The Kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a fox species that inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of North America. These foxes are the smallest of the four species of Vulpes occurring in North America and are among the smallest of the vulpines worldwide. It has also been called a North American counterpart of the Fennec fox due to its large ears.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe color and texture of the coat of the Kit fox vary geographically. In general, the dorsal color is grizzled or yellowish-gray. The grizzled appearance is the result of guard hairs that are typically black-tipped or with two black bands separated by a white band. The guard hairs are particularly prominent in the middle of the back. The soles of the legs are protected by stiff tufts of hair, a trait that improves traction on loose sandy surfaces as well as protection against extreme temperatures; muzzles and vibrissae are generally black to brown. The tail is bushy and gray, with a black tip, and the caudal gland has a pronounced black spot. Unlike the Gray fox, it has no stripe along the length of its tail. Its color ranges from yellow to gray, and the back is usually darker than the majority of its coat; its belly and inner ears are usually lighter. It has distinct dark patches around the nose. The ears are tan or gray on the back, turning to buff or orange at the base. The shoulders, the lower sides, the flanks, and the strip across the chest range in color from buffy to orange. Males of this species are slightly larger than females.
Kit foxes are found in the Southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. The northernmost part of their range is the arid interior of Oregon. The eastern limit is southwestern Colorado. Kit foxes can be found south through Nevada, Utah, southeastern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and into western Texas. They prefer arid climates, such as desert scrub, chaparral, and grasslands. They can also be found in urban and agricultural areas.
Kit foxes are mostly nocturnal but sometimes venture out of their den during the day. They usually go out to hunt shortly after sunset. Different Kit fox families can occupy the same hunting grounds but do not generally go hunting at the same time. These foxes prefer to live in underground burrows in pairs or small family groups.
Kit foxes are primarily carnivorous and hunt on small animals such as kangaroo rats, Cottontail rabbits, Black-tailed jackrabbits, Meadow voles, hares, Prairie dogs, insects, lizards, snakes, fish, and ground-dwelling birds. They will scavenge carrion. If food is scarce, Kit foxes may eat tomatoes, cactus fruits, and other fruits.
Kit foxes are monogamous forming pairs for life. These pairs mate during October and November. However, these animals can also be polygynous and pairs can change from year to year. These mate from December to February, when they use larger family dens. Litters are born throughout March and April, usually containing 1 to 7 kits and an average of 4 kits. The gestation is 49 to 55 days. Kits do not leave the den until they are 4 weeks old. They are weaned after about 8 weeks and become independent at 5 to 6 months old. They become sexually mature at 10 months. Both parents take part in raising and protecting their young.
The loss of habitat is the main threat to these animals. Their habitat is used for agriculture, fragmentation, and degradation due to industrial and urban development.
The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Kit fox total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
Kit foxes play an important role as predators in the ecosystems they inhabit by controlling populations of small mammals, insects, birds, and reptiles. Due to their habit of moving from den to den when Kit foxes search for a mate and food, their old dens are taken over by other animals. As scavengers, these small foxes also play a very important role in biodegradation.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...