Darwin's zorro, Zorro chilote (Spanish), Zorro de Darwin (Spanish)
Darwin's fox or Darwin's zorro (Lycalopex fulvipes ) is an endangered canid from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the zorro chilote or zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Nahuelbuta National Park, the Cordillera de Oncol, Cordillera Pelada in mainland Chile and Chiloé Island. This small, dark canine weighs 1.8 to 3.95 kg (4.0 to 8.7 lb), has a head-and-body length of 48 to 59 cm (19 to 23 in) and a tail that is 17.5 to 25.5 cm (7 to 10 in). Darwin's fox displays no key differences between male and female other than the fact that the male has a broader muzzle. Males display no territorial behavior and aren't aggressive towards other males roaming around their territory.
Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off the coast of Chile by the naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. It was long held that Darwin's fox was a subspecies of the South American gray fox (L. griseus ); however, the discovery of a small population of Darwin's fox on the mainland in Nahuelbuta National Park in 1990 and subsequent genetic analysis has clarified the fox's status as a unique species. In 2012 and 2013 the presence of the Darwin's fox at Oncol Park, Alerce Costero National Park and the Valdivian Coastal Reserve was confirmed through camera trapping.
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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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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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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...
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Scavengers 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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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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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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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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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
Among 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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SolitaryNo
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 withDarwin's fox is a small endangered canid that lives in Chile and on Chiloé Island. It has dark gray fur with reddish areas on the head and muzzle. Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off the coast of Chile by the naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. It was long held to be a subspecies of the South American gray fox; however, the discovery of a small population of Darwin's fox on the mainland in Nahuelbuta National Park in 1990 and subsequent genetic analysis has clarified the fox's status as a unique species.
Darwin's foxes occur in Nahuelbuta National Park (Araucanía Region) and on the Valdivian Coastal Range (Los Ríos Region) on mainland Chile and Chiloé Island. They are found only in southern temperate rainforests and inhabit areas of primary forests.
Darwin's foxes are solitary animals; they prefer to hunt and spend their time singly and interact with each other only during the breeding season. They are most active at twilight and before sunrise.
Darwin's foxes are omnivores and occasionally scavengers. Their diet includes mammals, reptiles, beetles, invertebrates, fruits, and berries. They will also sometimes eat amphibians and carrion.
It is suggested that Darwin's foxes are monogamous and form pairs. They breed once a year in October and give birth to a litter of 2-3 kits. The young are born blind and helpless and require their mother's milk and parental care.
Fragmentation of forest adjacent to the national park and on the island is the main threat to Darwin's foxes. Feral dogs may also pose a serious threat to their survival by spreading a disease or directly attacking. Persecution by people who think that the foxes attack domestic fowls is also a potential problem.
According to the IUCN Red List, there is a minimum of 412 mature individuals occur on Chiloé Island and 227 mature individuals on the mainland. Currently, Darwin's fox is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.