The South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus), also known as the Patagonian fox, the chilla or the gray zorro, is a species of Lycalopex, the "false" foxes. It is endemic to the southern part of South America.
Couple found near Lonquimay volcano, Araucanía Region, Chile
The South American gray fox is a small fox-like canid, weighing 2.5 to 5.45 kilograms (5.5 to 12.0 lb), and measuring 65 to 110 centimetres (26 to 43 in) in length including a tail of 20 to 43 cm (8 to 17 in). The head is reddish-brown flecked with white. The ears are large and there is a distinct black spot on the chin. The pelage is brindled, with agouti guard hairs and a short, dense pale undercoat. The underparts are pale grey. The limbs are tawny and the thighs are crossed by a dark bar. The long, bushy tail has a dark dorsal stripe and dark tip with a paler, mottled underside.[4]
Range and habitat
The South American gray fox is found in the Southern Cone of South America, particularly in Argentina and Chile. Its range comprises a stripe, both sides of the Andes Mountain Range between parallels 17ºS (northernmost Chile) and 54ºS (Tierra del Fuego).[2]
In Argentina, this species inhabits the western semiarid region of the country, from the Andean spurs (ca. 69ºW) to meridian 66ºW. South from the Río Grande, the distribution of the fox widens reaching the Atlantic coast. In Chile, it is present throughout the country. Its presence in Peru has been mentioned; to date, however, there has been no confirmation of it. The South American gray fox was introduced to the Falkland Islands in the late 1920s early 1930s and is still present in quite large numbers on Beaver and Weddell Islands plus several smaller islands.[2]
The South American gray fox occurs in a variety of habitats, from the warm, arid scrublands of the Argentine uplands and the cold, arid Patagonian steppe to the forests of southernmost Chile.[2]
Diet
The diet varies in different parts of its range and at different times of year. It consists mainly of mammals, birds, arthropods, bird eggs, reptiles, fruit and carrion. The main prey items seem to be small mammals, especially rodents. Fruits eaten include Cryptocarya alba, Lithraea caustica and Prosopanche spp.[5]
Reproduction
The South American gray fox breeds in early austral autumn, around March. After a gestation period of two months, two to four kits are born in a den. Not much else is recorded about its lifestyle.
The South American gray fox is a largely solitary animal that has long been hunted for its pelt. The foxes sometimes go near human habitations in search of food such as chickens and sheep, but tend to avoid areas visited by dogs. They are useful in their role as scavengers of carrion and as dispersers of the seeds of the fruit they eat.[6][7]
Country
Where their ranges overlap, the South American gray fox is in competition with the larger culpeo fox. The former consumes a greater proportion of rodents, and arthropods make a significant portion of its diet, while the culpeo tends to consume larger prey, including the non-native European hare which has been introduced into Chile. These prey animals are partitioned between these two species, with the gray fox being excluded from the best prey territories by the larger culpeo.[8]
References
^Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^ ab. Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive Species Specialist Group. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
^Claudio Sillero-Zubiri; Michael Hoffmann; David Whyte Macdonald (2004). "South American gray fox" (PDF). Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN. pp. 56–63. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
^Peterson, L. (2011). "Lycalopex griseus: Culpeo". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
^SILVA-RODRÍGUEZ, EDUARDO A.; ORTEGA-SOLÍS, GABRIEL R.; JIMÉNEZ, JAIME E. (2010). "Conservation and ecological implications of the use of space by chilla foxes and free-ranging dogs in a human-dominated landscape in southern Chile". Austral Ecology. 35 (7): 765–777. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.02083.x.
^Sonia C. Zapata; Alejandro Travaini; Miguel Delibes; Rolando Martínez-Peck (2005). "Food habits and resource partitioning between grey and culpeo foxes in southeastern Argentine Patagonia". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 40 (2): 97–103. doi:10.1080/01650520500129836. hdl:10261/50241. S2CID 85789638.
