Vulpes
rueppellii the Rüppell’s Fox
Figure 1: Vulpes rueppellii (Rüppell’s
fox).
The
Rüppell’s fox (Vulpes rueppellii) is
a small desert species that ranges through North Africa, eastwards from Morocco
to Egypt, through the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan and Western Pakistan
(Macdonald, 2009). As this foxes habitat is mainly sand and stone deserts its
fur is a pale, sandy to reddish colour (Macdonald, 2009). As the fur of these
animals is closely matched to the surrounding environment, it helps conceal
them from predators. This simple yet effective adaptation has given this species
an advantage in surviving in such harsh conditions.
Possibly the most interesting adaptation of the
foxes is hidden within the violet (tail) glands. Females have a well-developed
violet gland that is used to scent mark the den site (Mech and Boitani, 2003). This
gland also has a special skunk-like ability. When threatened, a fox will hump
back, raise its tail, and squirt a noxious anal secretion at potential
predators (Kingdon, 1997). Although this is one fascinating adaptation, due to
the predominately inhospitable habitat that this fox occupies, Rüppell’s foxes have
fewer predators than other species within this genus. Main predation is aerial
such as Steppe eagles and Eagle owls (Larivière and Seddon, 2001). However,
this bizarre adaptation is still a good example of how this fox has been able
to adapt itself over time to have the best chance
of survival within its environment niche, habitat and climatic conditions.
Fascinating! What is the diet of these foxes? I imagine that occurring up in the Sahara that there isn’t that much in the way of food. Are they generalists? I was also curious as to whether their distribution overlaps that of Fennec foxes?
ReplyDeleteThe Rüppell’s fox is omnivorous, with a diet that varies considerably depending on what is locally available at the time. In some regions, they have reported to be mainly insectivorous, especially feeding on beetles while in others; small mammals, lizards, and birds form a larger part of their diet. Plants eaten include grass and desert succulents, along with any available fruits such as dates (Larivière and Seddon, 2001; Lindsay & Macdonald, 1986). Their distribution does overlap that of the Fennec fox, in fact it is almost identical to what is seen in Figure 2.
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