List of Fox Breeds

Twenty-two species of fox exist worldwide and are spread between five genera of the canidae family of mammals that includes wolves, dogs, coyotes and jackals; the fox is related to all four. As canids, foxes tend to be medium-sized animals with deep-chested bodies and elongated muzzles. Foxes also have well developed senses of smell and hearing, but have less acute eyesight.

  1. Vulpes

    • The largest genus of foxes is vulpes, with 12 different living species. The largest and by far most common species is the red fox, which is found throughout most of the northern hemisphere. It grows to 35 inches, nose to tail, and weighs up to 30 lbs. At the other end of the scale is the smallest species, the fennec fox. It lives in the Sahara desert and grows to around 15 inches in length, weighing just over 3 lbs. The other fox species are the Bengal, Blandford's, cape, corsac, Tibetan, Arctic, kit, pale ruppels and swift. Vulpes foxes range from the Americas to Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

    Urocyon

    • The Urocyon genus includes two species of gray fox. The gray fox lives from southern Canada, down through the United States and into parts of Central America. It grows to around 44 inches, nose to tail, and weighs almost 20 lbs. It is also the only member of the canidae family that can climb trees. The island gray fox lives on the Channel Islands just off the coast of southern California. It looks like a dwarf version of the gray fox. It grows to 31 inches in length and weighs just over 4 lbs.

    Lycalopex

    • The Lycalopex genus of foxes has six living species. More commonly known as South American foxes, the largest of the six is the culpeo fox. It measures 36 inches, nose to tail and weighs over 30 lbs. All six species are native to South America and also include Darwins fox, South American gray, pampas sechuran and the hoary fox.

    Otocyon

    • The Otocyon genus of foxes has just one living species. The bat-eared fox lives in areas of Africa such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Rhodesia. It is medium-sized type of fox that grows to almost 2 feet in length and weighs up to 11 lbs. It has large, bat-like ear that can grow to over 5 inches in length. Like most foxes, it is a capable digger and digs out holes in the ground to use as a den.

    Cerdocyon

    • The Cerdocyon genus of foxes has only one living species. The crab-eating fox lives in South American countries such as Venezuela, Columbia and Argentina. It is a large fox that grows to 36 inches long and weighs up to 18 lbs. The fox, as its name suggests, feeds on crabs and other crustaceans, but mainly eats small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.