Foxes are small dog-like mammals in the Canidae family.
It includes the genus Vulpes and several others. V. vulpes is the world-wide Red Fox, often taken to be the fox.
Foxes are not pack-hunting animals, but are solitary hunters that encroach on each others' territories usually only during the mating season.
Foxes include members of the following genera:
- Vulpes ("foxes" sensu stricto, ten species)
- Alopex (arctic fox)
- Fennecus (Fennec fox, one species)
- Urocyon (Gray foxes, two species)
- Lycalopex (Hoary fox, one species)
- Pseudalopex (S. American foxes, four species)
- Dusicyon (Falkland Island fox, one species)
- Cerdocyon (Crab-eating fox, one species)
The term fox does not include dogs, wolves, coyotes and jackals who are members of the genus Canis.
In some countries, such as Australia, foxes are a serious pest because they were imported for hunting purposes and they have developed large feral populations. Ironically, certain varieties of fox in other parts of the world are an endangered species.
In Western culture, the fox is an familiar animal of folklore for cunning. The species is also a popular animal for furry characters.
See also Fox Network; Star Fox.