the south american foxes ( lycalopex ) , commonly called raposas in portuguese , or zorros in spanish , are a genus of the canidae family from south america .

despite their name , they are not true foxes , but are a unique canid genus , which some somewhat resemble foxes and are named after them .

the south american gray fox , lycalopex griseus , is the most common species , and is known for its large ears and a highly marketable , russet-fringed pelt .

the oldest known fossils belonging to the genus were discovered in chile , and date from 2.0 to 2.5 million years ago , in the mid - to late pliocene .

south american fox

group of the south american foxes , or of the outlying group , which consists of bat - eared fox , gray fox , and island fox .
information on the south american grey fox is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
the south american grey fox can be found in a number of locations including : south america . find out more about these places and what else lives there .
main characteristics south american grey foxes have a body length between 42 and 68 cms ( 16 . 5 - 26 . 8 inches ) , a tail length between 30 and 36 cms ( 12 - 14 inches ) and they weigh between 2 and 4 kgs ( 4 . 4 - 8 . 8 lbs ) . they are grey in colour with a pale underside and they have rust coloured markings around their head , ears and legs . habitat south american grey foxes can be found on the plains , grasslands , forest edges and the foothills of mountain ranges in southern south america . diet south american grey foxes mainly feed on rodents , birds and rabbits . breeding after a gestation period of approximately 2 months , 2 - 4 young are born in a den . predators predators of south american grey foxes have not been documented . subspecies there are no subspecies of the south american grey fox . interesting facts south american grey foxes are also known as : south american gray fox argentine grey fox argentine gray fox patagonian fox grey zorro chilla griseus is latin for grey . similar animals culpeo fox darwin ' s fox pampas fox sechuran fox hoary fox island fox bat - eared fox crab - eating fox
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of this group . the south american clade is rooted by the maned wolf and bush dog , and the fox - like canids by the fennec fox and blanford ' s fox . the grey fox and island fox are basal to the other clades , however this topological difference is not strongly supported .
as its name suggests , the pampas fox is found in the south american pampas . these vast lowland grasslands are located in argentina , brazil and uruguay .
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arctic fox . click the picture to find out more about the arctic fox .
you can find out more about the arctic fox here : arctic fox facts .
the following habitats are found across the south american grey fox distribution range . find out more about these environments , what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them .
: the canini ( dogs , wolves , jackals , and some south american
foxes
) and the vulpini ( true foxes ) .
this article is about the animal . for the american broadcast television network , see fox broadcasting company . for other uses , see fox ( disambiguation ) .
the south american gray fox is the most common member of the lycalopex ( zorro or ‘false fox’ ) genus . it is found in chile and argentina . this small fox has been hunted for its attractive red - brown tinged coat . it is currently listed as least concern .
the maned wolf is a south american native whose range extends from the amazon basin rain forest in brazil to the dry shrub forests of paraguay and northern argentina .
trut , lyudmila n . ( 1999 ) .
early canid domestication : the fox farm experiment
. american scientist 87 .
bobcat facts , pictures , video & information . discover a stealthy north american predator
copyright © 2004 by the american society of human genetics . all rights reserved .
the gray fox is one of the few canids that can climb trees , and it is the only american canid able to do so .
the gray fox is an american canid whose range covers southern canada to northern south america . it is found throughout the usa , and is the most common fox in the pacific states . its coat is a mixture of greys , black and pale oranges . its tail has a black tip .
. two of these , the south american canine group , which includes a number of
foxes
, and the wolf group , together form the tribe canini . the third clade is the
true fox
group , tribe vulpini .
tiger salamander facts , pictures & in - depth information . discover a widespread american amphibian
nowak , r . 1995 .
walker ' s mammals of the world , online . south american foxes
( on - line ) . accessed november 28 , 2001 at urltoken .
living in the southern part of the new world . in other words , central and south america .
examples include : the nine - tail fox from various asian cultures ; the reynard tales from medieval europe ; the sly trickster fox from native american lore ; and aesop’s “ the fox and the crow . ” the finnish believed a fox made the northern lights by running in the snow so that its tail swept sparks into the sky . from this , we get the phrase “fox fires . ”
the extant wild canids of north america are the gray wolf , the coyote ( canis latrans ) , the hybrid red wolf ( canis rufus ) , the arctic fox ( alopex lagopus ) , the gray fox ( urocyon cinereoargenteus ) , the red fox ( vulpes vulpes ) , the swift fox ( vulpes velox ) , and the kit fox ( vulpes macrotis ) . in addition to the dire wolf , other members of the genus canis may have inhabited south america , but all these
wolflike
canids were extinct by the end of the pleistocene . the gray wolf and the coyote never moved farther south than the table land of mexico . the gray fox has extended its range into northern venezuela and colombia , but all the other south american canids are unique to that continent .
