Cape Fox

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Cape Fox
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Vulpes Species: V. chama
Binomial name
Vulpes chama (A Smith, 1833)

The Cape Fox (Vulpes chama), also called Cama Fox or Silver-backed Fox is a small fox.

It has black or silver gray fur with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black.

Cape Foxes tend to be 45 to 61 cm long, not including a 30 to 40 cm tail. They are 28 to 33 cm tall at the shoulder, and usually weigh from 3.6 to 5 kg.

Contents 1 Habitat 2 Behavior 3 Food 4 Reproduction 5 References

[edit] Habitat

The Cape Fox is found in Southern Africa from Zimbabwe to Angola. It prefers the open savanna and semi-arid regions in southwestern Africa, from Southern Zimbabwe to the Cape province.

[edit] Behavior

It is nocturnal, found alone or in pairs, in savannas and steppes.

[edit] Food

Like most foxes it is an omnivore, preferring small mammals, reptiles, and carrion, but will also eat insects and fruit.

[edit] Reproduction

The Cape Fox, unlike the Red Fox, mates the whole year. It gives birth after 51–53 days, in a usual litter-size of 3 to 6. They are weaned after 6–8 weeks and grown up in about one year. They have an average weight at birth of 50 to 100 grams (1.7 to 3.5 oz).

It reaches sexual maturity in nine months with an expected life span of 10 years.

[edit] References

• Stuart & Stuart (2004). Vulpes chama. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern