Cross fox (animal)
Encyclopedia
The cross fox is a partially melanistic
colour variant of the red fox
(Vulpes vulpes) which has a long dark stripe running down its back, intersecting another stripe to form a cross over the shoulders. It tends to be more abundant in northern regions, and is rarer than the common red form, but is more common than the even darker silver fox
.
). Fur farmers and trappers continued to treat each red fox colour form as a distinct species long after scientists concluded that they were variations of the same one.
's red fox population. Cross foxes were once abundant in Idaho
and Utah
before being largely killed off.
Cross foxes are occasionally reported in Scandinavia
, having been described by Conrad Gessner
and Olaus Magnus
. A study based on nearly 3,000 skins of the red fox in Finland, revealed that 99% were of the reddish form, with cross foxes comprising only 0.3% of the remaining 1%.
annually, while 3500 cross fox skins were annually disposed of at auction by the London fur
companies.
The value of a cross fox pelt depended largely on the darkness of the coat, with pale coats commanding cheaper prices than darker ones. Cross foxes were not considered as valuable as silver foxes, but were more expensive than red foxes, being worth 4-5 guineas per skin as opposed to the common red variety's 15 shillings.
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
colour variant of the red fox
Red 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...
(Vulpes vulpes) which has a long dark stripe running down its back, intersecting another stripe to form a cross over the shoulders. It tends to be more abundant in northern regions, and is rarer than the common red form, but is more common than the even darker silver fox
Silver fox (animal)
The Silver Fox is a melanistic form of red fox. Silver foxes display a great deal of pelt variation: some are completely black, save for the white tail tip, while others are bluish-grey, and others may have a cinereous colour on the sides...
.
Taxonomy
At one time the cross fox was considered to be a separate species from the red fox, and was given the binomial name Canis decassatus (the fox genus Vulpes was then commonly included in the dog genus CanisCanis
Canis is a genus containing 7 to 10 extant species, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and many extinct species.-Wolves, dogs and dingos:Wolves, dogs and dingos are subspecies of Canis lupus...
). Fur farmers and trappers continued to treat each red fox colour form as a distinct species long after scientists concluded that they were variations of the same one.
Distribution
Cross foxes are relatively common in the northern areas of North America, and comprise up to 30% of CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's red fox population. Cross foxes were once abundant in Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
before being largely killed off.
Cross foxes are occasionally reported in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, having been described by Conrad Gessner
Conrad Gessner
Conrad Gessner was a Swiss naturalist and bibliographer. His five-volume Historiae animalium is considered the beginning of modern zoology, and the flowering plant genus Gesneria is named after him...
and Olaus Magnus
Olaus Magnus
Olaus Magnus was a Swedish ecclesiastic and writer, who did pioneering work for the interest of Nordic people. He was reported as born in October 1490 in Östergötland, and died on August 1, 1557. Magnus, Latin for the Swedish Stor “great”, is a Latin family name taken personally, and not a...
. A study based on nearly 3,000 skins of the red fox in Finland, revealed that 99% were of the reddish form, with cross foxes comprising only 0.3% of the remaining 1%.
Description
In physical conformation, cross foxes are identical to red foxes, though according to Teancum's Mammals of Utah (1922), they may be slightly larger with a bushier tail and with more wool under the feet. The cross fox derives its name from the vertical dark band running down the back, which is intersected with another horizontal band across the shoulders. The back and sides are yellowish rufous, which is more vivid on the flanks and the sides of the neck. Excepting the muzzle, the upper part of the head, the hind quarters and the outsides of the shoulders and thighs have dusky brown underfur and black outerfur. The flanks and sides iof the neck are reddish yellow, while the muzzle, ears and underparts of the leg are black. The long hairs of the tail are greyish or yellowish red with black tips, though the tip of the tail is always white. They are distinguished from "bastard" foxes (which are usually the result of a red/silver fox mating) by the dorsal stripe which is black rather than dark red.Fur use
Although cross foxes were historically hunted and bred for their fur, they were not considered as valuable as silver foxes. They were however considered prestigious enough to be used to adorn the leaders of certain religious communities. In the late 19th century, 4,500 cross fox pelts were exported by the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
annually, while 3500 cross fox skins were annually disposed of at auction by the London fur
companies.
The value of a cross fox pelt depended largely on the darkness of the coat, with pale coats commanding cheaper prices than darker ones. Cross foxes were not considered as valuable as silver foxes, but were more expensive than red foxes, being worth 4-5 guineas per skin as opposed to the common red variety's 15 shillings.