and a 2009 paper by tedford , wang and taylor on the north american fossil caninae .
closely related native americans of the algonquian branch of the algonquian - wakashan linguistic stock ( see native american languages ) . sac and fox culture was of the eastern woodlands area with some plains - area traits ( see under natives , north american ) .
the pampas fox is a ‘zorro’ , or ‘false fox’ , meaning that it is not a member of the vulpes , or ‘true fox’ , genus . it is typically fox - like in appearance , with sandy grey - white fur , erect ears and a bushy tail .
yahnke , c . 1995 . metachromism and the insight of wilfred osgood : evidence of common ancestory for darwin’s fox and the sechura fox .
the canid with the widest distribution in south america is the culpeo ( dusicyon culpaeus ) , which ranges all along the western coastal region of the continent from southern colombia to tierra del fuego . d . griseus , the chilla , is now scarce , but its home is the southern tip of south america , below 25 degrees south latitude . the pampas fox ( d . gymnocercus ) is found in east - central south america , whereas the sechura fox ( d . sechurae ) occurs only in a small region on the northwest coast . the final member of this group of foxes is the hoary fox ( d . vetulus ) which lives in the open grassland of brazil .
common mudpuppy facts , pictures & information . discover a north american amphibian that never leaves the water .
perhaps because of the fox’s ability to decimate a chicken coop , in the 16th century , fox hunting became a popular activity in britain . in the 19th century , the upper classes turned fox hunting into a formalized sport where a pack of hounds and men on horseback chase a fox until it is killed . today , whether to ban fox hunting continues to be a controversial subject in the uk . currently , fox hunting with dogs is not allowed .
the cape fox lives in grasslands and semi - desert scrub . it is found in zimbabwe , botswana , and south africa . it is common throughout its range and rated least concern by the iucn .
found in south america , the crab - eating fox has short , dark grey fur and short legs . it weighs between 4 . 5 and 7 . 7 kg ( 10 and 17 lb ) .
crab - eating fox , ( cerdocyon thous ) , south american member of the dog family ( canidae ) , found in grassy or forested areas . it attains a length of 60–70 cm ( 24–28 inches ) , excluding a 30 - centimetre tail , and has a gray to brown coat that is frequently tinged with…
fox , david l . ( 2007 ) .
vulpes vulpes ( red fox )
. animal diversity web . university of michigan museum of zoology .
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
) asian affinities and continental radiation of the four founding native american mtdnas . am j hum genet 53 : 563–590
may limit the gray fox’s distribution , even though their territories do not overlap .
see h . g . lloyd , the red fox ( 1980 ) ; j . d . henry , red fox : the catlike canine ( 1986 ) .
the fennec fox’s large ears help it to stay cool by dissipating heat . they are also useful for hunting , allowing the fox to hear animals moving underground .
inside even after they descend . like other canines , the male fox has a
the island fox is found on six of the channel islands of california . after severe population declines in the 1990’s , the island fox became critically endangered . several conservation programmes were put into place , and the island fox population is now increasing .
rüppell’s fox is a small desert fox found in north africa and the middle east . it has a pale sandy - coloured coast and big ears , and is similar in appearance to the smaller fennec fox . its conservation status is least concern .
if you have a native american name and meaning to add to the list - - fill out the form below .
, where they diversified . however the most recent common ancestor of the south american canids lived in north america some 4 mya and the likelihood is that there were more than one incursion across the new land bridge . one of the resulting lineages consisted of the
there has been a flourishing of the native american indian population : in 2010 , 5 . 2 million people in the united states identified themselves as american indian or alaska native , either alone or in combination with one or more different races . out of this total , 2 . 9 million people identified themselves as american indian / alaska native alone . the native american indian population experienced an increase of 39 % , the greatest growth of any population group since 2000 . 41 % of american indians live in the west , and 33 % in the south . the 2010 census indicated that the five states with the largest native american indian population in order are california , oklahoma , arizona , new mexico , and texas . alaska , florida , north carolina , and south dakota experienced the greatest growth . the following chart lists the top 25 american indian tribes by population in the year 2010 . these are the original u . s . census bureau figures , which indicate those listing one tribe only . whereas the cherokee tribe has the largest overall population , the navajo tribe has the largest population reporting one tribe only .
