Characteristics of foxes
The foxes are quite intelligent animals.They have a morphology that allows them to be good hunters, fast and effective, also, in times of famine they do not hesitate to take advantage of the bodies of dead animals they find, they have even been seen eat human waste, so they are opportunistic animals .They can hunt prey larger than them, but their favorite food is rodents.They can also eat wild fruits or insects.They are nocturnal habits, so they enter in activity at nightfall.
Physically, all types of foxes are similar to dogs, but they have behavioral characteristics that differentiate them from them.For example, foxes do not bark and dogs do.on the other hand, they are solitary animals, unlike dogs or other canids that live in packs.
The greatest threat to foxes is the human being, who hunts them for their skin, entertainment or to control, supposedly the population n.
How many types of foxes are there?
How many kinds of foxes exist in the world? The truth is that throughout history, more than 20 different foxes have been discovered, although some of them are already extinct.Yes, according to data provided by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [1], there are currently around 13 species, some of them still unknown.However, we will talk about the 6 most prominent fox types and investigated below.
Common fox or red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
The red fox or common fox is the most popular of the fox species.Receive this name for its reddish-orange fur that, at times, may appear brown.The fur industry has been the reason for the that the red fox has been chased and hunted for many years.
They have an almost global distribution.We can find them throughout the northern hemisphere, in mountains, plains, forests, beaches and even deserts or icy areas.In the southern hemisphere we can also see specimens, but not as many as in the north.In the 19th century, they were introduced in Australia and today they continue to thrive there, being a problem for the local fauna.
They are animals lonely, which only come together during the reproductive season that takes place during the winter months.The raising of the children is carried out by both parents, the male being in charge of bringing food to the female.
This type of fox in captivity can reach 15 years, however, in the wild only lives 2 or 3 years .

Zorroartico (Vulpes lagopus)
The fox is known for its spectacular winter fur, an immaculate white.As a curious fact about this type of fox, we can say that the color of its mantle turns brown during the warm months, when the snow the earth melts and emerges.
They are distributed throughout the north pole, from Canada to Siberia, being one of the few animals that survive at such low temperatures.Your body is prepared to maintain body heat, thanks to its thick skin and very dense hair that covers even the pads of the legs.
Because there are few animals where this fox lives, it takes full advantage of any resource.It is able to hunt the animals that live under the snow without even seeing them.Their most common prey are lemmings, but they can also eat seals or fish.
The breeding season lasts practically all year, except for the months of July and August.These animals are also lonely, but once a couple for the first time, they will always do it each season, until one of them dies, constituting one of the most faithful animals to their partner.

Fast fox (Vulpes velox)
The fast fox can remind us slightly of the red fox, since its fur is also orange, but of a more brown tone.Also, it has some black and yellow spots, its body is lighter and is size small, similar to a cat.
It is distributed throughout North America, both the United States and Canada.It is a desert animal and plains, where it develops very well.The breeding season includes the winter months and part of the spring.It is the females that defend a territory and the males visit these territories only during the mating season; once the offspring are independent, the male will leave.
The life expectancy in the wild is somewhat greater than that of other foxes, being approximately 6 years.

Desert Fox (Vulpes zerda)
The desert fox, also known as fennec fox, has a very characteristic face, with very small eyes and exaggeratedly large ears.This anatomy is a consequence of where he lives, the deserts.The large ears allow a greater internal heat release and cooling of the body to maintain a very good temperature.It is beige or very light cream, which serves to camouflage itself well in its environment.
It is distributed throughout North Africa, inhabiting the Sahara desert, we can also find them in Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.Like the other types of foxes that exist, it has nocturnal habits, it feeds on rodents, insects and birds.You can drink, but you don't need it, since it obtains all the water it needs from its prey.
It reproduces during the months of March and April, and parental care of the young is carried out by both the female and the male.

Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Despite their name, these foxes are not gray, their fur alternates black and white hairs that look gray.Also, behind their ears we can observe a reddish tone.It is one of the fox species larger.
They are distributed throughout most of the American continent, from Canada to Venezuela.One of the most striking characteristics of this species of fox is that it can climb trees thanks to its strong and sharp claws.You can also swim.These two qualities give the gray fox a great capacity for hunting.In this way, it usually chases its prey for long distances, leading them towards the water, where it will be easier to hunt them.
The breeding season focuses on the warmest months of the year.When two gray foxes are matched they will do it for life.

Fox kit (Vulpes macrotis)
The fox kit has a look somewhat different from other types of foxes.It has a very slender and slender body, reddish-gray, with the tip of the black tail and big ears.It is the smallest species of fox.
It is distributed by prairie areas of the southwestern United States and Mexico.A curiosity about this fox is that it is an animal both night and day, so it has a greater variety of prey than other fox species that only feed at night.
Reproduction time focuses on the months of October and November.In this species, the breeding pair can mate for several years in a row or change every season.The female will take care and feed the puppies, while the male is in charge of getting the food.

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References
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Vulpes. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.orgBibliography
- Foxesworlds.(2014). Fox facts and information .Available at: https://www.foxesworlds.com/
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