Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Tibetan Fox

Vulpes ferrilata

Least Concern

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

The Tibetan fox is a canid of the Tibetan plateau with an unmistakable look: a broad, square face, small eyes and an expression 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

Lifespan

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

MountainGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal In pairs Mountain Grassland Mammal

8countries 11parks34same family

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 & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & 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