External links
Data related to Pseudalopex griseus at Wikispecies
Media related to Pseudalopex griseus at Wikimedia Commons
March 06, 2023
south, american, gray, lycalopex, griseus, also, known, patagonian, chilla, gray, zorro, species, lycalopex, false, foxes, endemic, southern, part, south, america, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientific, classificationking. The South American gray fox Lycalopex griseus also known as the Patagonian fox the chilla or the gray zorro is a species of Lycalopex the false foxes It is endemic to the southern part of South America South American gray fox 1 Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 2 CITES Appendix II CITES 3 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily CanidaeGenus LycalopexSpecies L griseusBinomial nameLycalopex griseus Gray 1837 Distribution of the South American gray foxSynonyms 4 Dusicyon griseus Pseudalopex griseus Gray 1837 Contents 1 Description 2 Range and habitat 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 Interaction with environment 5 1 Urban 5 2 Country 6 References 7 External linksDescription Edit Couple found near Lonquimay volcano Araucania Region Chile The South American gray fox is a small fox like canid weighing 2 5 to 5 45 kilograms 5 5 to 12 0 lb and measuring 65 to 110 centimetres 26 to 43 in in length including a tail of 20 to 43 cm 8 to 17 in The head is reddish brown flecked with white The ears are large and there is a distinct black spot on the chin The pelage is brindled with agouti guard hairs and a short dense pale undercoat The underparts are pale grey The limbs are tawny and the thighs are crossed by a dark bar The long bushy tail has a dark dorsal stripe and dark tip with a paler mottled underside 4 Range and habitat EditThe South American gray fox is found in the Southern Cone of South America particularly in Argentina and Chile Its range comprises a stripe both sides of the Andes Mountain Range between parallels 17ºS northernmost Chile and 54ºS Tierra del Fuego 2 In Argentina this species inhabits the western semiarid region of the country from the Andean spurs ca 69ºW to meridian 66ºW South from the Rio Grande the distribution of the fox widens reaching the Atlantic coast In Chile it is present throughout the country Its presence in Peru has been mentioned to date however there has been no confirmation of it The South American gray fox was introduced to the Falkland Islands in the late 1920s early 1930s and is still present in quite large numbers on Beaver and Weddell Islands plus several smaller islands 2 The South American gray fox occurs in a variety of habitats from the warm arid scrublands of the Argentine uplands and the cold arid Patagonian steppe to the forests of southernmost Chile 2 Diet EditThe diet varies in different parts of its range and at different times of year It consists mainly of mammals birds arthropods bird eggs reptiles fruit and carrion The main prey items seem to be small mammals especially rodents Fruits eaten include Cryptocarya alba Lithraea caustica and Prosopanche spp 5 Reproduction EditThe South American gray fox breeds in early austral autumn around March After a gestation period of two months two to four kits are born in a den Not much else is recorded about its lifestyle Interaction with environment Edit A chilla in Pan de Azucar National Park in the coast of Atacama Desert Urban Edit The South American gray fox is a largely solitary animal that has long been hunted for its pelt The foxes sometimes go near human habitations in search of food such as chickens and sheep but tend to avoid areas visited by dogs They are useful in their role as scavengers of carrion and as dispersers of the seeds of the fruit they eat 6 7 Country Edit Where their ranges overlap the South American gray fox is in competition with the larger culpeo fox The former consumes a greater proportion of rodents and arthropods make a significant portion of its diet while the culpeo tends to consume larger prey including the non native European hare which has been introduced into Chile These prey animals are partitioned between these two species with the gray fox being excluded from the best prey territories by the larger culpeo 8 References Edit Wozencraft W C 2005 Order Carnivora In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 a b c d Jimenez et al 2008 Pseudalopex griseus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008 Retrieved 6 May 2008 old form url Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 14 January 2022 a b Lycalopex griseus mammal Global Invasive Species Database Invasive Species Specialist Group 10 August 2010 Archived from the original on 28 January 2015 Retrieved 25 January 2015 Claudio Sillero Zubiri Michael Hoffmann David Whyte Macdonald 2004 South American gray fox PDF Canids Foxes Wolves Jackals and Dogs Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan IUCN pp 56 63 Retrieved 24 January 2015 Peterson L 2011 Lycalopex griseus Culpeo Animal Diversity Web University of Michigan Retrieved 8 April 2015 SILVA RODRIGUEZ EDUARDO A ORTEGA SOLIS GABRIEL R JIMENEZ JAIME E 2010 Conservation and ecological implications of the use of space by chilla foxes and free ranging dogs in a human dominated landscape in southern Chile Austral Ecology 35 7 765 777 doi 10 1111 j 1442 9993 2009 02083 x Sonia C Zapata Alejandro Travaini Miguel Delibes Rolando Martinez Peck 2005 Food habits and resource partitioning between grey and culpeo foxes in southeastern Argentine Patagonia Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 40 2 97 103 doi 10 1080 01650520500129836 hdl 10261 50241 S2CID 85789638 External links Edit Data related to Pseudalopex griseus at Wikispecies Media related to Pseudalopex griseus at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title South American gray fox amp oldid 1142737718, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
