[ Vicki awarding various fox species ]

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Facts about foxes

We foxes are a very interesting species. We are like the best of the canine world mixed with the best of the feline world. No wonder we are the most distributed mammal species on the world (well, except for those humans).

Fox species

Some detail information about the twenty one fox species. Wow, I have a lot of cousins!

Genus Vulpes

The most well known genus that includes popular species such as the gray fox, swift fox, red fox, and fennec fox.

Genus Alopex

The only species in this genus is the arctic fox.

Genus Dusicyon

This genus includes the foxes found in South America, such as the Argentine gray fox.

Genus Otocyon

The only species in this genus is the bat-eared fox.

What about the gray fox?

The gray fox used to be classified in its own genus, Urocyon, and the fennec fox used to be classified in its own genus, Fennecus. However, recent research has shown that these species are more closely related to the red fox, and have thus been reclassified into genus, Vulpes. There is also questions about whether the arctic fox should be in its own genus since research in the 1990's have found it to be very similar to the red fox and related via the common ancestor - Vulpes alopecoides. For the time being, the arctic fox is classified in its separate genus.

Common attributes

Order ... Carnivora

Family ... Canidae

Distribution ... Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Habitat ...

Very wide ranging. Foxes can be found from the Arctic tundra to the desert, from forest areas to city centers. Foxes have adapted very well to living near humans, including suburban environments.

Length ... Varies widely among the species.

Weight ... Varies widely among the species.

Longevity ...

Up to 6 years in the wild with the average being 3 years; up to 13 years in captivity.

References

MacDonald, David (editor); The Encyclopedia of Mammals; Andromeda Oxford; 1995 (ISBN 1-871869-62-5).

Unless otherwise credited, the photos are from the royalty free Kodak PhotoCD purchased from Corel Corp. Fox photos from "Foxes & Coyotes" CD, 1993. Skunk photos from "Backyard Wildlife" CD, 1993.