The fox is a smart and very attractive animal that you definitely want to admire, often they become cunning heroes of fairy tales, folklore, and in life they are simple lovers of their natural habitat. At the word "fox" associations immediately arise: red, fluffy, but this opinion is rather primitive. In the wild, there are the most diverse and charming breeds of foxes that you need to learn to look at as a particle of everything living and necessary on our planet, and not regard them as a product in the form of fur coats, collars and other products. The fox is the generalized name of some mammals, they belong to the canine family, only 11 species belong to the fox family. Famous and popular species include the following breeds: sivodushki, platinum, pearl, snow and others:

The polar fox lives in the Arctic Circle, where it is very cold, but its short muzzle and paws help to keep warm longer, and thick, luxurious wool serves as a reliable garment and protects from severe frosts.

Arctic fox or polar fox

gray fox common in America, its feature is that it can climb trees.


Marble fox - a kind of red fox, found in the Arctic, has an unusually beautiful color, artificially bred.


The red fox is not uncommon, lives in many countries, it is endowed with graceful dexterity, which helps to cope with even the most difficult obstacles.


The red fox changes color depending on the habitat, its color can be: red, fiery, scarlet, yellow, gray and gray-red. Their chest is white, sandy or with a black spot, paws are black, tail is white or gray. Characterized by white hairs all over the body.


Red fox

Both people and animals have albinos, this type includes a white fox, but her eyes are pale blue with a red tint.


The ermine fox is white with black ears and dark body hairs; are not used for industrial purposes.

Black-brown (Alaskan) / silver-black - got their names because of the prevailing colors, in the second variety of foxes, the feature lies in silver hairs, which cannot be only on the stomach. Babies are born without silveriness, it begins to appear only from three months. In some black-browns, red spots can be found behind the ears, on the tail, sides, and behind the shoulder blades.


Korsak is very similar to the red fox, but inferior to it in size. Color: light gray or reddish gray (sometimes found with elements of red). The ears are large, the paws are long, the muzzle is short, pointed, the teeth are small; they bark, come into conflict with other foxes, climb trees, sometimes unite in colonies, hunt at night. Diet: hamsters, ground squirrels, mice, birds, carrion, vitamins are obtained from vegetables, fruits, herbs. Korsaki create couples for life. A maximum female can give birth to six cubs, they feed on mother's milk for two months. Life expectancy - 9 years. Korsak is listed in the Red Book, he has a lot of enemies among animals, people also hunt him, although he runs fast, but he gets tired at the same speed. Corsac fur is not very beautiful, but warm and highly valued.


The silver fox is listed in the Red Book, it is covered with thick hair. Color: gray, ashen, black, black-brown. The density and color of the fur depends on the diet and habitat. The silver fox lives in burrows, which she equips herself, leaves her dwelling extremely rarely, in order to get food. Due to their small size, beauties feed on small rodents, birds, but never attack strong predators, rarely attacks first; can chase prey for hours, has very sharp fangs. The main advantages: a sensitive sense of smell and hearing, speed of reaction. The silver fox is unusually smart, it can confuse and confuse its pursuers, it is extremely difficult to catch it. The silver fox can live at home, but must be provided with all the necessary vaccinations, examination by a veterinarian, the enclosure must be high and very spacious, but it is worth remembering that it can get out and run away; Regular cleaning and cleanliness is the key to the health and well-being of the pet. She is very active, you need to play with her, like with a dog, buy toys, and if the fox is very small (he is teething), he needs bones that he can chew. He needs to be walked and spent a lot of time with him, so he will quickly adapt and get used to it, accepts almost any diet.


fox as a pet

Exotic animals at home no longer surprise anyone, but relatively recently, domesticated foxes are in great demand and popularity. There are nurseries where you can buy yourself a similar friendly animal, and with it instructions for proper care, nutrition, care. The experiment of academician Belyaev was successful in modern world there are genetically bred active, playful, friendly species that become true friends of man. Very few people have experience of keeping foxes at home. a large number people, you need to treat it very carefully and carefully.

The animal is unique in nature, because it belongs to the canine family, and in terms of behavior it is more like a cat, it does not belong to a flock, although it is kind and sweet, it is endowed with specific character traits, therefore, to cope with it, to train and educate is not a task for everyone under strength, you need to have great endurance and patience. The breeds of domestic foxes are diverse, if we consider the fennec fox as an example, then it is small, fragile, the length of its tail is equal to the size of the entire body, the weight is only up to two kilograms.

It is better not to have a fox, if there are other animals, he is very emotional and jealous, quickly becomes attached to the owners; also, fennecs can react aggressively to the behavior of children. Fenech has a long tail, huge ears, which serve not only for sensitive hearing, but also as cooling, this species has special property: the fur is equipped in such a way that it helps to easily endure the heat and at the same time keep warm when it's cold. The smallest representative of canines. Color can be: red, yellow, brown.

