South American Fox
South American Fox
Ecuador Travel Net
Foxes and wolves among others belong to the Canidae family in the order of Carnivora and are believed to be most related to cats. On the planet exist 34 species of canids with 4 wild species, the Common South America Fox, Bush Dog, Sechura's South America Fox and Short-eared Dog, present in Ecuador. The domestic dog is also very popular in the country. On this page the Common South America Fox or Andean Fox is featured, which is a member of the gray fox family.
The solitary Andean Fox (photo taken at Quito Zoo) is the largest member of the gray fox family but as it looks more like a wolf, it is locally called Lobo del Paramo, meaning Paramo Wolf. It has a thick and beautiful grayish to silvery fur with a long haired tail. Footprints above at 33% of actual size.
Canids can be found on all continents except Antarctica and in almost all climactic zones, from the frigid northern Arctic to the tropical equatorial zones. The South American species are descendants of recent migrants from North America having crossed the Panama Land bridge in the last million year or so. Their best senses are smell and hearing which enables it to nocturnal hunting. Foxes also possess good eye sights and are more solitary animals in contrast to the wolves and other canids which hunt and live together in social groups.
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