Vulpes vulpes
The red fox is the larger member of the genus Vulpes and the most succesful. It has the wider distribution than any other carnivore Mammal. Its body is 45-90 cm long, 35-50 cm long and 2.2-14 kg in weight. The tail is about 70% of the body length, usually about 30-55.5 cm. The forefoot prin is 60 mm long and 45 mm wide. The fur is mainly red with some darker spots, but (depending on the location) it may be grey, silver, blackish and many more colours.
The mating happens in spring. The gestation lasts 49-58 days and the juveniles reach sexual maturity at 9-10 months. The lifespan is about 5-15 years.
The red fox is an omnivore. It feeds basically on rodents, birds, leporids, raccoons, reptiles, insects, berries, cherries, apples and acorns.
According to the IUCN the red fox is categorised as Least Concern (2016).
The red fox is the only fox in Greece, so it is easily identified. It can be mistaken only with the golden jackal and some dogs. The first characteristic is the fur colour, wich varies from red to grey, but in some northern regions it may be silver, platinum or amber. The second is the relatively large tail, which is about 70% of the body length (45 and 60 cm respectively). The red foxes have elongated canines and narrow snout.
The species Vulpes vulpes includes 46 extant subspecies, according to morphological and molecular studies. In Greece we find the subspecies Vulpes vulpes crucigera.
Geographical distribution (worldwide)
The red fox has the widest range of all Carnivora. It lives in North America (U.S.A. and Canada), all over Europe, all over Asia (with exceptions as south India and Southeastern Asia), Australia and in a small part of Africa (northwest, Tunisia and across the Nile).
Geographical distribution (Greece)
In Greece is found in every part of the mainland.