the sechura fox is the smallest member of the zorro , or ‘false fox’ genus . this pale , yellow - grey fox is found in ecuador and peru . it is threatened by habitat loss , and is listed as near threatened by the iucn .
the tibetan sand fox lives high on the tibetan plain and surrounding areas . it is a member of the vulpes , or ‘true fox’ , genus , and has a typically fox - like appearance , with reddish - grey fur and a bushy tail .
the red fox is the largest member of the vulpes , or ‘true fox’ genus , and is recognisable by its red coat , white chest and underparts , and bushy tail .
about the size of a domestic cat , the swift fox is pale yellow and white in colour , and has large ears . it is closely related to the kit fox .
the bat - eared fox population is stable , and the species is rated least concern .
the red fox : one of the most familiar animals in this wild dogs species list .
kit fox ) ; large - eared pale foxes of the western north american plains ( swift fox ) and deserts ( kit fox ) ; shy and uncommon ; adult length about 40–50 cm without the 20–30 - cm tail , weight about 1 . 5–3 kg ; burrow - dweller that feeds on small animals ( rodents , rabbits , insects ) ; coat gray to yellowish brown with black - tipped tail .
south american grey foxes are widespread throughout patagonia and western argentina . they prefer to live in the foothills of coastal mountain ranges and in forest edge habitats . foxes pair up and maintain their territory throughout the year . mating is monogamous and both the males and females are actively care for the young . these little foxes are omnivorous , but their diet changes seasonally . they are native to south america , but have been introduced to the falkland islands .
during his voyage on the beagle , charles darwin collected a fox that today is unimaginatively called darwin’s fox . this small gray fox is critically endangered and lives in just two spots in the world : one population is on island of chiloé in chile , and the second is in a chilean national park . the fox’s greatest threats are unleashed domestic dogs that carry diseases like rabies .
red fox ( vulpes vulpes ) , potter ' s marsh , alaska , u . s .
the bush dog is a rare south american canid . ( ‘canid’ means member of the dog family , canidae ) . it usually lives near water in rainforests and savannas . the bush dog has a long , squat body with short legs and a short tail , giving it a rather badger - like appearance .
in the 1960s , a soviet geneticist named dmitry belyaev bred thousands of foxes before achieving a domesticated fox . unlike a tame fox , which has learned to tolerate humans , a domesticated fox is docile toward people from birth . today , you can buy a pet fox for $ 9000 , according to fast company . they’re reportedly curious and sweet - tempered , although inclined to dig in your furniture .
amphibians of north america : american amphibian list with pictures & facts . discover the frogs , toads & salamanders of the u . s . !
the culpeo is the second - largest member of the dog family found in south america ( only the maned wolf is larger ) . in - between a red fox and a coyote in size , the culpeo has grey - red or yellow fur and a bushy tail .
the corsac fox lives in the steppes of central asia . it is a mid - sized fox , weighing between 1 . 6 and 3 . 2 kilograms ( 3 . 5 and 7 . 1 lb ) . the corsac fox has long fur , which thickens and becomes a lighter colour during the winter .
tedford , richard ; wang , xiaoming ; taylor , beryl e . ( 2009 ) .
phylogenetic systematics of the north american fossil caninae ( carnivora : canidae )
. bulletin of the american museum of natural history 325 : 1–218 . doi : 10 . 1206 / 574 . 1 .
what’s in a name ? for this unique animal , it is a wolf in name only . it is however a canid , and therefore related to the wolf . maned wolves are more closely related to the forest fox and the bush dog ( canid species from south america ) .
in general , south american foxes are long - haired , rather grayish animals that grow to about 0 . 5–1 metre ( 1 . 6–3 . 3 feet ) in length , excluding the bushy tail , which is 25–50 cm ( 10–20 inches ) long . they are found in open terrain as opposed to thick forest , and they feed on small animals , birds , fruit and other plant material , and insects . generally nocturnal , they live in abandoned burrows or in dens among rocks or trees . both parents care for the litters of one to eight young . south american foxes can attack domestic livestock , but they are helpful in controlling rodent populations .
1 . 5–3 . 5 - kg fox inhabiting the sahel savannas and southern desert margin of northern africa ; coat yellow to brown ; similar in form to the red fox , but with longer legs and ears .