Fenechs are known as predators that hunt at night; thermophilic; in domesticated conditions, it is not obedient, capricious, but its appearance is so captivating that it immediately becomes a universal favorite. The fur of foxes needs to be combed out; it is better to close doors and windows, remove fragile items, when the animal is alone at home - lock it in a cage, which must be large and comfortable.

LIsitsa gray, Gray Fox. Latin name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus. The Latin generic name Urocyonis is based on the Greek words oura (tail) and kyon (dog). The specific name cinereoargenteusis is derived from the Greek words cinereus (ash) and argenteus (silver), indicating the dominant color of the fox. Other names: tree fox

It is found throughout most of North America. southern regions Canada to the Isthmus of Panama is also in the north of South America (Venezuela and Colombia). The gray fox has not been found in the Rocky Mountains in the far northwest of the United States. gray fox disappeared from Canada in the late 17th century, but have recently been found in southern Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec. In a number of places it disappeared after the acclimatization of the brown fox from Europe. Some researchers argue that the causal relationship between these events is doubtful. In their opinion, the decline in the number of the gray fox, and the spread of the brown fox, was the result of a change in the nature of human land use.

The gray fox is smaller than the brown fox and looks like a small dog with a fluffy tail. The gray fox has short, powerful legs, strong, hooked claws that make it easy to climb. tree trunks and branches. Compared to other canines, the gray fox has a rather variegated color, and its coat is rather short and coarse. The tail is triangular in cross section, not rounded. Skull length: from 9.5 to 12.8 cm. Dental formula, as in a brown fox, the number of teeth is 42.

Color: The back, sides and upper part of the long, fluffy tail are gray or dark gray with silver speckles. The muzzle is also grey. The lower part of the neck, chest, abdomen, as well as the front and inner side legs are distinguished by a whitish-gray color. The tip of the tail is black. Slightly noticeable black stripes appear on the back (sometimes they are clearly visible). The crown, lateral part of the neck, the edges of the abdomen and the outer sides of the legs are painted in reddish-gray tones, and sometimes they have a bright reddish-orange color. Because of this coloration, the gray fox is sometimes erroneously identified as brown fox, which can always be distinguished by its black legs and white tip of the tail. Foxes are almost black.

Body length - 48-69 cm; head length - 9.5-12.8 cm; tail length - 25-40 cm; height at the withers - about 30 cm.

Weight: The weight of the gray fox ranges from 2.5 to 7 kg, but most often it is 3.5-6 kg. Females are always slightly lighter than males.

Lifespan: Gray foxes live for 6 years in the wild, maximum lifespan in captivity: 15 years.

Voice: Similar to other canines, foxes communicate with each other and use sounds. These vocalizations include aggressive yelps, resonant howls, soft whimpers, and specific screams. Among the sounds made by a gray fox at the sight of a person, the most characteristic is a sharp bark.

Habitat: Most often, the gray fox can be found in bushes, on forest edges, in mountain copses. In general, she prefers wooded area, although it is found in cultivated fields and in the vicinity of cities. Of the tree plantations, pine trees are the most preferred. The gray fox prefers pine groves to deciduous ones everywhere within the range, it is here that it mainly locates its lair. At the same time, for hunting and feeding, she often chooses deciduous tree and shrub plantations, in which small mammals more numerous.

Foxes especially suffer from hunters, in particular during the hunting of wild turkeys. Special studies of the causes of mortality have shown that a person is guilty of mortality in 33% of individuals, 22% die from natural factors, 44% from unknown factors.

The gray fox is omnivorous and its diet is very diverse and depends on the season and habitat and includes: small vertebrates, especially rabbits, rodents, birds and eggs, insects. Sometimes she has to eat only plant foods (fruits, fruits, nuts, grains, etc.), the fox does not refuse carrion either. Thanks to its ability to climb trees, purely arboreal creatures such as squirrels can also be found in its diet - in some places playing an important role in the diet of the gray fox, which is not the case with other wild dogs.

Gray foxes love to climb trees, which is why they are often referred to as "tree foxes". At the first danger, they often climb low or half-fallen, tilted trees. This ability likely allowed the gray fox to coexist with coyotes, while the brown fox population declined significantly with the increase in the coyote population.

How do gray foxes climb trees? Lightly grasping the trunk of a tree with its front paws, it pushes its body up with its hind legs, which, thanks to long and strong claws, firmly hold it on the trunk. In addition, the fox is able to jump onto the branching branches of a tree, using this ability to attack prey from above from an ambush. On the ground, when chasing prey or hiding from the enemy, the fox can reach speeds of up to 17 km / h, but only at relatively short distances.

It hunts mainly at night and twilight, and all day they lie down in a secluded place, sleep and rest. Animals are usually tied to the same place, so the way of life is sedentary, they have never been seen migrating. Burrows rarely dig on their own, but more often they occupy strangers, sometimes hollow trees are chosen as their own home, they can settle in crevices of rocks, voids under stones and trunks, even in abandoned buildings. In east Texas, a hollow was found used by a fox to rest about 10m above the ground in a large hollow oak tree. In central Texas, a den was found in a hollow living oak tree with an entrance 1m above the ground. An unusual lair was found under a pile of wood into which the fox had "tunneled."

