#andean fox

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Andean Fox, Eduardo Avaroa NP, Bolivia

Jochen Hertweck

[biologyluv]

Lycalopex Culpaeus

South American foxes, also know as zorros, aren’t really foxes- they are more closely related to wolves, coyotes and jackals. The culpeo is the largest South American fox species, weighing from 12 to 30 pounds (5-13.5 kg).

Culpeos are essentially the coyotes of South America. They are highly adaptable animals and live in a variety of habitats in western South America. These habitats include mountains, coastal beaches, plains, and deserts. Their distribution extends all the way from Ecuador and Peru to southern Patagonia.

Since most of their prey is active at night the culpeo is primarily nocturnal, although some populations are more active during the day (diurnal) or at dusk and dawn (crepuscular). Their diet consists mostly of rodents and rabbits but they also prey on lizards, birds, plants, carrion, and occasionally sheep, which makes them a target for shepherds. 

Culpeos are very solitary animals, only seen in pairs during the breeding season and when they have pups. Even though they are very solitary and attack sheep, people attempted to domesticate them. This attempt didn’t go very well and the result, called a Fuegian dog or Yaghan dog, was only around until the early 1900′s. The dogs were used for hunting otters but they were apparently not loyal to their owners and frequently attacked livestock. 

I rate the culpeo 14/10. They may have been bad dogs but they are very good foxes

Photo Credits:

(1) Torsten Klein (2) Bernardo Segura (3) doglime.com (4) Thomas Fuhrmann (5) Joel Sartore

[how2skinatiger]

Piebald Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) captured on trail camera in Río Clarillo National Reserve, Chile, in July 2021. It’s the first ever sighting of a culpeo with piebald markings. 

Photos by Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) [x]

[chikorito]

Culpeo Aventurero by yoshiky on DeviantArt

Culpeo Aventurero by yoshiky

Made this for the @characterdesignchallenge , been intimidated to being compared with so many pro artist but I love this month's theme of fox adventurer so pushed myself to do it, here is a culpeo/andean fox with his ice sword.The background is inspired mostly by places in my country like Antuco and Torres del Paine. Made in traditional media, markers and pencils mostly.See my instagram for the process https://www.instagram.com/p/CHthfcCByOF/

[the-faunal-frontier]

Lycalopex culpaeus - Andean Fox

[biologyluv]

Lycalopex griseus

Also known as South American gray foxes or gray zorros, chillas are a species of false fox. This means they are called foxes but aren’t actually foxes; they are more closely related to coyotes, wolves, and jackals.

Chillas are found in Argentina and Chile where they live in rocky areas in the Andean Mountains as well as in grasslands and scrub. Chillas are classified as least concern, meaning they’re not in danger of extinction, although they are rare in some places because they are hunted for their fur.

Like most other fox species, chillas are omnivores. While most of their diet consists of small mammals, they also eat carrion, birds, eggs, and fruit. Since chillas mostly eat small mammals and many small mammals are most active at night, chillas are often nocturnal. Some populations of chillas are more active during the day (diurnal) or at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). Usually this is the case when they eat fewer small mammals and more fruit or birds.

Also similar to other fox species, chillas are very solitary animals. They usually only socialize with other foxes during the breeding season and when they have litters of kits. These litters are very small, usually consisting of only 2-4 kits.

I rate the chilla 10/10. It’s like a mini coyote

Photo Credits:

(1) Daniele Colombo (2) Antony King Photography (3) Unknown (4) Daniel Sziklai G.

[chikorito]

Today to celebrate my birthday I went to the local zoo, I love to go to the zoo and I was alone so I could take whatever time I wanted to take photos and I spend a lot of time trying to take good photos of the Culpeo Fox (Andean fox), it was limping so I assume is in recovery

[mink-thedrawingresearcher]

A simple drawing of a Culpeo / Andean Fox. The snout turned out a little bit too big I gotta admit, but otherwise it's alright~