Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Island Fox

Urocyon littoralis

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The island fox lives only on six of the Channel Islands, off the coast of California, with a different subspecies on each island. It descends from the mainland grey fox and is a classic case of insular dwarfism: it weighs about a third as much as its ancestor. It is omnivorous and opportunistic, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds and crabs, and is active by day as well as by night. Its recent history is one of the fastest recoveries on record in conservation.

Weight

1.3 kg – 2.8 kg

Size

48 cm – 50 cm

Lifespan

6 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

Temperate forestIslandsOmnivore Variable activity In pairs Near Threatened Temperate forest Islands Mammal

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Fun facts

In the 1990s three subspecies crashed to fewer than a hundred animals each, because golden eagles drawn in by feral pigs were preying on them; once the pigs were removed and the eagles relocated, they recovered in little more than a decade.
Each of the six islands has its own subspecies, and all of them descend from grey foxes that reached the archipelago some 7,000 to 9,000 years ago.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Coastal scrub, chaparral, dunes and oak woodland of California's Channel Islands
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 52 days
Litter / clutch size: 2.6 (average)

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