Cape Fox
Encyclopedia
The Cape fox also called the cama fox or the silver-backed fox, is a small fox
.
It has black or silver gray fur
with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black.
The Cape fox tend to be 45 to 61 cm (17.7-24 inches) long, not including a 30 to 40 cm (11.8-15.75 inch) tail. It is 28 to 33 cm (11-13 inch) tall at the shoulder, and usually weighs from 3.6 to 5 kg (8-11 lbs).
plains with scattered thickets to semi-desert scrub, and also extending into fynbos
. It is widespread in Zimbabwe
, Botswana
, and South Africa
, occurring in most parts of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, the Eastern Cape (excluding the south-eastern side) the Free State, western and north-western KwaZulu-Natal and the North-West province. It also occurs in Lesotho, a high mountainous region.
s underground, holes, hollows, or dense thickets, and it is an active digger that will excavate its own borrow, although it generally modifies an abandoned borrow of another species, such as a Springhare's burrow, to its specific requirements. They are solitary creatures, and although they form mated pairs the males and females are often found alone as they tend to forage separately and are seldom seen together. They are not territorial, however they will mark their territory with a pungent scent. Although it is a normally silent fox, the Cape fox is known to communicate with soft calls, whines or chirps. However, they will warn with a loud bark whenever alarmed. When aggressive, the Cape fox is known to growl and spit at its attacker. To show its excitement, the fox lifts its tail, and by which the higher the height of the tail lift often indicates the measure of excitement in the fox.
s, they are opportunists and have hunted and eaten reptile
s, rabbits, spiders, birds, and young hares. They will also eat eggs, beetle larvea, and carrion, as well as most insects or fruits. And when pushed, they have been able to kill newborn lambs up to three months of age, although this is a very rare occasion and has little impact.
, although they do typically have offspring in the months of October, November, December, or January. From conception, the female Cape fox has a gestation period of 51 to 53 days, and she gives birth to a litter size of 1 to 6 cubs (or kits). Reared underground in burrows, the cubs will stay close to the den until they are about 4 months old. Weaned at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, they don't begin to forage until they are 4 months of age, and they are usually dependent by the time they are 5 months of age, at which time they will disperse, typically in the months of June or July. Initially, they typically weigh from 50 to 100 grams (1.7 - 3.5 ounces) at birth, and both parents will care for the young, with the male even providing for the female for the first two weeks. A family group usually only consists of the parents and their offspring, but different family groups sometimes mix together during feeding. Multiple litters are possible, and have been observed; the female usually chases out the cubs from her litter, though, when she is expecting another litter. They are fully grown in about a year, with both the female and the male reaching sexual maturity at 9 months. The Cape fox has a life expectancy of about 6 years, but it can live up to 10 years.
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
.
It has black or silver gray fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black.
The Cape fox tend to be 45 to 61 cm (17.7-24 inches) long, not including a 30 to 40 cm (11.8-15.75 inch) tail. It is 28 to 33 cm (11-13 inch) tall at the shoulder, and usually weighs from 3.6 to 5 kg (8-11 lbs).
Habitat
It inhabits mainly open country, from open grasslandGrassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
plains with scattered thickets to semi-desert scrub, and also extending into fynbos
Fynbos
Fynbos is the natural shrubland or heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate...
. It is widespread in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, occurring in most parts of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, the Eastern Cape (excluding the south-eastern side) the Free State, western and north-western KwaZulu-Natal and the North-West province. It also occurs in Lesotho, a high mountainous region.
Behavior
The Cape fox is nocturnal and it is mainly active at night and is most active just before dawn or after dusk; it can be spotted during the early mornings and early evenings. During the day it typically shelters in burrowBurrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s underground, holes, hollows, or dense thickets, and it is an active digger that will excavate its own borrow, although it generally modifies an abandoned borrow of another species, such as a Springhare's burrow, to its specific requirements. They are solitary creatures, and although they form mated pairs the males and females are often found alone as they tend to forage separately and are seldom seen together. They are not territorial, however they will mark their territory with a pungent scent. Although it is a normally silent fox, the Cape fox is known to communicate with soft calls, whines or chirps. However, they will warn with a loud bark whenever alarmed. When aggressive, the Cape fox is known to growl and spit at its attacker. To show its excitement, the fox lifts its tail, and by which the higher the height of the tail lift often indicates the measure of excitement in the fox.
Food
The Cape fox is an omnivorous animal, meaning that they will eat plants or animals. Although they prefer mainly invertebrates and small mammals such as rodentRodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s, they are opportunists and have hunted and eaten reptile
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s, rabbits, spiders, birds, and young hares. They will also eat eggs, beetle larvea, and carrion, as well as most insects or fruits. And when pushed, they have been able to kill newborn lambs up to three months of age, although this is a very rare occasion and has little impact.
Reproduction
As for the Cape fox, and typical of most Canid species, they will mate for life. The Cape fox, however, is capable of breeding all year long, unlike the red foxRed Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
, although they do typically have offspring in the months of October, November, December, or January. From conception, the female Cape fox has a gestation period of 51 to 53 days, and she gives birth to a litter size of 1 to 6 cubs (or kits). Reared underground in burrows, the cubs will stay close to the den until they are about 4 months old. Weaned at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, they don't begin to forage until they are 4 months of age, and they are usually dependent by the time they are 5 months of age, at which time they will disperse, typically in the months of June or July. Initially, they typically weigh from 50 to 100 grams (1.7 - 3.5 ounces) at birth, and both parents will care for the young, with the male even providing for the female for the first two weeks. A family group usually only consists of the parents and their offspring, but different family groups sometimes mix together during feeding. Multiple litters are possible, and have been observed; the female usually chases out the cubs from her litter, though, when she is expecting another litter. They are fully grown in about a year, with both the female and the male reaching sexual maturity at 9 months. The Cape fox has a life expectancy of about 6 years, but it can live up to 10 years.