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  3. Tibetan Fox

One of the 17 foxes on WAnimals

Tibetan Fox (Vulpes ferrilata)

Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Tibetan Fox

Vulpes ferrilata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.

Spotted something wrong?

The Tibetan fox is a canid of the Tibetan Plateau with an unmistakable look: a broad, square face, small eyes and an expression that seems one of perpetual indifference. That profile comes from very dense fur on the cheeks and a narrow, elongated skull. It lives in stable pairs that hunt together and depends almost entirely on the plateau pika as prey. It is diurnal, unlike most foxes, because its main prey is too.

Weight

3 kg – 5.7 kg

Size

60 cm – 70 cm

Life expectancy

8 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

MountainGrassland
8countries11parks34same family

AI-generated images: illustrations, not photographs.

Fun facts

  • GeneralIts square face and impassive expression have made it an internet favourite.
  • It follows Tibetan brown bears as they dig out pika burrows and catches the ones that bolt from the back entrances, an opportunistic hunting association documented by naturalists on the plateau.
  • Its square, deadpan face has made it an internet phenomenon, though that profile is pure fur: beneath it lies a skull as narrow as any fox's.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat and environment
Alpine steppe and semi-arid grassland of the Tibetan Plateau, between 2,500 and 5,200 metres
Gestation / incubation
52 days
Litter / clutch size
3

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulpes_ferrilata

Where to find it

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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 11.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Tibetan Fox — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Same taxonomic family
Same taxonomic family
Shares a park
Shares a park
Shares a park
Shares a park

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about tibetan fox.

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See full glossary
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See its range on the interactive map→
SagarmathaNepal
HemisIndia
DeosaiPakistan
KhunjerabPakistan
LangtangNepal
Shey PhoksundoNepal
Qomolangma National Nature ReserveChina
YadingChina
Qinghai Hoh XilChina
Qomolangma (Everest)China
See all 11 parks
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Kiang

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Long-tailed MarmotLeast Concern

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Himalayan MarmotLeast Concern

Himalayan Marmot

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CountriesChina
ParksSagarmathaNepal
TagsCarnivore
Carnivore
Diurnal
In pairs
Mountain
Grassland
Mammal
China
Nepal
Pakistan
India
Afghanistan
Bhutan
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan