The red fox is the largest of the true foxes and the most widely distributed wild carnivore in the world, found naturally across much of the Northern Hemisphere and introduced to Australia, thriving in habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to farmland and even city suburbs. It is recognized by its reddish coat, white-tipped bushy tail and slender, pointed muzzle, and it is a highly adaptable omnivore that hunts small mammals, birds and insects while also eating fruit and scavenging human food waste. Red foxes are mostly solitary hunters, most active at dawn, dusk and night, and their adaptability has allowed the species to remain common and classified as being of least concern even as many other wild carnivores have declined.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleInvasive or Introduced Species 2 Living or ExtinctDerived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status. Scientific Name Conservation Status Population EstimateRegional estimate for the introduced Australian population only (2012); the source gives no single consolidated global total across the red fox's native Holarctic range and its other introduced regions. Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceThe red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs. The tail, which is longer than half the body length (70 percent of head and body length), is fluffy and reaches the ground when in a standing position. 1 Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
In Ecosystem
Source Wikidata: Red Fox
Additional Source Arabian Desert (Wikipedia)Article text
Source Wikidata: European Rabbit
Additional Source Doñana National Park (Wikipedia)Article text
Source Wikidata: Tiger
Additional Source Wikipedia: Lake BaikalArticle text
In the Other Atlases
Found In
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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Red Fox (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence naming the binomial
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes, and the most widely distributed member of the order Carnivora.
Lead section, second sentence naming the IUCN status
The red fox is listed as of least concern on the IUCN Red List.
Australia subsection, Range and habitat section
In Australia, estimates in 2012 indicated that there were more than 7.2 million red foxes, with a range extending throughout most of the continental mainland.
Build subsection, opening two sentences
The red fox has an elongated body and relatively short limbs. The tail, which is longer than half the body length (70 percent of head and body length), is fluffy and reaches the ground when in a standing position.
- In Biome: Desert, Wikipedia intro: "ich can be divided into two categories: the large northern foxes and the small, basal southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa. The red fox usually o..."
View the Source 2. Wikipedia: Red Fox
Wikipediasystem (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly, diet)
Its range has expanded alongside human settlement, with the species having been introduced to Australia, where it preys on native small and medium-sized rodents and marsupials.
system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly, relationship to people)
Because of its impact on native species, it is included on the list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".
View the Source 3. Red fox (Wikidata)
WikidataStatements section, habitat (P2974): Freshwater
Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a freshwater habitat type.
Statements section, habitat (P2974): Terrestrial
Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a terrestrial habitat type.
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Vulpes vulpes
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
5. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Vulpes vulpes
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITESQuote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix III
Wikidata: Red Fox
Catalogue of Life
Doñana National Park (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Doñana, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Doñana, Article text
38 mammal species have been recorded, including twelve species of bat, red deer, European rabbit, European hedgehog, common genet, wildcat, wild boar, Iberian lynx, garden dormouse, Egyptian mongoose, greater white-toothed shrew, Eurasian otter, wood mouse, European polecat, red fox, European badger, Mediterranean pine vole, southwestern water vole and black rat.
Wikipedia: Lake Baikal
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Lake Baikal, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Lake Baikal, Article text
wide range of land mammals can be found in the habitats around the lake, such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos), Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), sable (Martes zibellina), stoat (Mustela erminea), least weasel (Mustela nivalis), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), Siberian tiger
Arabian Desert (Wikipedia)
WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Arabian Desert, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Arabian Desert, Article text
gazella), Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana), Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs), striped hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), caracal (Caracal caracal), sand cat (Felis margarita), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and Cape hare (Lepus capensis).
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