The document provides a detailed taxonomical classification and biological overview of foxes, specifically the Vulpes vulpes or common fox, highlighting their characteristics, habitat, reproduction, and various species. Key features include their solitary lifestyle, diet as omnivores, and communicative abilities, as well as their threats and conservation status. Additionally, it describes several types of foxes around the world and mentions common diseases affecting them.

1. FOX
BY-
SWAYAM PRAKASH NAYAK

2. TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION
Class-mammalia
Order-carnivora
Family-canidae
Sc. name-vulpes vulpes(common fox)
Conservation status-threatened

3. Other features-
Body length-40-83 c.m
Weight-11 lbs-24lbs
Top speed-48km/hr
Life span- 3 to 11 yrs
Life style-solitary
Skin type-fur
Fav. Food-rabbit
Habitat-woodland areas,urban parks
Avg litter size-5
Main prey-rabbits,birds & lizards
Predators-human,bears,eagles

4. Physiological parameters
Rectal temp-102.2 to 104 degree F
Respiratory rate-12 to 60 breaths/min
Heart rate-118 beats/min
Venipuncture-
Jugular vein, cephalic vein, lateral saphenous
vein

5. Features of fox
 members of the dog family.
 female fox - “vixen”
 male fox is -“dog fox” or a “tod”
 baby foxes -“pups”, “kits” or “cubs”.
group of foxes -“skulk” or a “leash
 capable of retracting claws like cats
do
vertical pupils that look like cats than
the rounded pupils that other dogs have.
Pointed ears & bushy tails.
Body covered with furs

6. Foxes can be a pest in the cities
 can identify each other's voices, just like humans.
The red fox has 28 different sounds use to
communicate.
vocalizations include yips, growls and howls
excellent hearing.
 can hear low-frequency sounds and rodents digging
underground.
In folklore- characterized as cunning creatures
sometimes having magical powers
Grey foxes Of in North America -only type climbe trees

7. HABITAT-
Most widespred species
Live in countryside,forest,cities,mountains & grasslands
Arctic fox-cold climates of north
Fennec fox-north african desert
fox’s home - “den”.
can be a hole in the ground or elsewhere,
such as under a garden shed

8. HABITS-
social creatures that
live in packs
A pack include older siblings, pups, foxes of breeding
age, mates and mothers.
hunt at night and are nocturnal,sleep during day
 very fast- run up to 45 mph. as fast as the blackbuck
antelope

9. FOX NOISES-
Male red fox-similar to the sound of a screaming
woman to warn off competing mates.
Female red fox - short, shrill shrieks to attract
males.
Gray foxes - dog-like barking noises used for self-
defense.
 when found around homes, both fox species
scratch and dig as they forage for food, which can be
heard by residents

10. omnivores.
eat meat and vegetation.
 diet -small animals, such as lizards, voles, rats, mice,
rabbits and hares,birds, fruits and bugs.
Foxes that live near the ocean eat fish and crabs
DIET-
a nocturnal mammal-goes out a night to hunt for
prey.
 hide extra food in a small
hole and eat later when
hungry.

11. Haematological parametres
•RBC- 8-9X106uL
•Hb- 15.5gdl
•PCV- 48%
•WBC- 8-10X 103uL
•NEUTROPHILLS-60%
•EOSINOPHILLS-11%
•BASOPHILLS- 0
•LYMPHOCYTES-20%
•MONOCYTES-9%

12. REPRODUCTIONAL BEHAVIOUR
During mating season-female cry out for males
 aftermating, females make a nest of leaves inside
her burrow to have her pups.
called a nesting chamber
gestation period of 53 days
Litter- 2 to 7 pups
mother and father,even older siblings take
care of pups.

13. TYPES OF FOXES-
7 of the most beautiful fox species found around the
world
1.RED FOX-
SC. Name-vulpes vulpes
Called as common fox,american red fox or
european fox
Creamy white- chest,abdomen
,inside ear & tail tip
Face & flank-ochraceous

14. Black guards hairs along mid dorsal line &
prominent in tail
Back of ears & ant. Portion of legs-black
Muzzle sharp & pointed
DISTRIBUTION-spain,north
america,norway,morroco,algeria
Mainly nocturnal
Solitary ecxcept breeding
FOODS-omnivorous including
rats,mice,rabbits,fruits
Life span-1 to 4 yrs

15. 2.ARCTIC FOX/BLUE FOX/SIBERIAN POLAR FOX-
SC. NAME-alopex lagopus
Summer-coat brown or greyish yellow
Winter-coat white & cream also blue black
Rounded head
Short & blunt muzzle
Small & rounded ears
Tail-thick black brush
Outside legs- brown
Sole-furred

16. Belly & flanks-yellowish whites
Seen in artic tundra,frozen polar seas,forest
borders of northern
Europe,norway,sweden,north russia
Nocturnal opr diurnal
Foods-fish,small rodents,crabs,sea urchins
Life span- 7 to 10 yrs

17. 3.PATAGONIAN FOX / ARGENTINE GREY FOX-
Sc. Name-dusicyon griseus
Small grey body
Middorsal stripe & tail tip –black
Some having chin black
Underside of tail-pale tawny & black

18. live in tree bases,low shrubs, burrow of other
animals
Found in s. America,patagonia.s. Chile & argentine
Life span-several yrs in wild & 13 yrs in captivity
nocturnal

19. 4.SWIFT FOX-
SC. NAME-vulpes velox
Flank orange brown
Tail black tipped
Underside of belly & tail-white
Seen in north america(canada,mexico)
Solitary or in pairs with young
Foods-rodents,birds,rabbits,lizards
Life span-8 to 10 yrs
Live in grasslands ,shrubby deserts

20. 5.CORSAC FOX-(V.corsac)
Coat-soft,reddish grey or reddish brown with silver shade
Back of ear-reddish grey
Chin & lip-white
Belly-off whiteor yellowish
Tail tip-brown or black
Seen in central asia(china,tibbet)
Nocturnal
Hunts in packs
Foods-rodents,birds,rabbits

21. 6.FENNEC FOX-
native to the Sahara of North Africa.
oversized ears
exceptional hearing and can even distinguish the
sound of their next meal moving beneath the ground.
large ears help regulate body temperature, as does
the light cream-colored coat these foxes have.
kidneys adapted to help survive in some of the
hottest desert environments

22. 7.CAPE FOX-(vulpes chama)
smallest and only 'true fox' found in southern Africa
known as the ‘silver fox’ or ‘silver jackal’
flecking of silver-grey fur on its upper body pointed
muzzle, distinctive triangular ears
tail often tipped with a different fur colour
flatter skull in comparison to fellow members of the
Canidae family

23. Other foxes-
Bat eared fox
Otocyon megalotis
Crab eating fox
Cerdocyon thous

24. MARBLE FOX SILVER FOX
Sub species of red fox
Farmed & killed for fur

25. Bengal Fox -medium size fox.
coat -buff orange with paler underparts and
black tip on its tail.
reddish brown fur.
long sharp pointed canines and well
developed molar teeth.
 long ears.
brown legs and black lips.
Presence in India : foot hills of the Himlayas
and the southern parts of India.
also spotted in the, Bandipur and
Sundarban national Park.
Vulpes bengalensis

26. COMMON DISEASES
Rabies
Toxoplamosis
Tapewom infections
Trypanosomiasis
Chastek paralysis-thiamine def.
Tularemia
Sarcoptic mange