Page 21 - World of Animals - Issue #39

50 fox facts

1. Dominance
2. The
is established red fox is

early on the true foxes
the largest of

The largest red fox ever found in Britain
When a litter is born, the hierarchy is settled
very quickly. The dominant pups demand more was caught in Aberdeenshire, Scotland,
attention from the mother, and in turn, are fed and was 1.4 metres (four feet seven
more and end up larger than their siblings. inches) in length. On average they
Sometimes pups will make power plays and are 45-90 centimetres (18-35
challenge each other’s dominance, resulting inches) in length.
in the losing party being rejected from
the group. The other kits eat those that
die from their injuries or lack of food.

3. Foxes could be 6. They have
the oldest canine magnetic powers
in the world Like a hidden superpower, foxes are tuned

The oldest known Vulpes fossil we have in to the Earth’s magnetic field. Many other

to date is from Vulpes riffautae. It is now animals use a magnetic sense to orientate
extinct, but as the fossil is around seven them during migration, but the fox is the only
million years old, it is highly likely to be known animal to use it for hunting.
the earliest Canidae.
4. Males are called
dog foxes, and
females are called
vixens
People are generally aware that a
female fox is called a vixen, but many are
usually surprised to discover a male is
called a dog fox. They can also be called
a tod or a reynard.
5. Foxes symbolise
cunning and
trickery
Across many cultures around the world
the cunning, wily fox is considered the
ultimate symbol of untrustworthiness. 7. They created the 8. They avoid running as
The pale fox in Dogon folklore (from
Mali, Africa) is said to be the trickster northern lights they’re not sprinters © Thinkstock; Shutterstock
of the desert, representing all that is According to a Finnish folk tale, the northern lights are created Running is not one of their strongest skills, nor are they
sinister and chaotic. when an arctic fox runs fast through the snow touching the particularly gied at sprinting. If they need to escape a

mountains with its tail, so that it sweeps sparks into the sky. predator, they will run, but generally foxes avoid it.
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