Lycalopex griseus
South American gray fox
(Also: Argentine gray fox)

The Argentine gray fox is wide spread throughout Patagonia and western Argentina. It was introduced to Tierra del Fuego in 1951 to control the European rabbit. This area now has the highest population density. These foxes are also found on several small islands off the western coast of West Falkland, in Chile, southern Peru, and are believed to exist in central Peru. They live on both sides of the Andes Mountains (23° S to 55° S). Both hunting, legal and illegal, and the Lycalopex culpaeus may limit the gray fox’s distribution, even though their territories do not overlap. (Nowak, 1999; The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, and Canid Specialist Group, 1998)

The Argentine gray fox likes to live in lowlands and foothills of coastal mountain ranges, plains, pampas, deserts, low open grasslands and forest edge habitats. They live on shrubby sandy soils. (Nowak, 1999; The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, and Canid Specialist Group, 1998)

The coat is brindled gray, the underparts paler grays. The head is a rust color flecked with white and a black spot on the chin. The Argentine gray fox has large ears and a long and bushy tail. The molars are well developed, and the carnassials are relatively short. This fox can grow up to 2 to 4 kg. Its shoulder height is 40 to 45 cm, decreasing as latitude increases from 33° S to 54° S. The head-body length is 42 to 68 cm, and the tail length is from 30 to 36 cm. (The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, and Canid Specialist Group, 1998; Yahnke, 1995)

Data on lifespan for L. griseus are not available. However an individual from a congeneric species, Lycalopex gymnocercus, lived for 13 years and 8 months in capivity. (Nowak, 1999)

Lycalopex griseus is nocturnal. One breeding pair has a year-round territory and seems to be the center of the social system. Some males do mate with other subordinate females who will then help to rear the young of the primary female. These foxes tend to be solitary in the winter. (Johnson, 1992)

Argentine gray foxes are omnivorous and diet changes seasonally. European rabbits and birds are preferred, as well as fruits, seeds, berries, small mammals, insects, scorpions, lizards, frogs, and bird eggs. Sheep predation is minimal and usually only eaten as carrion. In the winter months, carrion seems to become the most important food source, along with rodents and armadillos. (Johnson,1992; Puig, 1997; Jaksic, 1983) In areas of human habitation, L. griseus may take domestic poultry (Nowak, 1999). (Jaksic and Yanez, 1983; Johnson, 1992; Nowak, 1999)

Predation on this species has not been described in the literature.

The Argentine gray fox helps to control small mammal and bird populations. It also disperses seeds by eating the fruit then defecating the seeds.

Local people believe that these foxes prey upon sheep and domestic fowl, although scat analysis indicates that such predation is probably not common. (Nowak, 1999)

There is an important pelt trade in South America. According to CITES, from 1980 to 1983, 381,000 fox skins were exported, 98% of which were purported to have originated in Argentina. Over 7,000 skins were recorded as being exported from Chile, despite the species being protected in that country. Most exports were made to West Germany (72%), Switzerland (7.2%), and Italy (4.4%).

As noted previously, these carnivorous foxes eat both European rabbits and small rodents. They are therefore probably important in limiting pest populations. (The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, and Canid Specialist Group, 1998)

The Argentine gray fox is protected by law in Chile but enforcementof this law is lax. No hunting or skin trade has been permitted since 1929 in some areas, although fox skins are still exported through Chile via Argentina. The Argentine Wildlife Board (Direccion Nacional de Fauna Silvestre) has classified the species as endangered. Hunting is banned year-round in some areas.

In Rio Nego, Patagonia, population levels have been stable since 1983, in spite of heavy harvesting for furs. Deep snowfall can depress population levels, but recovery is usually speedy. (Nowak, 1995; The World Conservation Union, Species Survival Commission, and Canid Specialist Group, 1998)

Darwin’s foxes (Pseudalopex fulvipes) were previously considered a subspecies of Argentine gray foxes, as Pseudalopex griseus fulvipes. They are now considered a separate species, reasons include: their shorter legs and a darker pelage and the fact that they don't interbreed where the two are sympatric. Tests of mitochondrial DNA have concluded that Darwin’s foxes and Argentine gray foxes are distinct species (Yahnke et al., 1996). The cranium size has a shorter, broader facial region, a smaller auditory bullae, heavier dentition, occlusion of the premolars nearly complete, mandible angle deeper and heavier; all of which brings it closer to the Sechurae fox, rather than the Chilla fox, supporting a sister relationships between Argentine gray foxes and Darwin’s foxes (Yahnke, 1995).

Lycalopex griseus seems to have split from a more wolf-like lineage than did Vulpes about 7 million years ago. It evolved into its current form about 1 or 2 million years ago (Johnson, 1992).

Argentine gray foxes were previously recognized as Pseudalopex griseus. (Johnson, 1992; Yahnke, 1995)