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Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
LEASTCONCERN
Top facts
- The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, and has the widest distribution of any member of the order Carnivora.
- Red foxes can produce 28 different vocalisations.
Red fox fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Red fox description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Canidae |
| Genus | Vulpes (1) |
The size of a small dog, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest member of the genus Vulpes and is well-known for its large bushy tail, which is often tipped with white (3). The fur is variable in colour (3), but is usually reddish-brown to flame-red above and white to black below (5); the lower limbs and the back of the ears are often black (3).
- French
- Renard Roux.
- Spanish
- ZORRO, Zorro Rojo.
- Size
- Male head-body length: 67 - 72 cm (2)
- Female head-body length: 62 - 67 cm (2)
- Tail length: 40 cm (2)
- Male weight: 6 - 7 kg (2)
- Female weight: 5 - 6 kg (2)
Red fox biology
The red fox is typically active at dusk (crepuscular) or at night (nocturnal), but is often active in the day in more undisturbed areas (3). The diet is extremely broad, and includes small mammals, many invertebrates, and birds, as well as fruit, carrion (3) and items scavenged from dustbins, bird tables and compost heaps (2).
TopRed fox range
Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle in the north, as far south as north Africa (3), including much of North America, all of Europe and most of Asia, including Japan (1). The red fox is found practically everywhere in mainland Britain, as well as on many islands (4).
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Red fox habitat
This highly adaptable species is found in many habitats, from sand dunes to mountain tops (2). The red fox also occurs in urban areas (4), and seems to fare particularly well in affluent suburbs (3).
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Top
Species found in a similar habitat
Red fox status
The red fox is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Red fox threats
Foxes are perceived as important predators of ground nesting birds, gamebirds, and livestock, and are therefore widely controlled (6). Most deaths are caused by road accidents, shooting and other methods of control, and secondary poisoning may also be a factor resulting in mortality (4). Furthermore, foxes are hunted with hounds in Britain; this is a contentious issue (2).
TopRed fox conservation
The red fox is legislatively widely regarded as vermin and is therefore unprotected (3). In Britain, it is protected by closed seasons against hunting (3). No conservation measures are in place (3). Research into fox predation and control is being carried out by the Game Conservancy Trust (6).
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
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|
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Find out more
For more information on the red fox:
-
IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group:
www.canids.org/species/Vulpes_vulpes.htm -
BBC Wildlife Finder:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/species/Red_Fox
Authentication
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Glossary
- Carrion
- The flesh of a dead animal.
- Invertebrates
- Animals with no backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, spiders, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones), echinoderms, and others.
References
-
IUCN Red List (May, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/ -
The Mammal Society (July, 2002)
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal/fox.shtml -
IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group (July, 2002)
http://www.canids.org/species/Vulpes_vulpes.htm - Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Macdonald, D.W. and Tattersall, F.T. (2001) Britain's mammals: The Challenge for Conservation. The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University.
-
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (July, 2002)
http://www.gct.org.uk
More »Related species
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Red fox in snow, side profile
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