A fox is a small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammal belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. Foxes have a flattened skull upright triangular ears a pointed slightly upturned snout and a long bushy tail (or brush).
Generally foxes are considered to be more intelligent than other animals in the same family such as dogs and wolves. They are also sometimes considered to be cunning and sly.
The word “fox” comes from Old English fōx which is of Germanic origin (compare West Frisian foex Dutch vos and German Fuchs). This in turn derives from Proto-Indo-European *puḱ- ‘thick-haired; tail’.
Foxes are found on every continent except Antarctica. By far the most common and widespread species is the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with about 47 recognized subspecies. The global distribution of red foxes largely overlaps with that of the brown bear (Ursus arctos).
Foxes live on all continents except Antarctica. North America has 12 species of foxes while South America has only 2. Europe Asia and Africa each have 9 species of fox.
The smallest fox is the fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) of the Sahara Desert which weighs only 1.5-3.5 lbs (0.7-1.6 kg). The largest is the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) which weighs 15-19 lbs (7-8.6 kg) in North America but only 10-12 lbs (4.5-5.4 kg) in Europe.
Foxes have been depicted in art and literature throughout history most notably in the fable of The Fox and the Grapes by Aesop.
What is the scientific name for a fox?
The scientific name for a fox is vulpes vulpes.
What kind of animal is a fox?
A fox is a mammal.
What is the lifespan of a fox?
The lifespan of a fox is 2-5 years.
What do foxes eat?
Foxes are omnivores and eat both plants and animals.
Where do foxes live?
Foxes live in forests grasslands and deserts all over the world.
How many species of foxes are there?
There are around 30 different species of foxes.
What is the smallest species of fox?
The smallest species of fox is the fennec fox which weighs around 3-4 pounds.
What is the largest species of fox?
The largest species of fox is the red fox which weighs around 15-20 pounds.
What colors do foxes come in?
Foxes can be red grey white black or a mixture of these colors.
Do foxes make good pets?
While foxes can be trained and tamed they do not make good pets because they are wild animals.
How do foxes reproduce?
Foxes reproduce by mating.
The female fox will have a litter of 2-5 cubs which are born blind and deaf.
How long does it take for fox cubs to grow up?
It takes around 3 months for fox cubs to be fully grown.
What is a group of foxes called?
A group of foxes is called a skulk or a leash.
What predators do foxes have?
Foxes have many predators including dogs coyotes eagles and humans.
What are baby foxes called?
Baby foxes are called cubs.
