The red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widespread members of the Carnivora order, present throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa , North America, and Eurasia. It's listed as the most unnoticed by the IUCN. Its reach has increased with human expansion, which has been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammal and bird populations. Because of its presence in Australia, it is among the list of "100 of the world's worst invasive species".
The red fox comes from a smaller-sized ancestor from Eurasia during the Middle Villafranchian period, and colonized North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation. Among the real foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form toward the carnivore. Regardless of its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species because of its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, this species often produces individuals with other dyes, including albinos and melanis. Forty-five subspecies are currently recognized, which are divided into two categories: the great fox in the north, and the small basalt fox of Asia and North Africa.
Red foxes are usually together in pairs or small groups of families, such as married couples and their children, or men with some women having familial connections. Young couples who marry stay with their parents to help take care of the new kit. This species mainly feeds on small rodents, although it may also target rabbits, game birds, reptiles, invertebrates and young ungulates. Fruits and vegetables are also eaten several times. Although red foxes tend to kill smaller predators, including other species of fox, red foxes are vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as wolves, coyotes, golden jackals, and medium and large felines.
This species has a long history of association with humans, which has been widely hunted for pests and furbearers for centuries, and is represented in folklore and human mythology. Due to its wide spread and large population, red fox is one of the most important animals harvested for fur trade. Too small to pose a threat to humans, he has benefited greatly from the existence of human habitation, and has successfully colonized many suburban and urban areas. Domestic Red fox is also underway in Russia, and has produced Domestic red fox.
Video Red fox
Terminology
Females are called vixens, and little babies are known as kits. Although the Arctic fox has a small native population in northern Scandinavia, whereas the corsac fox extends to European Russia, the red fox is the only fox of native Western Europe, and so is called the "fox" in English English daily.
The word "fox" comes from Old English, which comes from Proto-Germanic * fuhsaz . Compare with Western Frisian foks , Dutch vos , and German Fuchs . This, in turn, comes from Proto-Indo-Europe * pu? - 'thick-haired; tail'. Compare with Hindi p ?? ch 'tail', Tocharian B pÃÆ'¤k? 'tail; chowrie ', and Lithuania paustÃÆ'¬s ' fur '. The bushy tail also forms the basis for the Welsh fox name, llwynog , literally 'bushy', from llwyn 'bush'. Similarly, the Portuguese language: raposa from rabo 'tail', Lithuania uod? Gis from uodegÃÆ' 'tail', and Ojibwa waagosh from waa , which refers to "blows" up and down or blinks -the beast or tail.
The scientific term vulpes comes from the Latin word for fox, and gives adjectives vulpine and Maps Red fox
Evolution
The red fox is considered a more specialized form of Vulpes than the Afghan, corsac and Bengal foxes toward size and adaptation to carnivores; The skull exhibits far less neotenous properties than any other species, and the facial area is more developed. However, it is not as adapted for a purely carnivorous diet as the Tibetan fox.
Origins
This species originated from Eurasia, and may have evolved from Vulpes alopecoides or Chinese related V. chikushanensis , both living during the Middle Villafranchian. The earliest fossil specimens of V. vulpes were found in Baranya, Hungary from 3.4 to 1.8 million years ago. The ancestral species may be smaller than the present, since the earliest red fox fossils are smaller than the modern population. The earliest remains of modern species date back to the middle of the Pleistocene in relation to the rejection of early human settlements. This led to the theory that red foxes were hunted by primitive humans as a source of food and feathers.
North American colonization
The red fox colonizes the continent of North America in two waves: during or before Illinoian glaciation, and during Wisconsin glaciers. Gene mapping shows that the red fox in North America has been isolated from their Old World counterparts for over 400,000 years, thus increasing the likelihood that speciation has occurred, and that the previous binomial name Vulpes fulva may apply. At the northern end, red fox foxes have been found in Sangamonian deposits in Fairbanks District and Medicine Hat. Fossils from Wisconsian are present at 25 sites in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming. Although they range far south during Wisconsinan, the onset of warm conditions shrinks their reach to the north, and recently reclaimed their former American territory due to human-caused environmental changes. The genetic test shows two different red foxes that exist in North America, which have been separated since Wisconsin. The northern (or boreal) refugium occurs in Alaska and western Canada, and consists of a large subspecies V.Ã, v. Alascensis , V.Ã, v. Abietorum , V.Ã, v.Ã, regalis , and V.Ã, v.Ã, rubricosa . The southern (or mountain) displacement takes place in subalpine gardens and alpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountains and Sierra Nevada. This includes subspecies V.Ã, v.Ã, macroura , V.Ã, v cascadensis , and V.Ã, v.Ã, necator . The last clade has been separated from all other red fox populations since the last glacial maximum, and may have unique ecological or physiological adaptations.
Although European foxes introduced into parts of the United States in the 1900s recent genetic inquiry have shown the absence of a European fox haplotype in any North American population. Also, introduced the eastern red fox has been colonized southern California, San Joaquin Valley, and San Francisco Bay Area, but appears to have been mixed with red fox Sacramento Valley V.Ã, v.Ã, patwin only in the hybrid zone the narrow. In addition, there is no visible evidence of crossbreeding of the eastern red fox in California with montane Sierra Nevada red fox, or other populations at Intermountain West (between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Cascade mountains and Sierra Nevada to the west.