, and thus , walk on their toes . unlike their dog relatives , fox claws are partially retractable .
and others , but rarely of sustained domestication . a recent and notable case is the russian silver fox ,
burrows , roger ( 1968 ) . wild fox . newton abbot : david & charles . isbn 9780715342176 .
canidae . dictionary . com . the american heritage stedman ' s medical dictionary . houghton mifflin company . urltoken ( accessed : february 16 , 2009 ) .
throughout its wide distribution , the culpeo uses many habitat types ranging from rugged and mountain terrain , deep valleys and open deserts , scrubby pampas , sclerophyllous matorral , to broad - leaved temperate southern beech forest in the south . the culpeo uses all the range of habitat moisture gradients from the driest desert to the broad - leaved rainforest . in the andes of peru , chile , bolivia and argentina , the culpeo reaches elevations of up to 4 , 800 m ( redford and eisenberg 1992 , romo 1995 , jiménez and novaro 2004 , tellaeche et al . 2014 ) . redford and eisenberg ( 1992 ) placed the culpeo in the coldest and driest environments of south america relative to other south american canids .
in fact , here’s a fun fact for kids . the maned wolf’s fox - like characteristics – such as a shaggy , white tipped tail and large ears – have earned it the nickname of “fox on stilts . ”
small and social steppe - dwelling fox that inhabits steppes and semideserts of eastern eurasia ; coat yellowish gray or brown to reddish gray ; body similar in form to the red fox , but with larger legs and ears .
the family canidae - - the wolves , dogs , jackals , and foxes - - has wild members on all continents except australia , which has only the dingo . the thirty - eight species of wild canids live in habitats ranging from tropical rainforest to arctic tundra . the north american wolf ( canis lupus ) is social and eats mainly meat from large mammals . the south american maned wolf ( chrysocyon brachyurus ) spends most of its life alone , and fruit forms the bulk of its diet .
although the population is declining due to habitat loss , the bengal fox is rated least concern by the iucn .
the gray fox is widespread , and lives in a variety of habitats including forests , scrubland and rocky environments .
foxes are found on every continent except antarctica . by far the most common and widespread species of fox is the
bathgate , michael . the fox ' s craft in japanese religion and culture . 2004 . p . 18 .
wallen , martin ( 2006 ) . fox . london : reaktion books . pp . 69–70 . isbn 9781861892973 .
fox al ( 1932 ) the relationship between chemical constitution and taste . proc natl acad sci usa 18 : 115–120
nowak , r . m . 1979 . north american quaternary canis . monograph of the museum of natural history , university of kansas 6 : 1 – 154 .
the american crocodile , found in southern florida and all the way down to ecuador is well populated in costa rica . the average crocodile is 10 to 13 ft . long , but in costa rica they measure about 13 to 16 ft . long . they can often be seen congregating by bridges where unenlightened tourists toss them food for photos . this species is currently threatened and now only about 1 , 500 american crocodiles live in mexico , central and south america . the biggest threat to their existence is loss of habitat .
a fox ' s coat color and texture may vary due to the change in seasons ; fox pelts are richer and denser in the colder months and lighter in the warmer months . to get rid of the dense winter coat , foxes
growl - an adult fox ' s indication to their cubs to feed or head to the adult ' s location .
) preferred habitat of open space , to increase ; the darwin ' s fox , subsequently , is being outcompeted .
chambers , s . m . ; fain , s . r . ; fazio , b . ; amaral , m . ( 2012 ) .
an account of the taxonomy of north american wolves from morphological and genetic analyses
. north american fauna 77 : 1–67 . doi : 10 . 3996 / nafa . 77 . 0001 .
a terrestrial biome . savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy . extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical africa and south america , and in australia .
below are links to spotted wolf ' s corner articles - [ contents - - - register and vote ! ] [ remembering the great chiefs ] [ native american legends & stories ] [ anglos once were immigrants ] [ handbook of american indians 1906 - contents ] [ native american indians and the eagle ] [ native american names & meanings ] [ past notable native americans - pg - . 1 ] [ past notable native americans - pg 2 ] [ hill & holler thanksgiving column ] [ a thanksgiving teaching ] [ on being an indian ] [ where is goyathlay ' s ( geronimo ) skull ? ] [ cochise ] [ goyathlay ( geronimo ) ] [ mangas coloradas ] [ nana ]
wang , xiaoming ( 1994 ) .