Foxes need clean water for drinking, so they regularly visit the reservoir. In this regard, they locate their lairs near the source of drinking water, where, over time, a well-marked path is trodden.

social structure: They live in pairs, occupying a certain family territory. In the summer, while the cubs are growing up, gray foxes roam in family flocks, which break up by autumn. The area of ​​the family plot varies from 3 to 27.6 km2, and in different family groups they usually partially overlap. Outside of the breeding season, the individual areas of males practically do not overlap, while the areas of males and females can overlap by 25-30%. The size of such an overlap depends both on the forage of the plots and on the season of the year. Being rather silent territories, gray foxes mark their territorial boundaries with the help of heaps of droppings and urine, which are left on the most visible landmarks such as tufts of grass and protruding structures: earthen hummocks, stumps, individual stones, etc. These scent marks are regularly updated, but especially in places frequented by animals. A specific smell is provided by a secret that produces a pair of violet glands located on both sides of the anus. Both males and females seem to raise their legs when marking their territory with urine. A pungent smell, very similar to that of skunks, is easily detected even by humans in places where gray foxes often mark "border posts".

Reproduction: During the breeding season, numerous rather violent fights occur between males, after which the male winner remains with the female and forms a pair. After the appearance of offspring, males take an active part in the extraction of food for puppies and protecting the boundaries of the family plot from the penetration of other foxes.

Season/Breeding Period: Rutting and mating times vary by latitude and are observed from December to April.

Puberty: Males reach sexual maturity at 10 months; females give birth at one year of age.

Pregnancy: Pregnancy lasts 51-63 days, with an average of 53 days.

Offspring: In a den carefully lined with dry grass, foliage or crushed tree bark, from 2 to 7 (average 3.8) black-brown, blind and helpless puppies are born. In puppies weighing about 100 g, the eyes are closed and they open only on the 10-14th day. Lactation: 7-9 weeks, and they begin to consume solid food from 5-6 weeks. If possible, as soon as the puppies have grown a little, the foxes try to change the old den to a new one because of the mass reproduction of fleas in them, which greatly pester both adults and puppies.

At the age of four months, puppies begin to accompany adults on hunting trips.

Young puppies are in their first year and have been known to travel up to 84 km. Puppies are weaned at or around 6 weeks old. Gradually the pups learn to reclaim for themselves, at first leaving the den area to hunt with their parents when they are about 3 months old.

The fur of the gray fox is of rather low quality, so the gray fox does not represent special interest as an object of industrial hunting, but only as a sport. In the state of Texas, the gray fox is among the most important fur animals. The gray fox is abundant in desert areas - it often helps farmers in the fight against harmful rodents. When the gray fox itself becomes a pest, eating chickens and destroying crops, farmers shoot them or catch them with all kinds of traps.

Widespread species, no threat of destruction.

Name: Gray fox, tree fox, lat. Urocyon cinereoargenteus.

Appearance

The gray fox differs from the ordinary one in its denser physique, short legs and smaller stature. Her tail looks more fluffy and longer. However, due to the sparse undercoat, it does not tolerate cold as well. The gray fox also has a shorter muzzle and ears. The upper part of the body, head and tail are gray, with a black tint, thickening on the ridge and tail into a black belt. The sides and neck are reddish-brown, and there are white spots around the nose.

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 its family, it runs fast, and also knows how to climb trees (it was also called the tree fox).

It is noteworthy that gray foxes have an unusual coloring of the tip of the tail - it is black.

Behavior

Gray foxes feed on all kinds of small animals, birds, insects, sometimes they drag chickens. More than other types of foxes, they have a penchant for plant foods, so that sometimes the fruits and green parts of plants even predominate in their diet. After 63 days of pregnancy, the female brings in the spring up to 7 puppies covered with black fur. After a month and a half, they begin to eat ordinary food, and in late summer or early autumn they begin to live independently, while the parents continue to live together.

Gray foxes only live where there are trees. They are the only representatives of the wolf family who can climb trees well, which is why they are often called tree foxes. . This ability likely allowed the gray fox to coexist with coyotes, while the brown fox population declined significantly with the increase in the coyote population.

However, the main shelters for gray foxes are burrows, crevices among stones and rocks, caves, hollows in fallen trees.

How do gray foxes climb trees? Lightly grasping the trunk of a tree with its front paws, it pushes its body up with its hind legs, which, thanks to long and strong claws, firmly hold it on the trunk. In addition, the fox is able to jump onto the branching branches of a tree, using this ability to attack prey from above from an ambush.

It hunts mainly at night and twilight, and rests in a secluded place all day, sleeps and rests. Animals are usually attached to the same place, so the way of life is sedentary, they have never been seen migrating. Burrows rarely dig on their own, but more often they occupy strangers, sometimes hollow trees are chosen as their own home, they can settle in crevices of rocks, voids under stones and trunks, even in abandoned buildings.


Gray foxes need clean water to drink, so they visit the pond regularly. In this regard, they locate their lairs near the source of drinking water, where, over time, a well-marked path is trodden.