Subspecies
In 2005, 45 subspecies were recognized. In 2010, another distinct subspecies, which inhabited the Sacramento Valley meadows, V. patwin , was identified through a mitochondrial haplotype study.
Substantial gene pools of mixing between different subspecies are known; The English red fox has been crossbreeding with foxes imported from Germany, France, Belgium, Sardinia, and possibly Siberia and Scandinavia. However, genetic studies show very little difference between red fox samples across Europe. The lack of genetic diversity is consistent with the red fox being a very vibrating species, with a red fox covering 320 km (200 miles) in less than a year.
The red fox subspecies in Eurasia and North Africa are divided into two categories:
- The North Fox is large and brightly colored.
- The southern gray desert swamp includes the Asian subspecies V.Ã, v.Ã, griffithi , V.Ã, v.Ã, pusilla , and V. flavescens . This fox displays a transitional feature between the northern red fox and the small fox species; Their skulls have primitive, neotenous traits rather than northern shapes, and they are much smaller; the maximum size reached by the southern fox is always less than the average size of the northern fox. Their limbs are also longer, and their ears are larger.
The red dome that lives in Central Asia shows the physical characteristics of the middle to the north and south forms.
Description
Build
The red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs. The tail, which is longer than half the body length (70 percent of the head and body length), is hairy and reaches the ground when in a standing position. Their pupils are oval and vertically oriented. Nictitating membranes are present, but move only when the eyes are closed. The front features have five digits, while the hind legs have only four and less dewclaws. They are very agile, able to jump over a fence as high as 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches), and swim well. Vixens usually have four pairs of pacifiers, although vixens with seven, nine, or ten nipples are not uncommon. Male testes are smaller than the Arctic fox.
Their skulls are quite narrow and elongated, with small brains. Their canine teeth are relatively long. Skull's sexual dimorphism is more pronounced than in corsac foxes, with red fox women tend to have smaller skulls than men, with larger nasal areas and hard palates, and have larger canine teeth. Their skulls are distinguished from dogs with narrow snouts, smaller premolar teeth, slimmer canine teeth, and concave than convex profiles.
Dimensions
Red fox is the largest species of the genus Vulpes . However, relative to dimensions, the red fox is much lighter than the same-sized dog of the genus Canis . Their extremity bones, for example, weigh 30 percent less per unit area of ​​bone than would be expected for a dog of the same size. They feature significant individual, sexual, age and geographic sizes. On average, adults measure 35-50 cm (14-20 inches) in shoulders and 45-90 cm (18-35 inches) in body length with tails of 30-55.5 cm (11.8-21, 9 inches). The ear measures 7.7-12.5 cm (3-5 inches) and 12-18.5 cm (5-7 inch) rear legs. Weights range from 2.2-14 kg (5-31 pounds), with vixens typically weighing 15-20% lower than males. Adult red fox has a skull measuring 129-167 mm (5.1-6.6 inches), while a female fox is 128-159 mm (5.0-6.3 inches). The front foot print size is 60 mm (2.4 inches) and 45 mm (1.8 inches) wide, while the rear foot prints are 55 mm (2.2 inches) in length and 38 mm (1.5 inches) wide. They ran at a speed of 6-13 km/h (4-8 mph), and had a maximum running speed of 50 km/h (30 mph). They have a 25-35cm (9.8-13.8 inches) step when walking at normal speed. The North American red fox is generally built lightly, with relatively long bodies for their mass and has high levels of sexual dimorphism. The British red fox is very strong, but short, while the continental European red fox is closer to the general average among the red fox populations. The largest recorded red fox in England is 17.2 kg (38 lb), 1.4 meters (4 ft 7 inches) long man, killed in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in early 2012.
Feather
The winter fur is dense, soft, smooth and relatively long. For the northern fox, the fur is very long, dense and smooth, but shorter, less rare and more rugged in its southern form. Among the northern foxes, North American varieties generally have the silkiest guard hair, while most Eurasian red foxes have coarse bristles. There are three main color morphs; red, silver/black and cross (see Mutation ). In a typical red morph, their coats are generally glowing brightly with yellowish colors. A line of weak and spreading patterns of many brown-reddish-chestnut hairs appear along the spine. Two additional lines leave the shoulder blades, which, along with the spinal line, form a cross. The lower part of the back is often a dotted silver color. The pelvis is brighter than the back, while the chin, lower lip, throat and front of the chest are white. The remaining bottom surface of the body is dark, brown or reddish. During lactation, the abdominal feathers of the vixens may turn red to brick. The upper part of the limb is rusty red, while the claw is black. The front of the face and upper neck are bright red-brown, while the upper lip is white. The back of the ear is black or brown, while the inner surface is whitish. The top of the tail is a reddish brownish color, but is lighter in color than the back and sides. The bottom of the tail is pale gray with a color like straw. Black spots, the location of the supracaudal gland, usually at the base of the tail. The tip of the tail is white.
Mutations
Atypical colors of red fox usually represent stages leading to full melanism, and most occur in cold regions.
Sense
Red fox has binocular vision, but their vision reacts mainly to movement. Their acute hearing perception, capable of hearing black grouse change roosts at 600 steps, crow flight at 0.25-0.5 kilometers (0.16-0.31 mi) and squeaking rats around 100 meters (330Ã, ft). They were able to find sounds in one degree at 700-3000 Hz, although less accurate at higher frequencies. Their sense of smell is good, but weaker than the special dog.
