Living Beings
    Source-identified Vulpes macrotis; documentary image Framed for display
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    Vulpes macrotis mutica 115099578.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová · CC BY 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Kit Fox

    Vulpes macrotis

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraCanidae

    The kit fox is a small North American fox associated with arid landscapes. Shelter use is central to its life in hot environments, where exposure and food availability change through the day.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. ClassMammalia
    6. OrderCarnivora
    7. FamilyCanidae
    8. GenusVulpes
    9. SpeciesVulpes macrotis
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Deuterostomia clade
    8. Chordata phylum
    9. Craniata subphylum
    10. Vertebrata clade
    11. Gnathostomata clade
    12. Teleostomi clade
    13. Euteleostomi clade
    14. Sarcopterygii superclass
    15. Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
    16. Tetrapoda clade
    17. Amniota clade
    18. Mammalia class
    19. Theria clade
    20. Eutheria clade
    21. Boreoeutheria clade
    22. Laurasiatheria superorder
    23. Carnivora order
    24. Caniformia suborder
    25. Canidae family
    26. Vulpes genus
    27. Vulpes macrotis species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    Large ears stand out on a small, slender body with a bushy tail.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Desert scrub, dry grasslands and other arid habitats provide food and den sites.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Rodents and rabbits are important prey, with other small animals taken when available.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Dens offer refuge during hot periods. Much foraging takes place at night, although activity is not identical in every season or location.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Mexico, United States.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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