Red fox
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Publicado: 20 de noviembre de 2011
Red Fox
Introduction
It’s easy to get a picture of red foxes as the live everywhere. They are distributed all over the world so you are able to see them not only in CentralAmerica but also in North Africa.
Origins
The species is Eurasian in origin, and may have evolved from ancient species. The ancestral species was likely smaller than the current one,as the earliest red fox fossils are smaller than modern populations. This has led to the theory that the red fox was exploited by primitive humans as both a source of food and peltsCharacteristics
Red foxes are social animals, which remain with their parents to assist in caring for new cubs. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may alsotarget leporids, game birds, reptiles, invertebrates and young ungulates. Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten on occasion. Although the red fox tends to displace or even kill itssmaller cousins, it is nonetheless vulnerable to attack from larger predators such as wolves, coyotes, golden jackals and medium and large felines.
Its tail is longer than half thebody length. They are very agile being capable of jumping over 2 metre high fences and swims well. The average sleep time of a captive red fox is said to be 9.8 hours per day.Behaviour
Red foxes either establish stable home ranges within particular areas or are itinerant with no fixed abode. They use their urine to mark their territories. Urine is alsoused to mark empty cache sites, as reminders not to waste time investigating them.
Communication
Red fox body language consists of movements of the ears, tail and postures, withtheir body markings emphasising certain gestures. Postures can be divided into aggressive/dominant and fearful/submissive categories. Some postures may blend the two together.
Introduction
It’s easy to get a picture of red foxes as the live everywhere. They are distributed all over the world so you are able to see them not only in CentralAmerica but also in North Africa.
Origins
The species is Eurasian in origin, and may have evolved from ancient species. The ancestral species was likely smaller than the current one,as the earliest red fox fossils are smaller than modern populations. This has led to the theory that the red fox was exploited by primitive humans as both a source of food and peltsCharacteristics
Red foxes are social animals, which remain with their parents to assist in caring for new cubs. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may alsotarget leporids, game birds, reptiles, invertebrates and young ungulates. Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten on occasion. Although the red fox tends to displace or even kill itssmaller cousins, it is nonetheless vulnerable to attack from larger predators such as wolves, coyotes, golden jackals and medium and large felines.
Its tail is longer than half thebody length. They are very agile being capable of jumping over 2 metre high fences and swims well. The average sleep time of a captive red fox is said to be 9.8 hours per day.Behaviour
Red foxes either establish stable home ranges within particular areas or are itinerant with no fixed abode. They use their urine to mark their territories. Urine is alsoused to mark empty cache sites, as reminders not to waste time investigating them.
Communication
Red fox body language consists of movements of the ears, tail and postures, withtheir body markings emphasising certain gestures. Postures can be divided into aggressive/dominant and fearful/submissive categories. Some postures may blend the two together.
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