Scent glands
The red fox has a pair of anal sacs lined with sebaceous glands, both of which are open through a single channel. The anal pouch acts as a fermentation chamber where aerobic and anaerobic bacteria convert sebum into odorous compounds, including aliphatic acids. The oval-shaped gland is 25 mm (1.0 in) long and 13 mm (0.51 in) wide, and is reported to be violet. The presence of the leg glands is vague. Deep interdigital cavity, with a tinge of redness and strong smell. The sebaceous glands are present at the angle of the jaw and lower jaw.
Behavior
Social and territorial behavior
A good red fox sets a stable range of homes in certain areas or those that travel around without a permanent residence. They use their urine to mark their territory. A male fox raises one hind leg and urine is sprayed forward in front of him, while the female fox squats down so that the urine is sprayed on the ground between the hind legs. Urine is also used to mark empty cache sites, which are used to store found food, as a reminder to not waste time investigating them. The use of up to 12 different urinary positions allows them to precisely control the position of the scent sign. Red fox lives in a family group sharing shared areas. In favorable habitats and/or areas with low hunting pressure, subordinate fox can be present in the range. Subordinate fox can be number one or two, sometimes up to eight in one region. These subordinates could become the once dominant animal, but most were younger than the previous year, who acted as assistants in maintaining vixen developer equipment. Or, their presence has been described in response to a surplus while food unrelated to assisting reproductive success. The non-breeder fighters will keep, play, take care, provide and take kit, an example of family selection. Red foxes can leave their families after they reach adulthood if the chances of winning their own territory are high. Otherwise, they will stay with their parents, at the cost of delaying their own reproduction.
Reproduction and development
The red fox reproduces once a year in the spring. Two months before the oestrus (usually December), the vixens reproductive organs change shape and size. By the time they enter their estrus period, their uterine horns are doubled, and their ovaries grow 1.5 to 2 times larger. The formation of sperm in males begins in August-September, with testicles reaching their greatest weight in December-February. The period of oestrus vixen lasts for three weeks, in which the fox mating dog with vixens for several days, often in the burrow. Male bulb gland enlarges during intercourse, forming a copulate bond that can last for more than an hour. Period of pregnancy lasted 49-58 days. Although foxes are mostly monogamous, DNA evidence from a single population shows large levels of polygyny, incest, and mixed fathers. Subordinate children may become pregnant, but usually fail to whine, or have their equipment killing postpartum either by dominant women or other subordinates.
The average waste size consists of four to six kits, though litter up to 13 kits has occurred. Larger litter is typical in areas where fox death rates are high. Kit born blind, deaf and toothless, with dark brown feathers. At birth, they weigh 56-110 g (2.0-3.9 oz) and measure 14.5 centimeters (5.7 inches) in body length and 7.5 cm (3.0 inches) in tail length. At birth, they are short-legged, large-headed and have broad breasts. Mothers stick with kits for 2-3 weeks, because they can not be thermoregulated. During this period, fathers or barren sting feed the mothers. Vixens are very protective of their kit, and have been known to even fight terriers in their defense. If the mother dies before the independent kit, the father takes over as their provider. Eye kits' open after 13-15 days, during which time their ear canal is open and their upper teeth erupt, with the lower teeth appearing 3-4 days later. Their eyes are initially blue, but turn yellow at 4-5 weeks. The color of the mantle starts to change at the age of three weeks, when the black eye line appears. With one month, red and white spots are visible on their faces. During this time, their ears are erect and the snout is elongated. Kit begins to leave their nests and experiment with solid foods brought by their parents at 3-4 weeks. The lactation period lasts 6-7 weeks. Their wool coat begins to be coated by guard hair sparkling after 8 weeks. At the age of 3-4 months, the equipment is long-legged, narrow and muscular chest. They reach adult proportions at the age of 6-7 months. Some vixens can achieve sexual maturity at 9-10 months of age, thus giving birth to their first child at the age of one year. In captivity, their longevity can be up to 15 years, although in the wild they usually do not survive past the age of 5 years.
Denning behavior
Outside the breeding season, most red foxes love to live in the open, in high-vegetation areas, although they can enter the burrow to avoid bad weather. Their burrows are often excavated on hillsides or mountains, ravines, cliffs, steep edges of bodies of water, trenches, hollows, gullies, in rock gaps and abandoned human environments. Red foxes prefer to dig their burrows on well-drained soil. Dens built between tree roots can survive for decades, while those dug in the meadows last only a few years. They can permanently leave their nests during the outbreak of scabies, perhaps as a defense mechanism against the spread of the disease. In the Eurasian desert region, foxes can use wolf burrows, hedgehogs and other large mammals, as well as those excavated by gerbil colonies. Compared to burrows built by arctic foxes, badgers, marmots and corsac foxes, red fox is not too complicated. Red fox burrows are divided into nests and temporary holes, which only consist of small parts or caves for concealment. The main entrance of the hole leads downward (40-45 Â °) and extends into a nest, from where many branches of the side tunnel. The Burrow depth ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 meters (1Ã, ft 8Ã, -8Ã, ft 2Ã, in), rarely extends to groundwater. The main line can reach 17 m (56 ft) in length, standing on average 5-7 m (16-23 ft). In the spring, red foxes clean the nest of their excess land through rapid movement, first with the front leg then with kicking motion with their hind legs, throwing the dumped soil more than 2 m (6 feet 7 inches) from the burrow. When the kit is born, the removed debris is stepped on, thus forming the place where the kit can play and receive food. They may share their nests with woodchucks or badgers. Unlike badgers, who clean the ground carefully and defecate in the latrines, red foxes usually leave prey chunks around their nests. & Gt; The average sleep time of a captive red fox is 9.8 hours per day.
