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846 Featured Specimen
Corsac fox

Details

Corsac fox

Vulpes corsac

Size
45–65 cm · 1.6–3.2 kg
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Sociality
Pair
Lifespan

Corsac fox is a small fox of Central Asian dry steppe and semi-desert landscapes. Fur harvest and steppe change affect it, but it persists across a broad range.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
PalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearctic

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It inhabits steppe, semi-desert, and sandy plains in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, northern China, and nearby regions. Main habitat types in this guide are grassland, desert.

Appearance

Typical length 45-65 cm, weight 1.6 kg-3.2 kg. Pale gray-brown fur and a bushy tail become especially thick and soft in winter.

Behavior

It is nocturnal and often seen in pairs. It uses burrows and ranges widely at night while avoiding severe cold and wind.

Feeding

It is omnivorous. Rodents, pikas, birds, insects, and fruit are eaten.

Reproduction

Pups are born in burrows in spring and may be guarded by the pair or family group.

Notes

Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. Fur harvest and steppe change affect it, but it persists across a broad range.