Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Kit Fox

Vulpes macrotis

Least Concern

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

The kit fox is the smallest canid in North America, with a slender body and enormous ears that stand out on a small head. It lives in the deserts of the south-western United States and northern Mexico, where it hunts mainly rodents, rabbits and insects. It is strictly nocturnal and spends the day in burrows it digs itself. Its greatest problem is not the shortage of water but competition with and predation by coyotes, which have spread with farming.

Weight

1.6 kg – 2.7 kg

Size

45 cm – 55 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

DesertGrasslandCarnivore Nocturnal In pairs Desert Grassland Mammal

3countries 7parks34same family

Fun facts

It does not need to drink: it gets all the water it needs from the flesh of its prey, an independence that lets it occupy areas with no water at all.
It keeps several dens in use at once and moves between them every few days, which reduces its parasite load and makes it harder for coyotes to find it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Scrub desert, arid grassland and sandy plains of the North American south-west
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 54 days
Litter / clutch size: 4

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