Communications
Body language
The red fox body language consists of ear movements, tail and posture, with signs of their body emphasizing certain movements. Posture can be divided into aggressive/dominant and scary/submissive categories. Some postures can unite the two.
The curious fox would twist and wag their ears while sniffing. Individuals who play games will blow their ears and get up with their hind legs. A male fox who seduces a female, or after successfully expelling an intruder, will rotate their ears from the outside, and raise their tail in a horizontal position, with the tip raised upward. When scared, the red fox grins in submission, arches their backs, arches their bodies, curls up their legs and pounds their tails with their ears pointing back and pressing their skulls. When only expressing submission to the dominant animal, its posture is similar, but without arching the back or bending the body. The submissive fox will approach the dominant animal with low posture, so the muzzle reaches the greeting. When two matching foxes meet each other on top of the food, they approach each other sideways and press against each other, betraying a mixture of fear and aggression through tail lashes and arched backs without squatting and pulling their ears back without flattening them against their skulls. When launching an assertive attack, the red fox approaches directly rather than sideways, with their tails higher and their ears rotating sideways. During such a fight, red foxes will stand on their bodies with their front feet, using the threat of open mouth. Such fights usually only occur among teenagers or adults of the same gender.
Vocalization
The red fox has a wide vowel range, and produces a different sound that includes five octaves, which are facing each other. The latest analysis identifies 12 different sounds produced by adults and 8 by kit. The majority of votes can be divided into "contact" and "interaction" calls. The first varies according to the distance between individuals, while the second varies according to the degree of aggression.
- Call contacts: Most commonly heard contact calls are three to five syllables of "wow wow wow wow ", often made by two foxes approaching each other This call is most commonly heard from December to February (when they can be confused with the territory call of the tawny owl.) The "wow wow wow call" varies according to the individual; the prisoner has been recorded to answer calls that have been recorded from their fellow pens, but not from strangers.The kit began to call "wow wow wow" at age 19, when crave attention.When the red foxes came closer, they emitted a trecellabic welcome similar to a chicken hit.The adults greeted their kit with a rough voice.
- Call interaction: When addressing each other, red fox emits high-pitched whining, especially submissive animals. A submissive submissive approached by a dominant animal will produce a scream like a squealing siren. During an aggressive encounter with the addicts, they make a hoarse buzzing sound, similar to the ratchet, called "gekkering". Gekkering occurs mostly during the dating season of rival men or vixens who refuse down payment.
Other calls that do not fit into the two categories are the long, drawn out, syllable sounds, like the one usually heard during the breeding season, allegedly emitted by vixens calling the men.When the danger is detected, the fox radiates a tribal skin At close range, it is a muffled cough, while at a great distance it is sharper.Kits make a grinning whimper while nursing, this call becomes very loud when they are dissatisfied.
Ecology
Diet, hunting and eating habits
Red fox is an omnivore with a very varied diet. Research conducted in the former Soviet Union shows red foxes consuming more than 300 species of animals and several dozen species of plants. They mainly eat small rodents such as rats, mice, ground squirrels, hamsters, gerbils, woodchucks, pocket gophers, and deer mice. Species of secondary prey include birds (with passeriformes, galliformes and dominating aquatic birds), leporid, porcupine, raccoon, opossum, reptiles, insects, other invertebrates and flotsam (marine mammals, fish and echinoderms). On very rare occasions, foxes can attack young or small ungulates. They usually target mammals up to about 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) of weight, and they need 500 grams (18 oz) of food each day. Red foxes are ready to eat plant material, and in some areas, fruits can reach 100% of their food in the fall. Common fruits consumed include blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, persimmons, mulberries, apples, plums, grapes, and grains. Other plant ingredients include grasses, sediments and tubers.
Red foxes are involved in predatory games and singing birds, rabbits, rabbits, muskrats, and young ungulates, especially in the preservation, propagation and hunting where lay eggs are protected and raised, and in poultry farms.
While the popular consensus is that olfaction is essential for hunting, two studies that experimentally investigate the role of smell, hearing, and visual cues find that visual cues are the most important for hunting red foxes and coyotes.
Red Foxes prefer to hunt in the morning before sunrise and late at night. Although they are usually self-feeding, they can gather in resource-rich settings. While hunting prey like mice, they first determine the location of their prey with sound, then jump, sail high above their quarry, aiming in the air with their tails, before landing on a target of up to 5 meters (16 feet). They usually only eat carrion in the afternoon and at night. They are very possessive of their food and will retain their catch from the dominant animal. Red foxes sometimes commit surplus murders; during one breeding season, four foxes were recorded to have killed some 200 black-headed gulls, with peaks during dark, windy hours when flying conditions were unfavorable. Losses for poultry and canned game birds can be great because of this. The red fox does not seem to like the taste of a mole but will still catch them alive and present it to their gear as a toy.
