Living Beings
    Source-identified Vulpes velox; documentary image Framed for display
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    Swift Fox Vulpes velox.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Drew Avery · CC BY 2.0

    Field guide · species

    Swift Fox

    Vulpes velox

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraCanidae

    The swift fox is a small canid of North American open country. It uses dens not only for raising young but also as important refuges within a relatively exposed landscape.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. ClassMammalia
    6. OrderCarnivora
    7. FamilyCanidae
    8. GenusVulpes
    9. SpeciesVulpes velox
    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 velox species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    A small body, pointed muzzle and bushy tail create the typical fox outline.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Shortgrass prairie and other open habitats with suitable den sites are important.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Small mammals, insects, birds and other available foods contribute to a seasonally variable diet.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Dens provide shelter from weather and danger. Foraging and social associations change with season and the rearing of young.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

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

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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