Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

OTHER NAMES: Fox, Reynard, Vixen (female only)
Latin Etymology: Vulpes ("fox") vulpes ("fox")

Adult Red Fox (subspecies V. v. crucigera) on Rainham Marshes, London - October 2010

Featured Subspecies: Vulpes vulpes crucigera

Weight: 2.2-14kg  /  Length: 45-90cm

UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The only wild canid still living in the UK since the grey wolf became extinct in the UK, they are one of our largest, and certainly our most adaptable remaining predators, although functionally as much of a scavenger as an active hunter. They are the largest of the true foxes and also the most widespread being found over the entire Northern Hemisphere, plus an invasive population introduced into Australia.  In Britain they are actually easier to see in cities than in the countryside - walking streets at night stands you a good chance of seeing one in several cities I have visited.  They are an animal widely associated with the folklore in various cultures - often in the role of tricksters.

Related Species:
Order: Carnivora 
Family: Canidae 
Genus: Vulpes 
SUBSPECIES: V. v. vulpes, V. v. abietorum, V. v. alascensis, V. v. alpherakyi, V. v. anatolica, V. v. arabica, V. v. atlantica, V. v. bangsi, V. v.barbara, V. v. beringiana, V. v. cascadensis, V. v. crucigera, V. v.caucasica, V. v. daurica, V. v. deletrix, V. v. dolichocrania, V. v. dorsalis, V. v. flavescens, V. v. vulpes, V. v. griffithi, V. v. harrimani, V. v. hoole, V. v. ichnusae, V. v. indutus, V. v. jakutensis, V. v. japonica, V. v. karagan, V. v. kenaiensis, V. v. kurdistanica, V. v. macroura, V. v. montana, V. v. necator, V. v. niloticus, V. v. ochroxantha, V. v. palaestina, V. v. peculiosa, V. v. pusilla, V. v.regalis, V. v. rubricosa, V. v. schrencki, V. v.silacea,V. v. splendidissima, V. v. stepensis, V. v. tobolica, V. v. tschiliensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident.

 - Seen at sites including Rainham Marshes and Geddington.

JAPAN - Japanese - キツネ  /  Kitsune ("Fox")

A common resident.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single seen at Shiranuka (subspecies V. v. schrencki)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto