| Pampas fox[1] | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Lycalopex |
| Species: | L. gymnocercus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lycalopex gymnocercus (G. Fischer, 1814) | |
| Subspecies | |
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| Natural range shown in green | |
ThePampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), also known asgrey pampean fox,Pampas zorro,Azara's fox, orAzara's zorro (inGuaraní also calledaguará chaí, anglicized asaguarachay, inPortuguese also calledgraxaim ([ɡɾaʃaˈĩ]),[4] is a medium-sizedzorro, or "false" fox, native to the South AmericanPampas.Azara in some of its alternative common names is a reference toSpanishnaturalistFélix de Azara.
The Pampas fox resembles theculpeo or Andean fox in appearance and size, but has a proportionately wider snout, reddish fur on the head and neck, and a black mark on themuzzle. Its short, dense fur is grey over most of the body, with a black line running down the back and onto the tail, and pale, almost white, underparts. The ears are triangular, broad, and relatively large, and are reddish on the outer surface and white on the inner surface. The inner surfaces of the legs are similar in color to the underparts, while the outer surface is reddish on the fore limbs, and grey on the hind limbs; the lower hind limb also bears a distinctive black spot. Adults range from 51 to 80 cm (20 to 31 in) in body length, and weigh 2.4 to 8.0 kg (5.3 to 17.6 lb); males are about 10% heavier than females.[5]
In the northern part of its range, the pampas fox is more richly colored than in the southern part.[6]
The Pampas fox can be found primarily in northern and centralArgentina,Uruguay, easternBolivia,Paraguay, and southernBrazil. It prefers open pampas habitats, often close to agricultural land, but can also be found in montane orchaco forest, dry scrubland, and wetland habitats. It is most common below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) elevation, but can inhabitpuna grasslands up to 3,500 m (11,500 ft).[4]
Five subspecies ofL. gymnocercus are generally recognized as of 2005:[update][7]
An earlier (1982) taxonomical revision recognized onlyL. g. antiquus andL. g. gymnocercus, along with the otherwise unaccepted subspeciesL. g. lordi (Massoia, 1982:149), which is restricted to the Chaco-Yungas Mountain Tropical Forest in Salta and Jujuy Provinces. That revision classifiedL. g. domeykoanus,L. g. gracilis, andL. g. maullinicus as subspecies ofL. griseus, in part due to their falling outside the known present range ofL. gymnocercus.[8][9]
Fossils of this species are known from the latePliocene to earlyPleistocene in Argentina.[10]
In the Spanish-speaking areas of its habitat, the Pampas fox is known by the common names ofzorro de las pampas orzorro gris pampeano. In Portuguese-speaking Brazil, it is called by the common names ofgraxaim orsorro.
The Pampas foxes mostly live a solitary life, but come together asmonogamous pairs in thebreeding season to raise their young. They are mainlynocturnal, becoming active at dusk, although may also be active during the day. They den in any available cavity, including caves, hollow trees, and the burrows ofviscachas orarmadillos.[5] Even when raising young together, adult foxes generally hunt alone,marking their territory by defecating at specificlatrine sites.[11] Although considerable variation is seen, the home range of a typical Pampas fox has been estimated to be around 260 hectares (640 acres).[5]
Pampas foxes are moreomnivorous than most other canids, and have a varied and opportunistic diet. Their primary prey consists ofbirds,rodents,hares,fruit,carrion, andinsects, although they also eatlizards,armadillos,snails and other invertebrates,lambs, and the eggs of ground-nesting birds.[5] Their primary predators arepumas, domesticated dogs, and anacondas, most notably theyellow anaconda.[4][12]
Pampas foxes breed in the early spring, with the female coming intoheat just once each year. After agestation period of 55 to 60 days, the mother gives birth to a litter of up to eight kits. The young are born between September and December, and are weaned around two months of age. Females reach sexual maturity in their first year, and animals have lived for up to 14 years in captivity.[5]
Pups remain in dens until at least the age of 3 months,[5] when they start hunting with parents. The males bring food to their females who stay at the den with kits.[9]
The main threats to the Pampas fox comes from humans hunting them for their fur[13] or to prevent them from attacking livestock; they may be affected by the loss of their natural habitat.[4] However, because they remain common in most areas where they have been studied, the Pampas fox is not presently considered a threatened species.[2]
Crossings between canids of differentgenera are extremely rare. In 2021, a female canid with unusual phenotypic characteristics was found inVacaria,Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. DNA analysis indicates that the canid was a hybrid between a Pampas fox and a domestic dog.[14] Dubbed a 'Dogxim' or 'graxorra',[15] this finding is the first documented case of hybridisation detected between these two species.[14]
