Vulpes

This article is about the mammal. For the punk band, see Vulpes (band).
This article is about true foxes. For animals commonly known as "foxes", but which are not true foxes, see Fox § Classification.

Vulpes
Temporal range: 7–0 Ma Late Miocene - Present
Various true foxes: left to right, then top to bottom: red fox, Rüppell's fox, corsac fox, Bengal fox, Arctic fox, Blanford's fox, Cape fox, and fennec fox
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Subfamily: Caninae
Tribe: Vulpini
Genus: Vulpes
Garsault, 1764[1]
Type species
Canis vulpes[2]
Species
Synonyms
  • Canis (in part)
  • Alopex Kaup, 1829
  • Fennecus
  • Neocyon

Vulpes is a genus of the sub-family Caninae. The members of this genus are colloquially referred to as true foxes, meaning they form a proper clade. The word "fox" occurs in the common names of all species of the genus, but also appears in the common names of other canid species. True foxes are distinguished from members of the genus Canis, such as domesticated dogs, wolves, jackals and coyotes, by their smaller size (5–11 kg), longer, bushier tail, and flatter skull.[3] They have black, triangular markings between their eyes and nose, and the tip of their tail is often a different color from the rest of their pelt. The typical lifespan for this genus is between two and four years, but can reach up to a decade.[3]

  1. ^ "Red Fox Taxonomy". www.wildlifeonline.me.uk. Wildlife Online. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–628. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ a b The Encyclopedia of mammals. New York, NY: Facts on File. 1984. p. 31. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.