Vulpes macrotis, Merriam, 1888
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6331155 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6335053 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ACCF40-BF2C-FFD2-7EDC-F95DF82CD784 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Vulpes macrotis |
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Kit Fox
French: Renard nain / German: Wisten-Flinkfuchs / Spanish: Zorro chico
Other common names: Desert Fox
Taxonomy. Vulpes macrotis Merriam, 1888 View in CoL ,
California, USA.
Has been considered conspecific with V. velox , based on morphometric similarities and protein-electrophoresis. Others have treated V. macrotis as a distinct species based on multivariate morphometric data and more recent mitochondrial DNA analysis. Nominal subspecies macrotis (Merriam, 1888) from sout-western California is extinct. Seven extant subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
V. m. arsipus Elliot, 1904 — NW Mexico (N Sonora) and SW USA (SE California & S Arizona).
V. m. devius Nelson & Goldman, 1909 — NW Mexico (S Baja California).
V. m. muticus Merriam, 1902 — SW USA (San Joaquin Valley of California).
V. m. neomexicanus Merriam, 1902 — N Mexico (NW Chihuahua) and C USA (Colorado, New Mexico & W Texas).
V. m. nevadensis Goldman, 1931 — USA (Great Basin).
V. m. tenwirostris Nelson & Goldman, 1931 — NW Mexico (N Baja California).
V. m. zanser: Benson, 1938 — N-C Mexico. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 48- 5-52 cm for males and 45-5-53- 5 cm for females, tail 28-34 cm for males and 25-30- 5 cm for females; weight 1-7- 2-7 kg for males and 1-6-2- 2 kg for females. One of the smallest foxes on the American continent. The large ears are its most conspicuous characteristic. The fur is short, with yellowish to grayish head, back and sides; the shoulders and the outside of the legs, are brownishyellow. The belly and the inner side of legs are yellowish-white and the tip of the tail is black. The neck, legs and belly may have buffy highlights. The hair is dense between the foot-pads. Dental formula: 1 3/3, C1/1, PM 4/4, M 2/3 = 42. Mean cranial measurements from 35 specimens of race mutica were: condylobasal length 114- 4mm; zygomatic breadth 62- 1mm; palatal length 57- 8mm; interorbital breadth 23- 1mm; postorbital breadth 21- 4mm.
Habitat. Arid and semi-arid regions including desert scrub, chaparral, halophytic, and grassland communities. It is found at elevations ranging from 400-1900 m, although Kit Foxes generally avoid rugged terrain. They use agricultural lands to some extent and can successfully inhabit urban environments.
Food and Feeding. Kit Foxes primarily consume rodents, lagomorphs, and insects. Main prey includes kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.), prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), Blacktailed Jackrabbits (Lepus californicus), and cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.). Other items consumed include birds, reptiles, and carrion. Plant material is rarely consumed, with the occasional exception of cactus fruits. Kit Foxes mostly forage solitarily.
Activity patterns. Mainly nocturnal and occasionally crepuscular.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Kit Foxes are primarily monogamous with occasional polygyny (i.e. multiple paternity litters detected) and pairs usually mate for life. Young from previous litters, usually females, may delay dispersal and remain in natal home ranges assisting with raising the current litter. Kit Foxes are not strongly territorial and home ranges of 2-5-11- 6 km * may overlap, although core areas generally are used exclusively by one family group. Kit Foxes sometimes bark at approaching predators or to recall pups, and they may emit a loud “chittering” call, during intraspecific encounters. Foxes also emit barking sequences, probably to contact or attract mates or potential mates.
Breeding. Kit Foxes mate from December to January and give birth from February to March after a gestation of 49-55 days. Littersize ranges from 1-7 (mean 4). Reproductive success for yearling females is considerably lower and varies annually with food availability for all age classes. Pups emerge from dens at about four weeks, are weaned at about eight weeks, begin foraging with parents at about 3-4 months, and become independent at about 5-6 months. Mean dispersal age in California was eight months. Kit Foxes use dens all year round and have multiple dens. Although they can excavate their own dens, preferring loose-textured soils, they frequently occupy and modify the burrows of praire dogs, kangaroo rats, ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.), and American Badgers. Occasionally, they will den in man-made structures (e.g. culverts, pipes), but young are almost always born in earthen dens.
Status and Conservation. CITES notlisted (considered a subspecies of V. velox ). Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Considered “vulnerable” in Mexico. In the USA, the San Joaquin Kit Fox (muticus) is listed federally as “endangered”, and as “threatened” in the State of California. In Oregon, Kit Foxes are classified as “endangered”. The species is common to rare. In the USA, abundance is largely unknown. Population trends are assumed to be relatively stable where there are no significant threats. The endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox is probably still declining due to continuing habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. The main threat to the long-term survival of the Kit Fox is habitat conversion, mainly to agriculture but also to urban and industrial development. Human-induced habitat transformation is probably causing a decline of Kit Fox populations in Mexico, where Prairie Dog towns supporting important populations of Kit Foxes are being converted to agricultural fields. In Mexico, Kit Foxes are sometimes shot opportunistically, but are not actively persecuted.
Bibliography. Cotera (1996), Cypher et al. (2000), Dragoo et al. (1990), Egoscue (1956, 1962, 1975), Hall (1981), Jiménez-Guzman & Lopez-Soto (1992), Knapp (1978), Koopman, Cypher & Scrivner (2000), Koopman, Scrivner & Kato (1998), List (1997), List & Cypher (2004), McGrew (1979), Mercure et al. (1993), Morrell (1972), O'Farrell (1987), Ralls et al. (2001), Spiegel (1996), US Fish & Wildlife Service (1998), Warrick & Cypher (1998), White & Ralls (1993), White et al. (1995), Zoellick et al. (1987).
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