis
Urocyon cinereoargenteus costaricensis
Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus
Urocyon cinereoargenteus fraterculus
Urocyon cinereoargenteus furvus
Urocyon cinereoargenteus guatemalae
Urocyon cinereoargenteus madrensis
Urocyon cinereoargenteus nigrirostris
Urocyon cinereoargenteus ocythous
Urocyon cinereoargenteus orinomus
Urocyon cinereoargenteus peninsularis
Urocyon cinereoargenteus scotti
Urocyon cinereoargenteus townsendi
Urocyon cinereoargenteus venezuelae

Gallery

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U. cinereoargenteus, drawing by J. G. Kjolemans, 1890

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Drawing of six species of the canine family, gray fox at the bottom, left

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U. cinereoargenteus, New Mexico

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U. cinereoargenteus, Minnesota

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U. cinereoargenteus, north Florida

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U. cinereoargenteus at an altitude of 2.1 thousand meters in California

Red Fox vs Gray Fox - San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge.jpg

Red fox meeting Vulpes vulpes) with gray ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

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Notes

An excerpt characterizing the Gray Fox

The so-called guerrilla war began with the entry of the enemy into Smolensk.
Before the guerrilla war was officially accepted by our government, already thousands of people of the enemy army - backward marauders, foragers - were exterminated by the Cossacks and peasants, who beat these people as unconsciously as dogs unconsciously bite a runaway rabid dog. Denis Davydov, with his Russian intuition, was the first to understand the significance of that terrible club, which, without asking the rules of military art, destroyed the French, and he owns the glory of the first step in legitimizing this method of war.
On August 24, the first partisan detachment of Davydov was established, and after his detachment others began to be established. The further the campaign progressed, the more the number of these detachments increased.
The partisans destroyed the Great Army in parts. They picked up those falling leaves that fell of themselves from a withered tree - the French army, and sometimes shook this tree. In October, while the French fled to Smolensk, there were hundreds of these parties of various sizes and characters. There were parties that adopted all the methods of the army, with infantry, artillery, headquarters, with the comforts of life; there were only Cossack, cavalry; there were small, prefabricated, foot and horse, there were peasants and landlords, unknown to anyone. There was a deacon head of the party, who took several hundred prisoners a month. There was an elder, Vasilisa, who beat hundreds of Frenchmen.
The last days of October were the time of the height of the guerrilla war. That first period of this war, during which the partisans, themselves surprised at their audacity, were afraid at any moment to be caught and surrounded by the French and, without unsaddling and almost dismounting their horses, hid through the forests, waiting for every minute of the chase, has already passed. Now this war had already taken shape, it became clear to everyone what could be done with the French and what could not be done. Now only those commanders of the detachments, who, according to the rules, went away from the French with headquarters, still considered many things impossible. The small partisans, who had long ago begun their work and were closely looking out for the French, considered possible what the leaders of large detachments did not even dare to think about. The Cossacks and the peasants, who climbed between the French, believed that now everything was possible.
On October 22, Denisov, who was one of the partisans, was with his party in the midst of partisan passion. In the morning he and his party were on the move. All day long, through the forests adjacent to the main road, he followed a large French transport of cavalry things and Russian prisoners, separated from other troops and under strong cover, as was known from scouts and prisoners, heading for Smolensk. This transport was known not only to Denisov and Dolokhov (also a partisan with a small party), who walked close to Denisov, but also to the heads of large detachments with headquarters: everyone knew about this transport and, as Denisov said, they sharpened their teeth on it. Two of these great detachment commanders - one Pole, the other German - almost at the same time sent an invitation to Denisov to join his detachment in order to attack the transport.

Outside, the weather was not the best. The rain slowly drizzled, as if stretching out the pleasure for itself, spoiling people's mood. Along with the rain, snow-white snowflakes used to swirl, creating a white wall, thereby slowing down the endless running of cars. Even despite such inclement weather, caring parents walked the streets with their kids. Someone drew with a long stick, on a wet snow cover, inscriptions and hearts, someone rolled their newborn children in strollers. Frankly, this picture is very sweet, but not for the Fox, he sighed on the bed, looking at the ceiling and dreaming about something completely different ... his light gray hair, with a sheen of silver, was spread out on the pillow, some long strands lying on sharp shoulders of the boy, were already dark from shed tears, gray-green eyes the color of dusty pine needles, then opened wide, then, on the contrary, covered themselves, one might even say, squinted. Wet from shed tears, the eyes were already reddened and slightly swollen, making the boy's handsome face cry. The doorbell rings and the whole picture disappears. The fox tries to put on colorful shorts and a T-shirt as soon as possible, already on the run he wipes his cherry eyes, not forgetting to straighten his bangs that cover his eyes. The doorbell rang again, more insistently than last time, hitting the jamb with his foot and swearing quietly, the boy flew up to the door. Hastily opening the door, he recoiled slightly, not expecting to see someone he did not want to see especially now. The fluffy ashen tail, crowned with a white tassel, trembled finely, a quiet growl was born in the throat, one might even say, a hiss. - Long time no see, Foxy. - The yellow-eyed guy purred, narrowing his eyes with predatory eyes, almost a head taller than the poor Fox. The guest was indeed tall, a kind of tower. The hair of this creature was shoulder-length, and the color was similar to wet asphalt, which we often see after heavy rain. The eyes, vaguely reminiscent of a cat, were especially attractive, the honey-yellow shine did not bode well, like a predator waiting for its stupid prey to come closer, but he always had such a look, regardless of the situation, so what to do, such a cut of the eyes . - Hmm, and what do you need, Kle-e-e-n? - with some kind of disgust, stretching out syllables, the fair-haired boy mumbled something, wrapping his arms around himself. Nevertheless, he was not like that, not to expel, even an unwanted guest, the Fox cub stepped aside, letting the guest into the apartment, and he urgently went to the bathroom to put himself in order and finally calm down, this will help not only to him, but also to the interlocutor in communication. Indeed, I didn’t feel like crying in front of even a loved one, although all the tears were because of him. - You also remained a cute little fox. - having already pacified his ardor, Maple said, despite the fact that this subject was called differently, but they were so determined with Little Fox, who is also called differently. - You're scaring me... You also remained the same grouchy ball. - Fox purred with a smile, sitting down next to the guest. The situation, though it seemed so peaceful, but all the same, through this "shell" of lies and smiles, it was felt how it was heated to pain. They wanted to talk, they wanted to talk for a long time, but all attempts ended in a quarrel and loud yells with assault, so then they didn’t communicate for a month, or even more. - Forgive me, I shouldn't have done that... forgive me, my little one... - the guy's voice trembled and he already wanted to get up and leave without seeing his wonderful Little Fox in the eyes, nothing at all, but he was stopped and firmly pressed to him, hugging as soon as possible. - I'll forgive you, but only if I'm the only light for you, and you don't leave me to the mercy of fate... I just can't survive it... - the fair-haired boy quietly whispered in the ear of the one he loved despite everything , the one for whom shed tears at night, but continued to be faithful only to him. - I won't let you go anywhere... I love you more than anyone in the world... Wo Ai Ni... - Maple gently whispered in his baby's ear. - Wo Ai Ni... - answering softly in response, Fox Cub remained in the arms of his beloved miracle. How long they stood still, it is unlikely that anyone will answer such a question, but they, hugging each other, afraid to say a word, stood and simply enjoyed each other's company without any extra words that would be inappropriate here.