Tibetan sand fox
The Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata) is a species of true fox native to Asia. It lives a solitary life and is widespread in the Tibetan Plateau's steppes and semi-deserts.
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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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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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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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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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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 Tibetan sand fox has a soft, dense coat and conspicuously narrow muzzle, and bushy tail. Its muzzle, crown, neck, back, and lower legs are tan to rufous colored, while its cheeks, flanks, upper legs, and rumps are grey. Its tail has white tips. The short ears are tan to greyish tan on the back, while the insides and undersides are white.
Tibetan sand foxes are restricted to the Tibetan Plateau in western China and the Ladakh plateau in northern India. They occur north of the Himalayas in the northernmost border regions of Nepal and India, across Tibet, and in parts of the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Sichuan. They live in upland plains and hills and their habitat consists of semi-arid to arid grasslands and shrubland, well away from humans or from heavy vegetation cover.
Tibetan sand foxes live in small family groups that consist of a mated pair and their young; however, they prefer to spend their time singly. They are not territorial and often several pairs may live close to each other and even share hunting grounds. Tibetan sand foxes live in dens where they rest throughout the day, raise their young, or hide when feeling threatened. Their dens are made at the base of boulders, at old beach lines, and on low slopes. Dens may have four entrances, which are 25-35 cm (9.8-13.8 in) in diameter. Tibetan sand foxes hunt by day as their main prey, pikas, are diurnal. They may even form commensal relationships with brown bears during hunts for pikas. The bears dig out the pikas, and the foxes grab them when they escape the bears.
Tibetan sand foxes are carnivores and scavengers. They primarily prey on Plateau pikas, followed by rodents, marmots, woolly hares, and lizards. They also scavenge on the carcasses of Tibetan antelopes, musk deer, blue sheep, and livestock.
Tibetan sand foxes are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. After a gestation period of about 50 to 60 days, females give birth to 2-4 kits in a den. The young are altricial; they are born blind and helpless and stay with their parents until they are 8 to 10 months old.
Tibetan sand foxes don't face major threats at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Tibetan sand fox total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Tibetan sand foxes control small rodent populations through their feeding habits and when digging their dens they may also help to aerate the soil throughout their range.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...