A 2008-2010 study of 84 red foxes in the Czech Republic and Germany found that successful hunting in long vegetation or under snow seemed to involve aligning the fox with the Earth's magnetic field.
Enemies and competitors
Red fox usually dominates other fox species. Arctic foxes generally escape the red fox by living farther north, where food is too rare to support larger red species. Although the northern boundary of the red species is related to food availability, the southern range of Arctic species is limited by its first presence. The Red and Arctic fox were equally introduced to almost every island from the Aleutian Islands to the Alexander Islands during the 1830s to the 1930s by feather companies. The red fox always replaces the arctic fox, with one red fox reported to have killed all the arctic foxes populated on a small island in 1866. Where they sympathize, the Arctic fox can also escape the competition by feeding on lemts and flotsam instead of rats , as favored by the red fox. Both species will kill each other, given the opportunity. The red fox is a serious competitor of corsac fox, because they are hunting the same prey all year round. Red species are also stronger, better adapted to snow hunting deeper than 10 cm (4 inches) and are more effective in hunting and catching medium to large rats. The Corsac Fox seems to have only beaten the red fox in the semi-desert and grassland areas. In Israel, the Blanford fox escapes from competition with the red fox by confining himself to rocky cliffs and actively avoiding the open plains populated by red foxes. The red fox dominates the kit and the fox is fast. The fox kit usually avoids competition with their larger cousins ​​by living in a drier environment, although red foxes have increased in the range previously occupied by the kit because of human-induced environmental changes. The red fox will kill both species, and compete for food and nesting places. The gray fox is amazing, because they dominate the red fox wherever they meet. Historically, the interaction between the two species was rare, since the gray fox preferred a wooded or semi-arid habitat compared to the open and mesic favored by the red fox. However, the interaction becomes more frequent because deforestation allows the red fox to colonize the gray fox area.
Wolves can kill and eat red foxes in disputes about carrion. In areas in North America where the red fox and coyote populations are sympatric, the fox range tends to be outside the coyote region. The main cause of this separation is believed to be the active evasion of the coyote by the fox. The interactions between the two species vary in nature, ranging from active antagonism to indifference. The majority of aggressive meetings are initiated by the coyote, and there are some red fox reports that act aggressively against the coyote except when attacked or when their kit is approached. Foxes and coyotes are sometimes seen feeding together. In Israel, red foxes share their habitat with the golden wolf. Where their ranges meet, the two canids compete because of a similar diet. Foxes ignore the scent of wolves or traces in their territory, and avoid physical closeness with the wolf itself. In areas where wolves become very abundant, fox populations decline significantly, apparently due to competitive exceptions.
Red fox dominates raccoons, sometimes killing their equipment or biting an adult to death. Cases are known by fox killing raccoons entering their nests. Both species compete for mouse-like prey. The competition peaked in early spring, when food was scarce. In Tartaria, red fox predation accounted for 11.1% of deaths among 54 raccoons, and accounted for 14.3% of the 186 deaths of raccoon dogs in northwestern Russia.
Red foxes can kill small mustelids like weasels, rock martens, pine martens, mink, colonoks, polecats and young sable. Eurasian men can live with the red fox in the isolated part of the big hole. It is possible that these two species are mutually tolerant of mutualism; The fox provides the badger with the leftovers, while the badger keeps the cleanliness of the openings together. However, cases are known by badgers who drive vixens from their nests and destroy their children without eating them. Wolverines can kill red foxes, often when the fox is asleep or near the carcass. Foxes in turn can kill unmanned young wolves.
Red fox can compete with striped hyenas on a large carcass. Red foxes can give way to hyenas in unopened carcasses, because the stronger jaws can easily rip off flesh that is too strong for the fox. Foxes can disturb the hyenas, using smaller sizes and higher speeds to avoid hyena attacks. Sometimes, foxes seem to deliberately torture hyenas even when no food is at stake. Some foxes can mistake their attacks, and get killed. The remains of a fox are often found in hyena nests, and hyenas may steal foxes from traps.
In Eurasia, red foxes can be eaten by leopards, caracals and Eurasia lynxes. The lynxes chase red foxes into the snow, where their longer legs and larger claws give them an advantage over the fox, especially when the depth of snow exceeds one meter. In the Velikoluki district of Russia, red fox does not exist or is only seen occasionally where lynxes build permanent territory. The researchers consider lynxes to represent much less danger for red fox than wolves. The felid predictors of North American red foxes include cougars, Canadian lynxes and Bobcats. Sometimes, large birds like Eurasian eagles will prey on young foxes, while golden eagles are known to kill adults.
Range
Red fox is a very large animal, whose reach covers nearly 70 million km 2 (27 million sq. Million). They are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and Asia. They are not in Iceland, the Arctic archipelago, some parts of Siberia, and in the extreme desert.
The red fox is not in New Zealand and is classified as a "newly banned organism" under the Dangerous Substances and the New Organism Act of 1996, preventing them from being imported.
