Pseudalopex
Encyclopedia
Lycalopex is the genus
name for some South America
n members of the Canidae
family. They are sometimes referred to collectively by the common name
South American Fox. The name Lycalopex is from the Greek
words lycos meaning wolf and alopex
meaning fox. The common name for the genus is zorro, from Spanish
, and raposa, from Portuguese
, both words standing for fox
. The most numerous species of this genus is probably Lycalopex griseus, the South American Gray Fox, with large ears and a highly marketable, russet-fringed pelt
. This genus is more closely related to the dog-like canids than to the true foxes. The zorros are hunted in Argentina
for their durable, soft pelt. In Argentina they have the name of 'lamb-killer'. In reality, zorros rarely kill lambs, although, if hunger strikes, they will prey on weak or sick lambs.
Species currently included in this genus include:
In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established the genus Dusicyon
, in which he included these zorros. These were removed to Lycalopex by Langguth in 1975.
The name Pseudalopex has been used for this genus, but the current usage has that as a synonym, with Lycalopex taking precedence.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name for some South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n members of the Canidae
Canidae
Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...
family. They are sometimes referred to collectively by the common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
South American Fox. The name Lycalopex is from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
words lycos meaning wolf and alopex
Alopex
Alopex may refer to:*Alopex lagopus, the arctic fox*ALOPEX a correlation-based machine learning algorithm...
meaning fox. The common name for the genus is zorro, from Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, and raposa, from Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, both words standing for fox
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...
. The most numerous species of this genus is probably Lycalopex griseus, the South American Gray Fox, with large ears and a highly marketable, russet-fringed pelt
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...
. This genus is more closely related to the dog-like canids than to the true foxes. The zorros are hunted in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
for their durable, soft pelt. In Argentina they have the name of 'lamb-killer'. In reality, zorros rarely kill lambs, although, if hunger strikes, they will prey on weak or sick lambs.
Species currently included in this genus include:
- CulpeoCulpeoThe culpeo , sometimes known as the culpeo zorro or Andean fox , is a South American species of wild dog. It is the second largest native canid on the continent after the maned wolf. In its appearance it bears many similarities to the widely recognized red fox...
or Andean Fox, Lycalopex culpaeus - Darwin's FoxDarwin's FoxDarwin's fox or Darwin's Zorro is a small Critically endangered canine from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the Zorro Chilote or Zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Chiloé Island and Nahuelbuta National Park in mainland Chile .Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off...
, Lycalopex fulvipes - South American Gray Fox, Lycalopex griseus
- Pampas FoxPampas FoxThe Pampas fox , also known as graxaim, sorro, Azara's fox, or Azara's zorro, is a medium sized zorro or "false" fox native to South American pampas and its range is through central South America in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil...
, Lycalopex gymnocercus - Sechuran Fox, Lycalopex sechurae
- Hoary FoxHoary FoxThe hoary fox , also called the hoary zorro, is a species of zorro or "false" fox endemic to Brazil. Unlike many other foxes, it feeds primarily on small invertebrates such as insects.-Description:...
, Lycalopex vetulus
In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established the genus Dusicyon
Dusicyon
Dusicyon is a genus of extinct South American canids. The type species is Dusicyon australis, the extinct Falkland Islands Wolf. In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established the genus Dusicyon, in which he included the Culpeo and other South American foxes...
, in which he included these zorros. These were removed to Lycalopex by Langguth in 1975.
The name Pseudalopex has been used for this genus, but the current usage has that as a synonym, with Lycalopex taking precedence.