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, after 11 months of age, already leave their parents. 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.

Reproduction: During the breeding season, numerous violent fights occur between males, after which the victorious male remains with the female and forms a pair. After the appearance of offspring, males take an active part in the extraction of food for puppies and the protection of the boundaries of the family plot from the penetration of other foxes here.

Habitat

There is a gray fox in most of North America from the southern regions of Canada to the Isthmus of Panama, also in the north of South America (Venezuela and Colombia). The gray fox has not been found in the Rocky Mountains in the far northwest of the United States. The gray fox disappeared from Canada in the late 17th century, but recently they have been found in southern Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec. In a number of places, it disappeared after the acclimatization of the brown fox from Europe there.

Most often, a gray fox can be found in bushes, on forest edges, in mountain copses.

Gray fox 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

Fox (fox) ( Vulpes) - This predatory mammal, belongs to the carnivorous order, canine family. The Latin name of the fox genus, apparently, comes from distorted words: the Latin "lupus" and the German "Wolf", translated as "wolf". In the Old Slavonic language, the adjective "fox" corresponded to the definition of yellowish, red and yellowish-orange color, characteristic of the color of the widespread common fox.

Fox (fox): description, characteristics, photo

Depending on the species, the size of the fox varies from 18 cm (in the fennec) to 90 cm, and the weight of the fox ranges from 0.7 kg (in the fennec) to 10 kg. Foxes have a characteristic generic feature - a slender, elongated body with rather short limbs, a slightly elongated muzzle and tail.

The fluffy tail of the fox serves as a kind of stabilizer while running, and in winter cold is used for additional protection from frost.

The length of a fox's tail depends on the species. In it it reaches 20-30 cm. The length of the tail of the common fox is 40-60 cm.

Foxes rely more on touch and smell than sight. They have a sensitive sense of smell and excellent hearing.

Their ears are rather large, triangular, slightly elongated, with a sharp tip. The fennec fox (up to 15 cm in height) and the big-eared fox (up to 13 cm in height) have the largest ears.

Animal vision, adapted for a nocturnal lifestyle, allows representatives of the genus to respond perfectly to movement, however, the structure of the eye of a fox with vertical pupils is not adapted for color recognition.

In total, the fox has 42 teeth, except for the big-eared fox, which grows 48 teeth.

The density and length of the hairline of these predators depends on the season and climatic conditions. IN winter time and in areas with severe weather conditions fox fur becomes thick and lush, in summer the pomp and length of the coat decreases.

The color of the fox can be sandy, red, yellowish, brown with black or white markings. In some species, the color of the fur can be almost white or black-brown. In the northern latitudes, foxes are larger and have a lighter color, in southern countries the color of the fox is duller, and the size of the animal is smaller.

When chasing a victim or in case of danger, the fox is able to reach speeds of up to 50 km / h. During mating season foxes can make barking sounds.

The life expectancy of a fox in natural conditions ranges from 3 to 10 years, but in captivity the fox lives up to 25 years of age.

Fox classification

In the canine family (wolf, canine), several genera are distinguished, which include different types foxes:

  • Maikong ( Cerdocyon)
    • Maikong, savannah fox ( Cerdocyon thous)
  • Small foxes ( Atelocynus)
    • Little fox ( Atelocynus microtis)
  • Big-eared foxes ( Otocyon)
    • big-eared fox ( Otocyon megalotis)
  • South American foxes ( Lycalopex)
    • Andean fox ( Lycalopex culpaeus)
    • South American Fox ( Lycalopex griseus)
    • Darwin fox ( Lycalopex fulvipes)
    • Paraguayan fox ( Lycalopex gymnocercus)
    • Brazilian fox ( Lycalopex vetulus)
    • Securan Fox ( Lycalopex securae)
  • Gray foxes ( Urocyon)
    • gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
    • island fox ( Urocyon littoralis)
  • Foxes ( Vulpes)
    • Common or red fox ( Vulpes vulpes)
    • American fox ( Vulpes macrotis)
    • Afghan fox ( Vulpes cana)
    • African fox ( Vulpes pallida)
    • Bengal Fox (Indian) ( Vulpes bengalensis)
    • Korsak, steppe fox ( Vulpes corsac)
    • American corsac ( Vulpes velox)
    • Sand Fox ( Vulpes rueppelli)
    • Tibetan fox ( Vulpes ferrilata)
    • Fenech ( Vulpes zerda, fennecus zerda)
    • South African fox ( Vulpes chama)

Fox species, names and photos

Below is short description several varieties of foxes:

  • Common fox (red fox) ( Vulpes vulpes)

The largest representative of the fox genus. The weight of the fox reaches 10 kilograms, and the length of the body, together with the tail, is 150 cm. Depending on the area of ​​​​residence, the color of the fox may vary slightly in tone saturation, but the main color of the back and sides remains bright red, and the belly is white. Black "stockings" are clearly visible on the legs. characteristic feature serves as a white tip of the tail and dark, almost black ears.