Australia
In Australia, the 2012 forecast indicates that there are more than 7.2 million red foxes with a widespread range in most continental plains. The species was founded in Australia by consecutive introductions by settlers in the 1830s in the British colony at Van Diemen's Land (as early as 1833) and Port Phillip District of New South Wales (as early as 1845) for the purpose of traditional English sports. fox hunt. The permanent fox population was not established on the island of Tasmania and it is widely held that they are unable to compete with the Tasmanian devil. On land, however, the species succeeds as a peak predator. It is generally less common in areas where dingo is more common, however it is, primarily through burrowing behavior, achieving niche differentiation with both wild dogs and stray cats. It has therefore become one of the most invasive species on the continent. Red fox has been involved in the extinction and decline of some native Australian species, especially those from the Potoroidae family including desert kangaroos. The spread of red foxes in the southern part of the continent coincides with the spread of rabbits in Australia and corresponds to a decrease in the distribution of some ground mammals, including tailed bettong, dug bettong, rufous bettong, bilbys, numbed, restrained nailtail and quokka. Most of these species are now limited to areas (such as islands) where red fox is absent or rare. Local eradication programs exist, although eradication has proved difficult because of the behavior of denning and night hunting, so the focus is on management with the introduction of state gifts. According to the Tasmanian government, the red fox was introduced to the previously fox-free Tasmanian island in 1999 or 2000, posing significant threats to native wildlife including eastern bettong, and eradication programs undertaken by the Department of Primary and Tasmanian Water Industry in Tasmania. has been established.
Sardinia
The origin of the Sardinian subspecies ichnusae is uncertain, as none of the Pleistocene precipitates in their homeland today. Perhaps it originated during the Neolithic after its introduction to the island by humans. It is likely that the population of the Sardinian fox comes from repeated introductions of animals from various locations in the Mediterranean. This latter theory can explain the phenotypic diversity of subspecies.
Diseases and parasites
Red fox is the most important rabies vector in Europe. In London, arthritis is not uncommon in foxes, which often occur in the spine. Foxes can be infected with leptospirosis and tularemia, although they are not particularly susceptible to the latter. They may also fall ill from listeriosis and spirochetosis, and act as vectors in spreading erysipelas, brucellosis and tick-borne encephalitis. The mysterious fatal illness near Lake Sartlan in the Novosibirsk Oblast was noted among the local red foxes, but the cause has not yet been determined. The possibility is considered that it is caused by the acute form of encephalomyelitis, which was first observed in raised silver fox. The individual case of the infected fox Yersinia pestis is known.
Red fox is not easily attacked by lice. Species like Spilopsyllus cuniculi may only be caught from species of fox prey, while others like Archaeopsylla erinacei are captured while traveling. Lice that eat red fox include Pulex irritans , Ctenocephalides canis and Paraceras melis . Lice such as Ixodes ricinus and I. hexagonus are not uncommon in foxes, and are usually found in nursing vectors and kits still on their earth. Flea Trichodectes vulpis specifically targets the fox, but is rarely found. The Sarcoptes scabiei mite is the most important cause of scabies in red foxes. This causes a wide hair loss, starting from the base of the tail and hindfeet, then the butt before moving throughout the body. In the final stages of this condition, foxes can lose most of their feathers, 50% of their body weight and possibly undermine the infected limb. In the epizootic phase of the disease, it usually takes a four-month fox to die after the infection. Other endoparasites include Demodex folliculorum, Notoderes, Otodectes cynotis (often found in the ear canal), Linguatula serrata (which infects the nasal passages) and ringworm.
Up to 60 species of worms are known to infect foxes in feather farms, while 20 in the wild. Some coccidian species of the genera Isospora and Eimeria are also known to infect them. The most common nematode species found in foxes are Toxocara canis and Uncinaria stenocephala Capillaria aerophila and Crenosoma vulpis, the latter two infect their lungs. Capillaria plica infects the fox bladder. Trichinella spiralis seldom influences them. The most common tapeworm species in fox are Taenia spiralis and T. pisiformis . Others include Echinococcus granulosus and E.Ã, multilocularis . Eleven species of trematodes infect red foxes, including Metorchis conjunctus.
Relationships with humans
In folklore and mythology
The red fox appears prominently in folklore and the mythology of human culture with which they are sympatric. In Greek mythology, the Teumessian fox or Cadmean vixen, is a giant fox that is destined never to be caught. The fox is one of Echidna's children.
In Celtic mythology, the red fox is a symbolic animal. In the Cotswolds, magicians are thought to take the form of foxes to steal butter from their neighbors. In the next European folklore, Reynard the Fox symbolizes trickery and deceit. He originally appeared (later under the name "Reinardus") as a secondary character in the 1150 poem "Ysengrimus". He reappeared in 1175 at Pierre Saint Cloud's Le Roman de Renart, and made his British debut in Geoffrey Chaucer. Many Reynard's adventures may have originated from actual observations on fox behavior; he is the enemy of the wolf and has a fondness for blackberries and wines.
Chinese folklore tells of fox-spirits called huli jing that may have up to nine tails, or
Crafty Fox is commonly found in Native American mythology, where it is described as an almost constant companion to the Coyote. Fox, however, is a fraudster's friend who often steals Coyote food. In the mythical creation of Achomawi, Fox and Coyote are the co-creators of the world, which go just before the arrival of man. The Yurok believe that Fox, in anger, captures the sun, and ties him to a hill, causing him to burn a huge hole in the ground. An Inuit story tells of how Fox, portrayed as a beautiful woman, tricked the hunter to marry her, only to continue her original form and go after she offended her feelings. A story of Menominee tells of how Fox is a friend who can not be trusted for the Wolf.
Hunting
The earliest historical record of fox hunting dates from the fourth century BC; Alexander the Great is known to have hunted foxes and seals dated from 350 BC depicting a Persian rider in the process of overhauling a fox. Xenophon, who sees hunting as part of the education of cultured men, advocates the killing of foxes as pests, as they divert dogs from rabbits. The Romans were hunting foxes in the 80s. During the Dark Ages in Europe, foxes are considered secondary mines, but gradually increasingly important. Cnut Large fox, released as Beasts of the Chase, lower mine category than Beasts of Venery. Foxes gradually hunted less as pests and more like Beasts of the Chase, until in the late 1200s, Edward I had a pack of royal foxes and a special fox hunter. In this period, foxes are increasingly hunted on the ground with dogs, rather than underground with terriers. Edward, the Second Duke of York helped climb the fox as a more prestigious mine in his book The Master of Game. In the Renaissance, the fox hunt became the traditional sport of the nobility. After the British Civil War caused a decline in deer populations, the fox hunt was gaining in popularity. In the mid-1600s, England was divided into fox hunting grounds, with the first fox hunt club set up (the first being Charlton Hunt Club in 1737). The popularity of fox hunts in the UK peaked during the 1700s. Though native to North America, the red fox from England was imported for sporting purposes to Virginia and Maryland in 1730 by a prosperous tobacco grower. This American fox hunter considers red species more sporting than the gray species.
Gray equipped more fun, red more fun. Gray does not go this far, but is usually kept near the house, into the circuit six or eight miles. 'A dark red, generally regardless of age, in honor of his prowess, may lead dogs throughout the day, and ends with their loss at nightfall, after carrying them over a thirty-mile stretch of dead. Gray capture is what men are proud of; the 'dark red' pursuit is what they 'thread' about.
The red fox is still widely persecuted as a pest, with human-caused deaths among the highest causes of death in species. The annual fox killings are: UK 21,500-25,000 (2000); German 600,000 (2000-2001); Austria 58,000 (2000-2001); Sweden 58,000 (1999-2000); Finland 56,000 (2000-2001); Denmark 50,000 (1976-1977); Switzerland 34.832 (2001); Norway 17,000 (2000-2001); Saskatchewan (Canada) 2,000 (2000-2001); Nova Scotia (Canada) 491 (2000-2001); Minnesota (USA) 4,000-8,000 (average harvest yearly 2002-2009); New Mexico (USA) 69 (1999-2000).
Use of fur
Red fox is one of the most important annoying animals harvested by the feather trade. Their fur is used for decorations, scarves, gloves, jackets and coats. They are mainly used as pruning for both cloth and fur garments, including night nightgowns. The silver-morph fox skin is very popular as a cloak, while the crosslink is mostly used for scarves and rarely for pruning. The number of fox shawls sold exceeds the number of scarves made from other furbearers. However, this amount is overshadowed by the total amount of fox fur used for goal cutting. The silver morphs are the most appreciated by the furriers, followed by the cross and the respective red morphs. & Gt; In the early 1900s, more than 1,000 American fox skins were imported into the UK each year, while 500,000 were exported annually from Germany and Russia. The total trade of wild wild foxes around the world in 1985-86 was 1,543,995 pelts. Fox represents 45% of the fur captured in the wild for $ 50 million. The price of the pelt is increasing, with the 2012 North American wholesale auction price averaging $ 39, and the average 2013 price of $ 65.78.
The North American red foxes, especially those from northern Alaska, are the most valuable for their fur, as they have subtle texture hair guards, which, once applied, allow the wearer of unlimited mobility. The red fox that lives in the southern coastal areas of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands is an exception, because they have very coarse fur that rarely exceeds one third of the price of their northern Alaskan cousin. Most European birds have coarse textured feathers compared to North American varieties. The only exception is the peltries of the Russian Northeast and the Far East, but they are still beaten by North American feathers in beaming.
Predation of cattle and pets
Red fox may be on occasion of prey on sheep. Typically, sheep targeted by fox tend to be a physically debilitated specimen, but not always. Small race sheep, like Blackface, are more vulnerable than larger breeds like Merino. Twins may be more susceptible to fox than singlet, because the parent can not effectively keep both simultaneously. Cross-breeding, highland sheep with larger lowland sheep can result in a difficult and prolonged labor for the female parent because of the weight of the resulting offspring, thus making the lamb more at risk of fox predation. Sheep born from gimmers (first-time mothers raised) are more often killed by fox than experienced mothers, who are closer to their children.
Red foxes can prey on domestic rabbits and guinea pigs if they are left walking open or allowed to be free in the garden. This problem is usually avoided by placing them in a strong cage and walking. Urban foxes often meet with cats and can eat with them. In a physical confrontation, cats usually have the upper hand. Confirmed cases of fox killing typically involve kittens. Although most foxes do not prey on cats, some may do so, and may treat them more as competitors than food.
