Fox:Vulpini

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Foxes are small, carnivorous, solitary hunter/scavengers. They are somewhat common, living densely in N. America, Europe, and Asia, and less commonly, in S.America, Africa, and Canada. Foxes average at 3-ft. tall and 5-ft. long.(the tail is 2-3 ft. of the body’s length.)

There are literally hundreds of species and strains of fox breeds, yet they are all of the Dog family in the animal kingdom. However, some breeds of fox are definitely more related to other animals than dogs.(The “raccoon fox “ is a prime example.) Foxes as a whole are most closely related to the wolf and coyote.Wolves and coyotes have opposite behaviors to foxes. In contrary to the solitary fox, both animals are part of a larger group of “clan mates”, led by a chief male and female. Both “clans” then have a hierarchy consisting of Leaders, Hunters,Mothers and Pups,Scavengers,and Stragglers.(Stragglers are Scavengers which have injuries or deformities, and thus are the least respected members of the group.) Foxes are also close to the Jackals, solitary creatures similar to the fox, although larger with a bulkier body structure. Despite being a “lone wolf”(pun) for most of the year,the fox male becomes extremely loyal to it’s mate and their newborn when mating season comes around. After the vixen gives birth to a litter of kits, the male hunts and provides food for the nursing mother.The mother is also assisted by “aunts”, or non-mated and nursing vixens. Aunts provide protection from animals that would otherwise eat the newborns, and in return get valuable experience for their own litter next year.

The foxes in the Vulpine family, or “true foxes”(ex. red fox,gray fox, and so forth.) actually make a small part of all of the foxes recorded, only 12 out of ...

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...he the woman reveal herself as the creature the men had hunted previously.”Finally, the most infamous kind of legend: The Nine Tailed Fox, characters of immense power.Characterized either as a flaming, demonic beast from hell sent as a harbinger of death and destruction and considered as horrific monsters ,or heavenly deities containing the elements of the world inside their tails.(earth, fire, water ex.) I personally think ether one would be an astounding spectacle to behold!

Although people’s opinion of this animal ranges to “rodent” to “mystical animal of the gods!!”,the fox should receive due credit for its diversity as a species and for all of it’s intellectual behavior. I can not look upon,or even think of this graceful animal with anything less than respect.

Works Cited

National Geographic.com,Animal Planet.com, Live Science.com, The Kitsun Page.com

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