Posted On : 16 Oct, 2023
Red Fox
DESCRIPTION: The most widely distributed carnivore in the world, The three subspecies of the fox are found in India. It can be distinguished from the Indian Fox and the Golden Jackal by their characteristic:-
Long and bushy white-tipped tail. Dark patches behind the ears. They have five toes on their forefeet and four on their hind feet and have long, non-retractile claws. They differ from dogs in their skulls being concave and not convex, in having a shorter and more slender muzzle. The southern Grey Fox clades the Kashmir Fox and the Desert Fox – are both greyer and also have longer legs and ears. The Himalayan Fox is the common fox of the Himalayas, having large ears and fringed with white hair. The Kashmir or Afghan Fox is slightly smaller and has an orange coat with dark grey fur on the throat, chest, and legs. The Desert or White-footed Fox is the smallest and lightest, with short, greyish fur mixed with rust-brown hairs with dark brown patches on the back of each ear.
BEHAVIOUR: Foxes have a subcaudal gland on the upper parts of the tail that gives off a characteristic odor often referred to as foxy.
DISTRIBUTION: From Jammu & Kashmir to Sikkim, Rajasthan, and Kutch, Gujarat.
HABITAT: A very wide variety of habitats, including arid, semi-arid areas, forests, and also near human habitation. Availability of food seems to be the major limiting factor in habitat.
SIZE: 45–90 cm
WEIGHT: 3–14 kg.
IUCN STATUS: Least Concern.