Taming and domestication
In un-modified wild circumstances, red foxes are generally not suitable as pets. Many tools that should be abandoned are adopted by well-intentioned people during the spring period, although it is unlikely that vixens will leave their children. Orphans are actually rare, and who adopted possible kits that deviate from their nest sites. The kit requires almost constant control; while still breastfeeding, they need milk at four-hour intervals day and night. Once weaned, they can become destructive of leather objects, furniture and electrical wiring. Although generally friendly to people when young, the prisoner's red fox is afraid of humans, except for the handlers, once they reach the age of 10 weeks. They maintain strong instincts of wild invasion, and can pose a threat to pet birds, even when fed well. Though suspicious of strangers, they can form bonds with cats and dogs, even those raised to hunt foxes. A benign fox was once used to attract a duck that approached a hunting curtain.
A truly tamed red fox strain was introduced by Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyayev who, over a period of 40 years, raised several generations of silver morph fox on feather farms, choosing only those who show the least fear of humans. Finally, Belyayev's team only selects those who show the most positive response to humans, resulting in a fox population whose behavior and appearance change significantly. After about ten generations of controlled breeding, these foxes no longer show fear in humans, and often wag their tails and lick their human caretakers to show affection. This behavioral change is accompanied by physical changes, which include a dappled mantle, floppy ears in puppies, and a curved tail, similar to the features that distinguish domestic dogs from wolves.
Urban Fox
Distribution
Red foxes have been very successful in environmental colonization, especially low-density suburbs, although many have also been seen in densely populated urban areas away from the countryside. Throughout the 20th century, they built themselves in many cities of Australia, Europe, Japan, and North America. This species first colonized British cities during the 1930s, entered Bristol and London during the 1940s, and later established themselves at Cambridge and Norwich. In Australia, red foxes were recorded in Melbourne in the early 1930s, while in Zurich, Switzerland, they only started appearing in the 1980s. The urban red fox is the most common on the outskirts of a settlement consisting of private housing, low-density housing. They are scarce in areas where industry, commerce or houses that rent out councils dominate. In these latter areas, distribution is a lower average density because they are less dependent on human resources; The fox house range is an average of 80-90 hectares (200-220 hectares), while in residential areas the average of 25-40 hectares (60-100 hectares).
In 2006 it was estimated there were 10,000 foxes in London. Living foxes in cities may have the potential to grow consistently larger than their rural counterparts, as a result of abundant waste and relative scarcity of predators. In fox cities can scavenge food from garbage bins and garbage bags, although much of their food will be similar to a rural fox.
Behavior
The urban red dome is most active at dusk and dawn, doing most of the hunting and scavenging at these times. Not infrequently see them during the day, but they can be caught sunbathing on the roof of the house or warehouse. Foxes will often keep their homes in hidden places and undisturbed in urban areas as well as in the suburbs, visiting at night for a living. While foxes will succeed in scavenging in the city (and foxes tend to eat whatever human beings eat) some townspeople will intentionally leave food for animals, finding them charming. Doing this regularly can draw a fox into someone's home; they can become accustomed to human presence, warm up to their provider by allowing themselves to be approached and in some cases even playing with, especially the little ones.
Urban fox control
Urban foxes can cause problems for the locals. Foxes have been known to steal chickens, disrupt garbage bins and damage gardens. Most complaints about urban foxes made to local authorities occur during the mating season in late January/early February or from late April to August, when new children develop. In Britain, hunting foxes in urban areas is forbidden, and shooting them in unsuitable urban environments. One alternative to hunting urban foxes is to trap them, which seems to be a more viable method. However, killing foxes has little effect on populations in urban areas; those killed are immediately replaced, either by new infants during the mating season or by other foxes that move into the territory of those killed. A more effective fox control method is to keep them away from the specific area they occupy. Damage such as creosote, diesel oil, or ammonia can be used. Cleaning and blocking access to the den site can also prevent foxes.
Relationship between urban and rural fox
In January 2014 it was reported that "Fleet", a relatively docile urban fox tracked as part of a larger study by the University of Brighton in partnership with the BBC Winterwatch, had suddenly traveled 195 miles in 21 days. from its neighborhood in Hove, on the west bank of East Sussex, across the countryside as far as Rye, in the eastern end of the county. He still continued his journey when the GPS collar stopped transmission, due to suspected water damage. Along with setting the record for the longest journey conducted by the fox tracked in the UK, his journey has highlighted the smooth movement between the populations of rural and urban foxes.
References
Further reading
- Osborn, Dale. J.; Helmy, Ibrahim (1980). "The contemporary Egyptian land mammals (including Sinai)". Field Museum of Natural History.
- Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio; Hoffman, Michael; MacDonald, David W. (2004). Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Wolves and Dogs - 2004 Status of Surveys and Conservation Action Plan . IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. ISBNÃ, 2-8317-0786-2. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. < span> Ã,
- Spagnesi, Mario; De Marina Marinis, Maria (2002). Mammiferi d'Italia . Quaderni di Conservazione della Natura. ISSN 1592-2901.
External links
- " Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)". Integrated Taxonomy Information System . Retrieved March 18 2006 .
- Red Fox, National Geographic
- Natural History of the Red Fox, the Online Wildlife
- Sacramento Valley red fox info1,
- The videos of the red fox child's family, showing their behavior around the space
- Close-up video of adult male fox
- Red Fox, Fletcher Wildlife Park
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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