The habitat includes all of Europe, the territory of North Africa, Asia (from India to South China), North America and Australia.

Representatives of this species of foxes are happy to eat field, roe deer cubs, if possible, destroy the nests of geese and capercaillie, feed on carrion, and insect larvae. Surprisingly, the red fox is a fierce destroyer of oat crops: in the absence of a meat menu, it attacks cereal farmlands, causing damage to them.

  • American fox (Vulpes macrotis )

Predatory mammal of medium size. The body length of a fox varies from 37 cm to 50 cm, the tail reaches a length of 32 cm, the weight of an adult fox ranges from 1.9 kg (for a female) - 2.2 kg (for a male). The back of the animal is painted in yellowish-gray or whitish tones, and the sides are yellowish-brown. Distinctive features of this species of foxes are a white belly and a black tip of the tail. The lateral surface of the muzzle and sensitive whiskers are dark brown or black. The length of the fur hairs does not exceed 50 mm.

The fox lives in the southwestern deserts of the United States and north of Mexico, feeding on hares and rodents (kangaroo jumpers).

  • Afghan fox (Bukhara, Baluchistan fox)(Vulpes cana )

A small animal belonging to the Canine family. The length of the fox does not exceed 0.5 meters. The length of the tail is 33-41 cm. The weight of the fox ranges from 1.5-3 kilograms. The Bukhara fox differs from other species of foxes in rather large ears, the height of which reaches 9 cm, and dark stripes running from the upper lip to the corners of the eyes. In winter, the color of the fox's coat on the back and sides acquires a rich brownish-gray color with separate black outer hairs. In summer, its intensity decreases, and the whitish color of the throat, chest and abdomen remains unchanged. The Afghan fox has no hair on the surface of its paw pads, which protects other desert foxes from hot sand.

The main habitat of the fox is the east of Iran, the territory of Afghanistan and Hindustan. Less common in Egypt, Turkmenistan, UAE, Pakistan. The Afghan fox is an omnivore. It absorbs mice with appetite and does not refuse a vegetarian menu.

  • african fox(Vulpes pallida)

It has resemblance with red fox Vulpes vulpes), but is more modest in size. The total body length of the fox, together with the tail, does not exceed 70-75 cm, and the weight rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg. Unlike red fox, her African relative has more long legs and ears. The coloration of the back, legs and tail with a black tip is red with a brown tint, and the muzzle and belly are white. Around the eyes in adults, a black rim is clearly visible, and a strip of dark-colored fur runs along the ridge.

The African fox lives in Africa - it can often be seen in Senegal, Sudan and Somalia. Fox food consists of both animals (small rodents,) and plant components.

  • Bengal fox (Indian fox)(Vulpes bengalensis )

This type of fox is characterized by medium size. The height of adults at the withers does not exceed 28-30 cm, the weight of the fox ranges from 1.8 to 3.2 kg, and the maximum body length reaches 60 cm. The length of the tail of the fox with a black tip rarely reaches 28 cm. The wool that forms the hairline , short and sleek. It is painted in various shades of sandy brown or reddish brown.

The animal lives in the foothills of the Himalayas, feels great in India and in Bangladesh and Nepal. The menu of the Indian fox always has a place for sweet fruits, but preference is given to lizards, bird eggs, mice, and insects.

  • Korsak, steppe fox(Vulpes corsac )

It has a distant resemblance to an ordinary fox, however, unlike it, representatives of this species of foxes have a shorter pointed muzzle, large wide ears and longer legs. The body length of an adult corsac is 0.5-0.6 m, and the weight of the fox ranges from 4 to 6 kg. The color of the back, sides and tail of the fox is gray, sometimes with a red or red tint, and the color of the belly is yellowish or white. characteristic feature of this species is the light coloration of the chin and lower lip, as well as the dark brown or black color of the tip of the tail.

The steppe fox lives in many countries: from the southeast of Europe to Asia, including Iran, the territory of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. Often found in the Caucasus and the Urals, lives on the Don and in the lower Volga region.

Steppe foxes feed on rodents (voles, jerboas, mice), destroy nests, hunting for bird eggs, sometimes attack and hares. There is practically no plant food in the diet of the steppe fox.

  • American corsac, pygmy agile fox, prairie fox(Vulpes Velox )

A small fox with a body length of 37 to 53 cm and a weight of 2 to 3 kg. The height of the animal at the withers rarely reaches 0.3 m, and the length of the tail is 35 cm. The characteristic light gray color of the thick short fox fur on the sides and back in summer period acquires a pronounced red hue with red-ocher tan marks. The throat and belly of the fox are distinguished by a lighter shade. The black markings on both sides of the sensitive nose and the dark tip of the tail are also a specific feature of the American corsac.

The pygmy fox lives in areas of plains and semi-deserts and has practically no territorial attachment.

The fox feeds on mice, loves to eat locusts and will not refuse carrion remaining from the prey of more seasoned predators.

