Fox, Fox

By far the most common and widespread species of fox is the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), although various species are found on almost every continent. The presence of fox-like carnivores all over the globe has led to their appearance in both popular culture and folklore (see Foxes in culture).

Lithuanian: uodegis , from uodega , "tail", Portuguese: raposa , from rabo , "tail" The Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved Apr 3rd 2009: headword "Fox" and Ojibwa: waagosh , from waa , which refers to the up and down "bounce" or flickering of an animal or its tail.

Dogs (male foxes) weigh on average, 5.9 kilograms (13 lb) and vixens (female foxes) weigh less, at 5.2 kilograms (11.5 lb). Fox-like features typically include an acute muzzle (a "fox face") and bushy tail. Other physical characteristics vary according to their habitat. For example, the fennec fox (and other species of foxes adapted to life in the desert, such as the kit fox) has large ears and short fur, whereas the Arctic fox has small ears and thick, insulating fur. Another example is the red fox which has a typical auburn pelt, the tail normally ending with white marking.

Typically, they live in small family groups, opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey (especially rodents). Using a pouncing technique practiced from an early age, they are usually able to kill their prey quickly. Foxes also gather a wide variety of other foods ranging from grasshoppers to fruit and berries.

Foxes are readily found in cities and cultivated areas and (depending upon species) seem to adapt reasonably well to human presence.

Interbreeding with American reds, traits of the European red eventually pervaded the gene pool, leaving European and American foxes now virtually identical.

Key among these are the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) and the African bat-eared fox. Other foxes such as fennec foxes, are not endangered.

The first example of the introduction of the fox into a new habitat by humans seems to be Neolithic Cyprus. Stone carvings representing foxes have been found in the early settlement of Gbekli Tepe in eastern Turkey.

In November 2008 an incident in Arizona, USA was reported in which a jogger was attacked and bitten by a rabid fox.

Notably, the new foxes not only became more tame, but more dog-like as well: they lost their distinctive musky "fox smell", became more friendly with humans, put their ears down (like dogs), wagged their tails when happy and began to vocalize and bark like domesticated dogs. The breeding project was set up by the Soviet scientist Dmitri Belyaev.

Source: Wikipedia > Fox