Corsac Fox
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Vulpes corsac
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
9-13 years
Weight
1.6-3
3.5-6.6
kglbs
kg lbs 
Length
45-65
17.7-25.6
cminch
cm inch 

The Corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac) are medium-sized foxes found in Asia. They live in open grassy steppes and semideserts and try to stay far away from human habitations. Fossils of Corsac foxes date back to the mid-Pleistocene and show they once reached as far west as Switzerland, and as far south as Crimea.

No

Nocturnal

Di

Diurnal

Om

Omnivore

Ca

Carnivore

Sc

Scavenger

Te

Terrestrial

Cu

Cursorial

Al

Altricial

Bu

Burrowing

No

Nomadic

Vi

Viviparous

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Mi

Migrating

C

starts with

Tr

Travelers
(collection)

Appearance

The Corsac fox has grey to yellowish fur over much of the body, with paler underparts and pale markings on the mouth, chin, and throat. During the winter, its coat becomes much thicker and silkier in texture, and is straw-grey in color, with a darker line running down the back. The Corsac fox is reported to have keen eyesight and hearing and an acute sense of smell. It has a number of scent glands, some of which produce pungent odors, although not so extreme as those found in some other Vulpes species. The glands are found under the tail, above the base of the tail, and on the paws and cheeks.

Distribution

Geography

Corsac foxes live in the central and northeast Asia. They are found throughout Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and through all except the northernmost regions of Mongolia. In the south, their range extends into the more northern parts of Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and China, and they can also be found in neighboring regions of Russia. These foxes inhabit open grassy steppes and semideserts and avoid dense vegetation and mountainous regions. True deserts with drifting sands are also avoided, as are snowfields more than about 15 cm (6 in) deep. Corsac foxes generally stay far away from human disturbances.

Corsac Fox habitat map

Climate zones

Corsac Fox habitat map
Corsac Fox
Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

Habits and Lifestyle

Corsac foxes are nocturnal and nomadic hunters of the steppes. They do not have a defended territory, and sometimes form packs. Because they cannot hunt in deep snow, they will either shelter in their dens during harsh weather or, in the northern parts of their range, they may migrate up to 600 km (370 mi) south in the winter. They sometimes follow herds of local antelope, relying on them to compress the snow as they pass. Their prey is often buried in caches. Corsac foxes shelter in burrows from harsh weather and larger predators. Although they can dig their own dens, these are generally shallow, and they often take over the burrows of other animals. Dens may have several entrances but are usually less than 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) deep. The burrow is shared between the social packs, with several dens and connecting holes. Corsac foxes are excellent climbers, but are slow runners and could be caught easily by a dog. During hunting or when threatening rivals these foxes produce barks, and to use higher pitch yelps or chirps as alarm calls or social greetings.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Corsac foxes are omnivorous, mainly carnivorous animals. Their diet consists mainly of insects and small rodents, such as voles, gerbils, jerboas, hamsters, and ground squirrels. They may also eat larger prey, including hares and pikas, and will scavenge for carrion and human refuse. They do occasionally eat fruit and other vegetation, especially when animal prey is scarce. As an adaption to the arid climate in which they live, Corsac foxes need little water to survive, obtaining most of the moisture they need from their food.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
January-March
PREGNANCY DURATION
52-60 days
BABY CARRYING
2-6 kits
FEMALE NAME
vixen
MALE NAME
reynard, tod
BABY NAME
kit, cub, pup

Corsac foxes are monogamous and form pair bonds, however, before that males will initially fight for access to females. The breeding season starts in January and ends in March. The female creates a birthing den, which is sometimes shared with other pregnant females, but moves her young to new burrows several times after they are born. Typically, 2-6 kits are born after a gestation period of 52 to 60 days. However, the maximum recorded litter consisted of 11 kits. Newborn kits weigh around 60 g (2.1 oz) and have fluffy, light brown fur that turns yellowish as they age. They are born blind and open their eyes at around 2 weeks of age. Both parents assist in the raising of their young. Kits begin to eat meat at 4 weeks and emerge from the den shortly after. Corsac foxes reach reproductive maturity within 9 to 10 months and reproduce in the second year of life.

Population

Population threats

The major threat posed to the corsac fox is poaching. They are slow runners and are easily caught by hunters, and their population has been reduced in areas where they have been heavily hunted for their fur. In the late 19th century, up to 10,000 Corsac foxes were killed annually for pelt trade. The other main threats include overgrazing by livestock, landscape development, and natural disasters, which can cause the numbers of foxes to drop 90% in some areas.

Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Corsac fox total population size, but this animal is common and widespread throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

References

1. Corsac Fox on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsac_fox
2. Corsac Fox on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/23051/59049446

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