  • sand fox(Vulpes rueppelli )

The animal has characteristically large, wide ears and paws, the pads of which are protected from the hot sand by a thick fur coat. Unlike most relatives, representatives of this species of foxes have well-developed not only hearing and smell, but also vision. The pale brown color of the back, tail and sides with separate white guard hairs serves as a good camouflage color for the fox in conditions of sand and stone placers in habitats. The weight of adult animals rarely reaches 3.5-3.6 kg, and the length of the body of the fox, together with the tail, does not exceed 85-90 cm.

The sand fox lives in the desert. Numerous populations are found in the sands of the Sahara desert - from Morocco and sultry Egypt to Somalia and Tunisia.

The sand fox feeds not too diversely, which is associated with the habitat. The fox's food includes lizards, jerboas and mice, and which the animal is absolutely not afraid of and deftly absorbs.

  • Tibetan fox(Vulpes ferrilata )

The animal grows to a size of 60-70 cm and weighs about 5 kg. The rusty-brown or fiery red color of the back, gradually turning into a light gray color of the sides and a white belly, gives the impression of stripes running along the body of the fox. The fur of the fox is dense and longer than that of other species.

The fox lives on the territory of the Tibetan plateau, is less common in northern India, Nepal, in some provinces of China.

The food of the Tibetan fox is varied, but pikas (haystacks) are its basis, although the fox is happy to catch mice and hares, does not disdain birds and their eggs, eats lizards and sweet berries.

  • Fenech ( Vulpes zerda)

This is the smallest fox in the world. The height of adult animals at the withers is only 18-22 cm with a body length of about 40 cm and a weight of up to 1.5 kg. The fennec fox is the owner of the largest ears among the representatives of the genus. The length of the ears reaches 15 cm. The surface of the pads on the fox's paws is pubescent, which makes it possible for the animal to calmly move along the hot sand. The belly of the animal is painted in White color, and the back and sides in various shades of red or fawn. The tip of the fox's fluffy tail is black. Unlike other relatives that make sounds out of necessity, foxes of this species often communicate with each other using barking, growling, and also howling sounds.

Fenechs live mainly in the central Sahara, but often this fox can be seen in Morocco, the Sinai and Arabian Peninsulas, near Lake Chad and in Sudan.

Fenech is an omnivorous fox: it hunts rodents and small birds, eats locusts and lizards, and will not refuse the roots of plants and their sweet fruits.

  • South African fox ( Vulpes chama)

A rather large animal with a weight of 3.5 to 5 kg and a body length of 45 to 60 cm. The length of the tail is 30-40 cm. The color of the fox varies from gray with a silvery tint to almost black on the back and gray with a yellowish tinge on the belly.

The fox lives exclusively in countries South Africa, especially large populations are found in Angola and Zimbabwe.

Omnivorous species: small rodents, lizards, low-nesting birds and their eggs, carrion and even food waste, which the animal looks for when entering private yards or landfills, are eaten.

  • Maikong, savannah fox, crabeater fox ( Cerdocyon thous)

The species has a body length of 60 to 70 cm, the fox's tail reaches 30 cm, the fox weighs 5-8 kg. The height of the mikong at the withers is 50 cm. The color is brown-gray with brown spots on the muzzle and paws. The color of the throat and belly can be gray, white or various shades of yellow. The tips of the ears and tail of the fox are black. The legs of the mikong are short and strong, the tail is fluffy and long. The weight of an adult mikong reaches 4.5-7.7 kg. The body length is approximately 64.3 cm, the tail length is 28.5 cm.

  • big-eared fox ( Otocyon megalotis)

The animal has disproportionately large ears, reaching 13 cm in height. The length of the body of the fox reaches 45-65 cm, the length of the tail is 25-35 cm. The weight of the fox varies between 3-5.3 kg. The hind legs of the animal have 4 fingers, the front ones have five fingers. The color of the animal is usually gray-yellow with brown, gray or yellow spots. The belly and throat of the fox have a lighter shade. The tips of the paws and ears are dark, there is a black stripe on the tail, the same stripe is on the muzzle of the fox. This type foxes differ from other species in the presence of 48 teeth (the rest of the genus has only 42 teeth).

The fox lives in southern and eastern Africa: in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, South Africa.

The main food of the fox is termites, beetles and locusts. Sometimes the animal feeds on bird eggs, lizards, small rodents, plant foods.

The distribution range of foxes includes all of Europe, the African continent, North America, Australia and a significant part of Asia. The fox lives in the forests and groves of Italy and Portugal, Spain and France, in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Russia and Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria, desert and mountainous areas Egypt and Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, Mexico and the United States of America. Foxes feel at ease in the fertile climate of India, Pakistan and China, as well as the harsh conditions of the Arctic and Alaska.

Under natural conditions, foxes live in ravines and ravines overgrown with vegetation, forests or plantations interspersed with fields, in desert and highlands. Burrows of other animals or dug on their own are often used as shelter. Burrows can be both simple and with a complex system of passages and emergency exits. Foxes can hide in caves, rock crevices, and tree hollows. They easily endure spending the night in the open. The animal easily adapts to life in cultivated landscapes. Fox populations have been observed even in the park areas of large cities.

