Vulpes cana
Blandford's fox

Vulpes cana, Blanford's fox, is found from Israel throughout the mountainous regions of the middle east to Afghanistan. The range of this species likely covers all the middle-eastern countries, although populations may be discontinuous. They are known from Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkistan (Kazakhstan), Israel, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, and are expected to occur throughout a wider range, including Eritrea, Sudan, and Yemen. (Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Vulpes cana is found in semi-arid steppes and mountains. This species prefers areas with steep, rocky slopes, cliffs, and canyons. Historically, Blanford's foxes were considered to avoid hot lowlands as well as cooler uplands. However, they have been observed near the Dead Sea in Israel, where they are found in cultivated areas where melons, Russian chives, and seedless grapes are grown. Blanford's foxes occur up to elevations of about 2000 meters. The most important habitat feature for Blanford's foxes seems to be the presence of dry creek beds. Dens are chosen in areas with large rock piles. (Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Blandford's foxes are small foxes with large ears and long, bushy tails with long, dark guard hairs. They range in mass from 1.5 to 3 kg, and in head to tail length from 70 to 90 cm (tail mean length is 323 mm, body mean length is 426 mm. Males and females are similar in appearance. The snout is slender. Vulpes cana has cat-like movements and appearance. Coloration is black, brown, or grey, and is sometimes blotchy. The flanks are lighter than the back, which has a black stripe running down it, and the underside is yellow. The tip of the tail is usually dark but can be white. Males have 3 to 6% longer forelegs and bodies than females. (Nowak, 1999; Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Average lifespan of Blandford's foxes is 4 to 5 years, and does not exceed 10 years in the wild. Old age and rabies are the primary recorded causes of mortality. (Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Blanford's foxes are strictly nocturnal, solitary hunters. They do not exhibit a change in their daily activity with season. They generally become active soon after dusk and are active throughout the night. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005; Geffen et al., 1992; Nowak, 1999)

In Israel Blanford's foxes occur at population densities up to 2 per square kilometer. They are one of the few fox species to regularly climb, scaling cliffs with ease. Their especially long tail is used as a counter balance when jumping and climbing. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005)

Home Range

Foraging home range averaged 1.1 square kilometers, plus or minus 0.7 square kilometers. Monogamous pairs occupy territories of 1.6 square kilometers, with little overlap between territories. (Geffen and MacDonald, 1992)

Like other canids, Blanford's foxes have keen eyesight, sense of smell, and hearing. They communicate with chemical cues and with vocalizations.

Blanford's foxes are omnivorous, eating mostly insects and fruit. Prey includes insects such as beetles, locusts, grasshopper, ants, and termites. Primary wild fruits eaten are two species of caperbush (Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis spinosa), Phoenix dactylifera, Ochradenus baccatus, Fagonia mollis, and Graminea species. Fecal samples have up to 10% vertebrate remains as well. In Pakistan they have been recorded eating agricultural crops, including melons, grapes, and Russian olives. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005; Geffen et al., 1992; Nowak, 1999)

Blanford's foxes hunt alone the majority of time. Even mated pairs tend to forage independently. They rarely cache food. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005)

Blanford's foxes seem to rarely drink water, meeting their water needs through the foods they eat. (Geffen and MacDonald, 1992; Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005)

The main predator of these foxes is humans, although one case of a Blanford's fox being killed by a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has been recorded. Blanford's foxes are not hard to catch, showing little fear of traps or humans. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005; Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Blanford's foxes help to control rapidly growing small mammal populations by preying on mammals such as rodents. They may have a similar effect on insect populations. Because they are frugivorous, they likely play some role in dispersing seeds. (Geffen et al., 1992; Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Blanford's foxes cause domestic crop damage in some areas. (Geffen and MacDonald, 1992)

The pelts of Blanford's foxes are valuable and they are hunted. Because of their diet, this species probably controls rodent and insect populations which might have a negative impact on crops. (Yom-Tov and Geffen, 1999)

Trapping and hunting have caused a large decline in the numbers of these foxes. They are protected throughout Israel, as the majority of their habitat is in protected areas. Development in other parts of their range may pose a risk to populations. (Nowak, 1999)

Mitochondrial DNA evidence suggests that Blanford's foxes and fennec foxes are sister taxa. (Geffen, Hefner, and Wright, 2005)