South American fox
| Lycalopex[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Culpeo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | Caninae |
| Genus: | Lycalopex Burmeister, 1854 |
| Species | |
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Lycalopex culpaeus |
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The South American foxes (Lycalopex), commonly called "zorros", in Spanish, or "raposas", in Portuguese, are a genus of the dog family from South America. Despite their name, they are not true foxes but are a unique canid genus more closely related to the wolves, dogs, jackals and coyotes than they are to foxes, which they somewhat resemble and after which they are named. The South American gray fox Lycalopex griseus, is the most common species, and is known for its large ears and a highly marketable, russet-fringed pelt.
The oldest known fossils belonging to the genus were discovered in Chile, and date from 2.0 to 2.5 million years ago, in the mid to late Pliocene.[2]
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[edit] Names
The common English words "zorro" and "raposa", are loan words from Spanish and Portuguese, respectively, and both originally meaning "fox". Lycalopex is Greek for "wolf-fox" and refers to their similarity to both wolves and foxes.
The name Pseudalopex has been used for this genus, but this term has fallen into disuse, although current usage lists it a synonym for reference, with Lycalopex taking precedence. It is Greek for "false fox", another term sometimes used for them. [1]
[edit] Species
Species currently included in this genus include:[1]
- Culpeo or Andean Fox, Lycalopex culpaeus
- Darwin's fox, Lycalopex fulvipes
- South American gray fox, Lycalopex griseus
- Pampas fox, Lycalopex gymnocercus
- Sechuran fox, Lycalopex sechurae
- Hoary fox, Lycalopex vetulus
In 1914, Oldfield Thomas established the genus Dusicyon, in which he included these zorros. These were removed to Lycalopex by Langguth in 1975.[3]
[edit] Relationship with Humans
The zorros are hunted in Argentina for their durable, soft pelt. In Argentina they have the name of 'lamb-killer'. In reality, zorros rarely kill lambs, although, if hunger strikes, they will prey on weak or sick lambs.[citation needed]
[edit] References
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Wikispecies has information related to: South American fox |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: South American fox |
- ^ a b c Wozencraft, W. Christopher (16 November 2005). "Order Carnivora (pp. 532-628)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000799.
- ^ Lucherini, M. & Luengos Vidal, E. M. (2008). "Lycalopex gymnocercus (Carnivora: Canidae)". Mammalian Species: Number 820, pp. 1–9. doi:10.1644/820.1.
- ^ Lycalopex. Wilson and Reeder's Mammal Species of the World, Third Edition. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000799
- Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7
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