Almost all members of the family lead an active nocturnal lifestyle, however, foxes often go hunting during the daytime.


red fox

The wild red, or red, fox is characterized by a red color of various shades, ranging from fiery red to almost gray. There are six main types of red fox coloration:
1) moth- reddish-red (fiery);
2) red- bright red, but without a fiery shade;
3) scarlet- light red or reddish yellow;
4) light- light sand-yellow color;
5) red-grey- gray, with a reddish belt along the spine;
6) gray- gray, with a dull reddish back.

Variation in the color of wild foxes is largely related to their habitat. The chest of red foxes is white or light yellow, the abdomen is white or red (like the sides) or with a black spot on a red background. The ears and ends of the paws (up to the carpal joint on the front and up to the hock on the hind legs) are black. The end of the tail is usually white or gray due to gray underfur or separate
ny pigmented hair. Separate black hairs are scattered along the tail, and often throughout the body. The underfur on the whole body is gray or brown in different shades.

Most red foxes are characterized by the presence of zone-colored hair (agouti) located on the back and sides. Only among moths are often found specimens in which zonal hair is absent. Often, red foxes have gray hair - pure white hair scattered all over the body, and white spots on the chest, stomach and paws. The white spot is characterized by white coloration in its area not only of the awn, but also of the underfur.

In its biology, as well as in breeding technology, the red fox practically does not differ from the silver-black fox. There is only a slight delay (2-3 weeks) during the period of active mating of females and worse maternal qualities, which determines a decrease in the yield of pups compared to the silver-black fox.

By selection, this disadvantage can be eliminated. The main task in breeding work with the red fox is to improve the color of their pubescence. The color characteristic of the Kamchatka fox (moth) and bastard is considered the most desirable. The presence of significant silveriness, which is determined by a light ring on the outer hair, located between the tops of the underfur and the pigmented tip of the awn, is undesirable.

white fox

Foxes, like other animals, have albinos. They have a pure white pubescence, depigmented tip of the nose and claws, light blue eyes with a reddish tint. Their coloration is recessive in relation to the color of wild foxes.

Ermine fox

In the wild, there are white foxes with black ears, paws and individual black hair scattered over the body and tail. The underfur is grey. When examining such foxes, one gets the impression that they lack yellow pigment, and black is preserved where it is also present in wild red foxes. But in some cases, the development of black pigment is weakened. These foxes do not represent industrial value, and they are not bred on fur farms.

Chromists

Among wild foxes, specimens are relatively common that lack black pigment, as a result of which their underfur is brown, often lighter than usual, paws and ears are also brown, black hair on the tail and back is absent. Otherwise, these foxes do not differ in coloration from normal red foxes. The heredity of chromists has not been studied, economic
they are of no value.

Silver-black and black-brown


The most widespread on fur farms were changes in the color of the fur, which caused the appearance of a black color. In foxes, two such breeds are known, which determine the color of silver-black and black-brown foxes. The first arose among wild foxes in Canada, the second - among the foxes of Eurasia and Alaska. Therefore, in foreign literature, black-brown foxes are often called Alaskan silver-black.

By appearance silver-black and black-brown foxes can differ only in that in black-brown foxes the tuft of hair located at the inner edge of the base of the auricle is brown in color. In some black-brown foxes, a significant development of red (of different tone and intensity) spots is sometimes observed behind the ears, on the sides, behind the shoulder blades and at the root of the tail.

Guard hairs with a white zone in their middle part are called silvery. The peculiarity of the silver foxes is that it can be spread over the entire back, on the sides (there is no silver hair on the abdomen) and on the neck, or it can capture only part of the body. Depending on the area of ​​the body occupied by silvery hair, the percentage of silveriness is determined: silverness located from the root of the tail to the ears is taken as 100%; for 75% - from the root of the tail to the shoulder blades; for 50% - from the root of the tail to half of the body. The body area occupied by silveriness can be any (10%, 30%, 80%), but always starts at the root of the tail.

In the same foxes, the percentage of silveriness can vary in different years.

In puppies in the first two weeks, silver is absent. It gradually begins to appear in two-, three-month-old young animals, first on the rump, and then gradually spreads to the head. Silver reaches its full development after the change of summer awn to winter.

The base color of black-brown and silver-black foxes can vary from dark brown (an undesirable type for breeding) to blue-black, which is highly valued.

Hair in which only the top is dyed is called platinum. The presence of a large amount of platinum hair in the pubescence of foxes is undesirable. They, to a greater extent than silver ones, are prone to breakage of the rod, which leads to the development of a defect in pubescence - cross-section. The black ends of the hair form a veil over the silvery zone.

That silver-black foxes never show obvious rufous tones can be explained by the different pigmentation of the hairline. There is evidence that black-brown foxes have both black and yellow pigment (but black suppresses the manifestation of yellow), while silver-black foxes have only black. In both cases, black pigment develops on all pigmented areas of the hair.

In the early years of fur farming, both silver-black and black-brown foxes were bred abroad, but the number of the latter gradually decreased, and they were completely replaced by the silver-black fox.

