Vulpes pallida (Cretzschmar, 1826) Frisch, 1775
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6331155 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6335057 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ACCF40-BF17-FFE9-7B96-FBEDF7C0D179 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Vulpes pallida |
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31. View On
Pale Fox
French: Renard pale / German: Blassfuchs / Spanish: Zorro palido
Other common names: Pallid Fox, African Sand Fox
Taxonomy. Canis pallidus Cretzschmar, 1826 View in CoL ,
Sudan.
Has been associated with V. rueppellic and V. zerda . It also has been suggested that these desert foxes are closely related to V. bengalensis and V. chama . Five races have been described, four of which are recognized here. Variation may be clinal.
Subspecies and Distribution.
V. p. pallida Cretzschmar, 1827 — Sudan (Kordofan) to Eritrea, and Ethiopia.
V. p. edwardsi Rochebrune, 1883 — Mali, S Mauritania, and Senegal.
V. p. harterti Thomas & Hinton, 1921 — Burkina Faso, Niger, and N Nigeria.
V. p. oertzeni Matschie, 1910 — N Cameroon, Chad, and NE Nigeria to S Libya in the N and Sudan (Darfur province) in the S. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 38-55 cm,tail 23-29 cm; weight 2-3-6 kg. A small, very pale fox with longish legs and large ears. Pale face, elongated muzzle with relatively long whiskers, and a black eye-ring. Large ears, white inside and rufous-brown on the outer surface. Body creamy-white to sandy fawn, relatively thin coat, back sometimes flecked with black or rufous, with darker mid-dorsal line. Flanks paler than dorsal pelage, merging into white or buffy-white undersides, and legs rufous. Long, bushy tail, reddish brown with conspicuous black tip and a dark patch above tail gland. Females have three pairs of mammae. The skull is small, with a relatively short maxillary region, and well-developed upper molars in relation to relatively weak carnassial teeth. Bullae of the Pale Fox are slightly larger and the nasals appreciably longer than in Ruippell’s Fox. Dental formulais13/3,C1/1,PM 4/4, M 2/3 = 42.
Habitat. Typically inhabits very dry sandy and stony sub-Saharan desert and semi-desert areas, but its distribution extends southwards into moister Guinean savannahs to some extent. May occur near human habitation and cultivated fields where food is more readily available than in natural habitats.
Food and Feeding. Well-developed molars suggest Pale Foxes are essentially herbivorous, eating mainly berries, wild fruit such as melons, and vegetable matter. They also feed on small rodents, ground-nesting birds, small reptiles, and invertebrates. Foraging habits are unknown.
Activity patterns. Active from dusk till dawn, resting during the day in extensive burrows occupied by several individuals.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Movements and home ranges unknown. Little is known of their habits, but Pale Foxes are gregarious and have been observed in pairs and small family groups.
Breeding. Gestation period in captivity is 51-53 days. Three to six young are born; weaning takes six to eight weeks. Pale Foxes dig extensive burrows, 2-3 m deep and up to 15 m in length, often under sandy tracks or near villages, and line the inner chambers with dry vegetation.
Status and Conservation. CITES notlisted. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red Lust. Threats are unknown, although occasional persecution due to livestock depredation (i.e. poultry) may take place.
Bibliography. Bueler (1973), Coetzee (1977), Dorst & Dandelot (1970), Haltenorth & Diller (1980), Happold (1987), Kingdon (1997), Rosevear (1974), Sillero-Zubiri (2004).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
