Hoary Fox

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Please note that the Blanford's Fox, or Afghan fox, is also known as 'Hoary Fox'.

The Hoary Fox, Pseudalopex vetulus, or Hoary zorro, is a species of zorro (false fox) endemic to Brazil.

It is a slender animal with a relatively short, pointed muzzle, and large ears. It inhabits, mainly, the Brazilian Cerrado ecosystem, although it can also be found in transitional habitats.

It is an omnivorous animal but feeds, mainly, on termites, dung beetles and other insects and small vertebrates.

[edit] Description

The Hoary Fox has short muzzle, small teeth, short coat, and dark stripes on the dorsal suface. Their tail is black on the tip and marked dark strupe along the dorsal line. Their ears and outsides part of their legs are reddish or tawny. The upper part of their bodies are grey, and their underside of the body is cream or fawn. The Hoary Fox weight between 2.7 and 4 kg, tail length is 28-32 cm. and from head to body length between 58 and 64 cm. They are active during the day.

[edit] Diet

The Hoary Fox mainly eat insects. They eat rodents, termites, and grasshoppers.

[edit] Range

The Hoary Fox lives in some area in South America. They usually lives in the area where there are open woodland, bushlands, upland mountain and savannahs that are smooth or scattered with trees.

[edit] Reproduction

The females of Hoary Fox usually give birth to 2-4 pups. They mostly breed in the season of fall.

[edit] References

• Dalponte & Courtenay (2004). Pseudalopex vetulus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as data deficient
• IUCN (2004): Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs