Darwin's zorro, Zorro chilote (Spanish), Zorro de Darwin (Spanish)
Darwin's fox or Darwin's zorro (Lycalopex fulvipes ) is an endangered canid from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the zorro chilote or zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Nahuelbuta National Park, the Cordillera de Oncol, Cordillera Pelada in mainland Chile and Chiloé Island. This small, dark canine weighs 1.8 to 3.95 kg (4.0 to 8.7 lb), has a head-and-body length of 48 to 59 cm (19 to 23 in) and a tail that is 17.5 to 25.5 cm (7 to 10 in). Darwin's fox displays no key differences between male and female other than the fact that the male has a broader muzzle. Males display no territorial behavior and aren't aggressive towards other males roaming around their territory.
Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off the coast of Chile by the naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. It was long held that Darwin's fox was a subspecies of the South American gray fox (L. griseus ); however, the discovery of a small population of Darwin's fox on the mainland in Nahuelbuta National Park in 1990 and subsequent genetic analysis has clarified the fox's status as a unique species. In 2012 and 2013 the presence of the Darwin's fox at Oncol Park, Alerce Costero National Park and the Valdivian Coastal Reserve was confirmed through camera trapping.
Darwin's fox is a small endangered canid that lives in Chile and on Chiloé Island. It has dark gray fur with reddish areas on the head and muzzle. Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off the coast of Chile by the naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. It was long held to be a subspecies of the South American gray fox; however, the discovery of a small population of Darwin's fox on the mainland in Nahuelbuta National Park in 1990 and subsequent genetic analysis has clarified the fox's status as a unique species.
Darwin's foxes occur in Nahuelbuta National Park (Araucanía Region) and on the Valdivian Coastal Range (Los Ríos Region) on mainland Chile and Chiloé Island. They are found only in southern temperate rainforests and inhabit areas of primary forests.
Darwin's foxes are solitary animals; they prefer to hunt and spend their time singly and interact with each other only during the breeding season. They are most active at twilight and before sunrise.
Darwin's foxes are omnivores and occasionally scavengers. Their diet includes mammals, reptiles, beetles, invertebrates, fruits, and berries. They will also sometimes eat amphibians and carrion.
It is suggested that Darwin's foxes are monogamous and form pairs. They breed once a year in October and give birth to a litter of 2-3 kits. The young are born blind and helpless and require their mother's milk and parental care.
Fragmentation of forest adjacent to the national park and on the island is the main threat to Darwin's foxes. Feral dogs may also pose a serious threat to their survival by spreading a disease or directly attacking. Persecution by people who think that the foxes attack domestic fowls is also a potential problem.
According to the IUCN Red List, there is a minimum of 412 mature individuals occur on Chiloé Island and 227 mature individuals on the mainland. Currently, Darwin's fox is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.