The silver-black fox was the first object of domestic fur farming.

When crossing silver-black foxes with black-brown foxes, the offspring has the color of gray foxes or bastards.

Sivodushki, bastards and "zamarayki"

When silver-black or black-brown foxes are crossed with red foxes, the color inheritance of the offspring differs in appearance from both parents. But the coloring can vary significantly: sivodushki (krestovki), bastards and "zamarayki" can be obtained. Foxes of these colors are not bred on farms.

The gray foxes are characterized by a significantly greater development of black pigment than the red foxes. They have a dark muzzle, except for rufous spots near the ears, a dark stripe runs between the ears and extends to the back and shoulder blades. Red spots remain around the ears, on the neck, behind the shoulder blades, as a result of which a more or less pronounced dark cross forms on the shoulders. Black coloration sometimes passes to the abdomen. On the rump, the dark color descends to the hind legs, but the areas at the root of the tail remain rufous. Chest, belly, legs dark. All, even very dark, gray hairs on the back, in addition to black hair, also have red hair, which distinguishes foxes of this type from black-brown ones with highly developed red spotting.

Bastards are similar in color to red foxes, but always have black spots on both sides on upper lip("mustache"). The black coloration on the paws is much more developed and spreads on the front paws up to the elbow, and on the hind legs - along the front surface of the leg to knee joint. A significant amount of black hair is scattered over the entire surface of the body and especially on the tail, which gives the coloration a denser tone. Their belly is gray or black.

"Zamarayki" (the term of Kamchatka hunters) are widespread in Kamchatka, in those areas where black-brown foxes are found. "Zamarayki" have a great resemblance to bastards.

At birth, gray foxes and bastards have the same color: they are gray, like puppies of black foxes, and have only small brown areas near the ears and on the body behind the front paws. In red foxes, puppies are also gray, but the brown coloring captures the entire upper part of the head. Subsequently, in bastards, earlier than in sivodushki, gray hair is replaced by red. In red fox puppies, the change from gray to red hair is most intense.

Pastel Fox

The pastel fox has a chocolate brown color. Her eyes, nose and claws are much lighter than those of silver-black. This fox did not receive distribution.

"Beige amber"

Fromm's farm in the USA breeds foxes called "beige amber" (Mauve amber). These animals are beige in color with a pinkish-blue tint. The guard hairs are blond and have only beige tips; fluff - from gray-beige, with a blue tint, to light beige. When crossed with silver-black foxes, they produce silver-black offspring.

Platinum Fox

The pubescence of the platinum fox is characterized by a weakening of the color and the appearance of a pattern in the form of white spotting, forming a certain pattern: a white stripe runs from the tip of the nose between the eyes and ears to the back of the head, where it merges with a wide white collar. On the chest, the collar is connected to the white belly. The tips of the paws are white, but they usually have individual pigmented spots on them. The white pattern is not clearly expressed in all platinum foxes. Darker forms have pigmented areas on a white spot, they are especially often observed on the neck, forming an incomplete collar, and sometimes it decreases. total area drawing. In lighter forms, white spots on the muzzle are very large: the ears turn out to be white, the white spot spreads over the frontal part and around the eyes. The eyes in this case acquire a blue color.

Platinum foxes are characterized by the presence of platinum hair, in which only the top is pigmented, and the middle and lower parts are white. The lack of color is considered a very light tone and brownish spots. When bred in purity, the fecundity of this form of foxes is 25% lower. When crossed with silver-black foxes, the fecundity of females is normal.

This breed appeared in 1933 in Norway on a silver-black fox farm. The name of the first male platinum fox is often called "mons". When platinum foxes are crossed with red foxes, both puppies with the color of ordinary gray foxes and bastards, as well as platinum gray foxes and platinum bastards (also called golden ones) will be born. At platinum sivodushki and ba-
Stards black and yellow pigments are located on the body, as in ordinary ones, with an undiluted color, but the general tone is much lighter, and they have a white pattern characteristic of platinum animals.

pearl fox

Like platinum, pearl foxes have a weakened color, but there is no pattern formed by white hair color. Platinum fox and pearl fox are crossed to produce ice fox.

Washington Platinum and Radium Foxes

These foxes have gray hair covering the entire body, head, paws and tail. These mutations have not received distribution, they are not bred here.

white-faced fox

In the white-faced fox, the skin pattern is the same as in the platinum fox, but the color intensity corresponds to the color of the silver-black foxes. Some breeders even note that white-faced silver-black foxes have a more intense black color. Sometimes the pattern is reduced to small white spots on the forehead, chest and paws.

The most widespread are white-faced silver-black foxes.

When crossing white-faced and platinum foxes, young animals are obtained in three colors: silver-black, white-faced and platinum, in a ratio close to 1:1:1.

snow fox

Other names for the snow fox are Georgian white, Bakurian. The coloration is white, black ears and black spots on the muzzle, back and paws. Cream shades are considered undesirable. This breed was obtained in the 40s of the XX century in the Bakurian fur farm.