Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Blanford's Fox

Vulpes cana

Least Concern

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

Blanford's fox is a tiny canid of the Middle East and Central Asia, with large ears, a soft grey coat and a bushy tail almost as long as its body. It lives in ravines and rocky slopes in arid mountain country, between 500 and 2,000 metres. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on insects and fruit, which is unusual for a fox. It is an exceptional climber: it scales almost vertical faces using its tail as a counterweight.

Weight

800 g – 1.5 kg

Size

38 cm – 47 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertMountainOmnivore Nocturnal In pairs Desert Mountain Mammal

21countries 13parks34same family

Fun facts

It is probably the most agile fox at climbing: it goes up almost vertical rock faces and leaps between ledges using its tail as a balance, more like a cat than a canid.
Its footpads are bare, without the hair that protects other desert foxes: an adaptation to the rocky, rather than sandy, ground it lives on.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky ravines, steep slopes and semi-arid mountain foothills of the Middle East and Central Asia
Sexual maturity: 10 months
Gestation / incubation: 55 days
Litter / clutch size: 2

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/