phylogenetic systematics of the hesperocyoninae
. bulletin of the american museum of natural history 221 : 1–207 . hdl : 2246 / 829 .
as their body temperature only drops minimally , it means that they are able to wake up and venture out in search of a light snack to break up their long slumber . in hotter regions in the south black
like a guided missile , the fox harnesses the earth’s magnetic field to hunt . other animals , like birds , sharks , and turtles , have this “magnetic sense , ” but the fox is the first one we’ve discovered that uses it to catch prey .
perini , f . a . ; russo , c . a . m . ; schrago , c . g . ( 2010 ) .
the evolution of south american endemic canids : a history of rapid diversification and morphological parallelism
. journal of evolutionary biology 23 ( 2 ) : 311–322 . doi : 10 . 1111 / j . 1420 - 9101 . 2009 . 01901 . x . pmid 20002250 .
1 doyle rc . american history . class lectures & notes , franciscan university , steubenville , ohio , 2001 . 2 berkin c , miller cl , cherny rw , gormly jl . making america . fourth edition , houghton mifflin , boston , 2006 . 3 waldman c . encyclopedia of native american tribes . checkmark , new york , 2006 . 4 morison , samuel eliot . oxford history of the american people . oxford university press , new york , 1965 . 5 waldman c , braun m . atlas of the north american indian . checkmark books , new york , 25 - 50 , 2000 . 6 census 2010 , united states of america . 7 gannon m . florida - a short history . university press of florida , gainesville , florida , 2003 .
emerged in north america . a large wolf , it was found all over north and central america , and was eventually supplanted by its descendant , the dire wolf , which then spread into south america during the late pleistocene .
native american indians welcomed us to these shores in florida , virginia , and massachusetts , and eventually the entire east coast . the first mass of thanksgiving on american soil was actually celebrated by the spanish with the timucuan indians from seloy village in attendance on september 8 , 1565 in st . augustine , florida . the pilgrims , who sought religious freedom and crossed the atlantic in the mayflower
the argentine gray fox helps to control small mammal and bird populations . it also disperses seeds by eating the fruit then defecating the seeds .
the two subspecies of bat - eared fox live in geographically separate regions . one is in southern africa , the other in east africa .
despite being hunted for its fur , the corsac fox is widespread and common throughout its range , and rated least concern by the iucn .
this small fox is only found on cozumel , a mexican island . it has not been thoroughly studied , and may now be extinct .
is a mutant strain of red fox found in northwestern europe . it lacks the long guard hairs , and the underfur is tightly curled .
) have more specialized diets . most species of fox consume around 1 kg ( 2 . 2 lb ) of food every day . foxes
what we know about dogs in native american societies is limited . but we do know that the dogs brought by the spanish were much different in character and breeding from those already present . how these non - european animals meshed with humans in everyday life , how they functioned in the symbolic ream , and how their roles varied across cultural boundaries are questions basic to our understanding of american dogs .
the grey fox is omnivorous , meaning it eats both plants and other animals . unlike other canids that hunt in packs , the grey fox hunts alone . it will stalk its prey for a while then pounce , using its long curved claws to trap and kill its victim . the preferred meal for a grey fox is a cottontail rabbit , but it will feast on other small mammals such as mice , wood rats , and cotton rats . this variety of vertebrates makes up the majority of a grey fox’s diet in the winter . the grey fox also eats invertebrates such as grasshoppers , beetles , butterflies , and moths . along with birds , eggs , fruits , nuts , and grains , these invertebrates make up most of a grey fox’s diet in the spring . if a grey fox has excess food , it is a common habit to bury it and mark it with urine or their scent glands to ward off other animals and to make it easier to find later .
perhaps the most distinctive feature of the fox family , as compared with wolves and coyotes , is the eyes . they are yellow with elliptical pupils . all other canids , including dogs , have round pupils . fox es are monogamous and do not live in packs . they are among…
the bat - eared fox is aptly named , not just because of its 5 - inch ears , but because of what it uses those ears for—like the bat , it listens for insects . on a typical night , the fox walks along the african savannah , listening , until it hears the scuttle of prey . although the fox eats a variety of insects and lizards , most of its diet is made up of termites . in fact , the bat - eared fox often makes its home in termite mounds , which it usually cleans out of inhabitants before moving in .
many have emailed asking us for information about native american names and their meanings . this began my quest for the answers . below are the native american indian names that i have found with their meanings . when i know which tribe , the name comes from , i have indicated it . if the tribe is not listed , i do not know it , you don ' t have to email asking .
native american names are very interesting as names for new babies because they have so much meaning behind them . rooted in forces of nature , religion and personally desired characteristics , they translate into poetic epithets .
mitchell , peter 2017 . disease : a hitherto unexplored constraint on the spread of dogs ( canis lupus familiaris ) in pre - columbian south america . journal of world prehistory , vol . 30 , issue . 4 , p . 301 .
it is a small , pale - coloured fox , weighing between 2 . 3 and 4 . 1 kg ( 5 and 9 pounds ) .
like other desert foxes , the kit fox has large ears that provide a means of losing heat , as well as giving it exceptional hearing .
according to new scientist , the fox can see the earth’s magnetic field as a “ring of shadow” on its eyes that darkens as it heads towards magnetic north . when the shadow and the sound the prey is making line up , it’s time to pounce . here’s the fox in action :
roughly the size of a kitten , the fennec fox has elongated ears and a creamy coat . it lives in the sahara desert , where it sleeps during the day to protect it from the searing heat . its ears not only allow it to hear prey , they also radiate body heat , which keeps the fox cool . its paws are covered with fur so that the fox can walk on hot sand , like it’s wearing snowshoes .
prevosti , francisco j . ramírez , mariano a . schiaffini , mauro martin , fabiana udrizar sauthier , daniel e . carrera , marcelo sillero - zubiri , claudio and pardiñas , ulyses f . j . 2015 . extinctions in near time : new radiocarbon dates point to a very recent disappearance of the south american foxdusicyon avus ( carnivora : canidae ) . biological journal of the linnean society , vol . 116 , issue . 3 , p . 704 .
this african fox species ( the only ‘true’ fox species found in africa ) has a grey - brown coat , and a long , bushy tail with a black tip . average weight for an adult male is 2 . 8 kg ( 6 . 2 lb ) , females are slightly smaller .
human beings have trapped and hunted some canid species for their fur and , especially the gray wolf , coyote and the red fox , for sport .
the dhole is found in central , south and southeast asia . it lives in a variety of habitats , including rainforest and grasslands . this large member of the dog family can weigh up to 40 kg ( 88 lb ) ; around twice the weight of a coyote . dholes resemble members of the canis genus ( domestic dogs , grey wolves ) , and have fox - like reddish fur and bushy tails .
the crab - eating fox often searches for crabs and other food in floodplains , giving it its name . it does not currently have a conservation status .
the red fox is an adaptable animal , able to live in suburban and rural areas . it is often found living alongside humans , but seldom poses any kind of threat . for many people living in suburban areas , the red fox is the largest of the few wild mammals that they will regularly encounter .
the bengal fox is found only in the indian subcontinent . it prefers a short grassland habitat , and is a social animal , living in large underground dens .
, at loma de los muertos raises intriguing questions about the relationship between wild canids and humans . this sub - adult individual appears to have been buried in a human mortuary context in a comparable manner to adjacent human burials . it may have been kept as a pet and been considered part of the human social group . the ability of pets , especially canids , to leave the animal world and enter into a special relationship with people may be related to the cosmology of south american hunter - gatherers .
wang , xiaoming ; tedford , richard h . ; taylor , beryl e . ( 1999 ) .
phylogenetic systematics of the borophaginae
. bulletin of the american museum of natural history 243 : 1–391 . hdl : 2246 / 1588 .
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the bat - eared fox is so named due to its distinctive large ears . these are used to locate termites , which form up to 80 % of its diet .
the hoary fox is endemic to brazil , and is mainly found in grasslands . it is a small canid , with a grey , black and brown - red coat .
foxes are often considered pests or nuisance creatures for their opportunistic attacks on poultry and other small livestock . fox attacks on humans are not common but have increased in frequency .
1 . charles james . 1749 - - 1806 , british whig statesman and orator . he opposed north over taxation of the american colonies and pitt over british intervention against the french revolution . he advocated parliamentary reform and the abolition of the slave trade
the red fox has a huge range that covers north america , europe and much of asia . it was introduced in australia , where it is now considered an invasive species .
the swift fox lives in the prairie grasslands of the great plains of the united states . it is also found in canada , where it was introduced after having been extirpated .
fox species differ in fur color , length , and density . coat colors range from pearly white to black and white to black flecked with white or grey on the underside .
bush dog , ( spe o thos venaticus ) , small , stocky carnivore of the family canidae found in the forests and savannas of central and south america . the bush dog is a rare species , and its numbers are declining as a result of the destruction of its natural habitat . the bush…
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 % ) .
sillero - zubiri ( 2009 ) recognized 35 extant canid species ( 37 if the dingo is treated as a distinct species , canis dingo , rather than a subspecies of the gray wolf , canis lupus dingo , and if the eastern north american wolf is treated as a distinct species , canis lycaon ) . south america has 11 species , including nine ( mainly pseudalopex [ sometimes known as lycalopex ] foxes ) endemic to the continent . africa has 13 species , including eight endemics . asia has twelve species , including three endemics . two species , the golden jackal ( canis aureus ) and arctic fox ( alopex lagopus ) are native to three continents ( africa / europe / asia and north america / asia / europe , respectively ) .
jaksic , f . , j . yanez . 1983 . rabbit and fox introductions in tierra del fuego : history and assessment of the attempts at biological control of the rabbit infestation .
, or brant , fox is yellowish brown with a black cross extending between the shoulders and down the back ; it is found in both north america and the old world . the
short - eared , short - tailed fox of the barren slopes and streambeds of nepal ; length to 70 cm , weight up to 4 kg or more ; colour is variable .
] ) was first recognized in the early 1930s , when a . j . fox discovered the polymorphism in himself and a coworker , organic chemist c . r . noller ( anonymous
fox , any of various members of the dog family ( canidae ) resembling small to medium - sized bushy - tailed dogs with long fur , pointed ears , and narrow snouts . in a restricted sense , the name refers to the 10 or so species classified as “true” foxes ( genus vulpes ) , especially the red , or common , fox ( v . …
found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude , in areas with a mediterranean climate . vegetation is dominated by stands of dense , spiny shrubs with tough ( hard or waxy ) evergreen leaves . may be maintained by periodic fire . in south america it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo .
the culpeo is distributed along the andes and hilly regions of south america from nariño and putumayo departments of south - west colombia in the north ( jiménez et al . 1995 , ramírez - chaves et al . 2013 ; records from departments further north are dubious ) to tierra del fuego in the south ( markham 1971 , redford and eisenberg 1992 ) . it ranges down to the pacific shoreline in the desert of northern chile ( mann 1945 , jiménez and novaro 2004 ) , south to about valdivia ( osgood 1943 ) and then again in magallanes . on the eastern slopes of the andes , the culpeo is found in argentina from jujuy province in the north , reaching the atlantic shoreline from río negro and southwards . this extended eastward distribution is relatively recent and was apparently favoured by sheep ranching , increased availability of exotic prey and extirpation of puma ( crespo and de carlo 1963 , novaro 1997a , novaro and walker 2005 ) . however , in the last 10 - 15 years the shrinking of sheep production in argentine patagonia has facilitated puma recolonization . the probable increase in predation or competitive exclusion by pumas in turn appears to have caused declines in culpeo populations ( travaini et al . 2007 , a . travaini pers . comm . 2015 ) .
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 .
yahnke , c . , w . johnson , e . geffen , d . smith , f . hertel . 1996 . darwin’s fox : a distinct endangered species in a vanishing habitat .
) of the family canidae , to which the jackal and fox also belong . the family canidae is sometimes referred to as the dog family , and its characteristics , e . g .
like the bat - eared fox , the black - backed jackal lives in two separate areas of africa . one subspecies is found in southern african countries , the other in eastern africa .
lloyd , h . g . ( 1981 ) . the red fox ( 2 . impr . ed . ) . london : batsford . p . 21 . isbn 0 7134 11902 .
the arctic fox , which lives in the northernmost areas of the hemisphere , can handle cold better than most animals on earth . it doesn’t even get cold until –70 degrees celsius . its white coat also camouflages it against predators . as the seasons change , the coat changes too , turning brown or gray so the fox can blend in with the rocks and dirt of the tundra .
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 .
the crab - eating fox lives in forests and savannas . it spends the day in underground dens and comes out at night to hunt . it has been kept as a pet by indigenous peoples .
sorry , we didn ' t recognize the zip code you entered . it may have been mistyped , or you may have put in a zip code outside the area the american red cross serves in the us , its territories and military installations around the world . please try again .
blanford’s fox is found in desert and mountainous regions of the middle east and central asia . this small fox weighs between 0 . 9 and 1 . 5 kg ( 2 and 3 . 3 lb ) . it is an excellent climber , and uses its long tail for balance . its large ears help it to stay cool in the desert heat . it has two distinctive dark stripes on its face .
. they vary in size from the fennec fox , which may be as little as 24 cm ( 9 . 4 in ) in length and weigh 0 . 6 kg ( 1 . 3 lb ) ,
. the bush dog has only one upper molar with two below , the dhole has two above and two below , and the bat - eared fox has three or four upper molars and four lower ones .
the kit fox is a small canid found in the usa and mexico . it lives in arid and desert habitats , and its population is in decline due to habitat loss . conservation programmes are now in place .
despite this relationship , the maned wolf is the only species in its genus . it has a very different appearance than the wolves we are used to seeing , and more closely resembles a fox than a wolf .
large ( 5–7 - kg ) fox of north america , eurasia , and northern africa , and introduced to australia ; length 90–105 cm , including the 35–40 - cm tail ; coat typically reddish brown but variable .
this small fox is a natural survivor and has many adaptations for life in the arctic . its thick , insulating coat changes colour with the seasons , and is white in the winter and brown during the summer months .
the maned wolf is the largest member of the dog family in south america . its average weight is 23 kg ( 51 lb ) , and its average height is 90 cm ( 35 in ) at the shoulders . it has a reddish - brown coat , and a mane along its back . despite its name , it is not closely related to the grey wolf .
the adult male arctic fox grows to around 30 cm ( 11 . 8 in ) tall at the shoulder , and weighs up to 9 . 4 kg ( 20 . 7 lb ) . its conservation status is ‘least concern’ .
the fennec fox is found in hot , arid parts of north africa , and is a desert specialist . its pale coat reflects heat , and thick fur on the bottom of its paws allow it to walk over hot sand .
. introduced to australia , it has established itself throughout much of the continent . the red fox has a coat of long guard hairs , soft , fine underfur that is typically a rich reddish brown , often a white - tipped
are adapted as carnassial teeth for slicing flesh , although the bat - eared fox differs in this respect , being largely insectivorous . the molar teeth are strong in most species , allowing the animals to crack open bone to reach the
wang , xiaoming ( 2003 ) .
new material of osbornodon from the early hemingfordian of nebraska and florida
( pdf ) . bulletin of the american museum of natural history 279 : 163–176 . doi : 10 . 1206 / 0003 - 0090 ( 2003 ) 279 < 0163 : c > 2 . 0 . co ; 2 .
foxes are symbols of cunning and craftiness . in older times , they were symbols of the devil . because of the connotations of such expressions as “fox” and “foxy , ” this animal has also become associated with seductive female beauty and charms .
kang , xiaofei ( 2006 ) . the cult of the fox : power , gender , and popular religion in late imperial and modern china . new york : columbia university press . p . 15–21 . isbn 0 - 231 - 13338 - 3 .
in the wild , the typical lifespan of a fox is one to three years , although individuals may live up to ten years . unlike many canids , foxes are not always pack animals . typically , they live in small family groups , but some (
within their own home range , foxes battle with the factors of competition between other foxes , habitat quality , and the availability of food . however , the more serious dangers grey foxes struggle with are humans , predation , parasites , and disease . humans pose a threat to grey foxes through hunting , trapping , and the use of automobiles . also , a farmer may resort to killing a fox if it acts as a nuisance to his animals . the four main predators of the grey fox are the coyote , the bobcat , the golden eagle , and the great horned owl . the grey fox will either hide under cover or climb trees to evade danger . grey foxes will fight for their lives with their teeth and sharp claws if they are unable to escape in time .
the raccoon dog , as its name suggests , resembles a raccoon , with its wide furry face and short , squat body . it is a relatively undeveloped member of the dog family . like the grey fox , it is one of the few canids that climbs trees .
like the cat , the fox is most active after the sun goes down . in fact , it has vertically oriented pupils that allow it to see in dim light . it even hunts in a similar manner to a cat , by stalking and pouncing on its prey .
the last line seems to refer to the dog & apos ; s connection to the land of the dead . dogs were thought to be essential guides for tricky afterlife journeys . they were part of human existence and the cycle of life , death , and rebirth that was at the core of all native american belief systems . in addition , dogs were utilitarian animals exploited for human survival .
van valkenburgh , b . ; wang , x . ; damuth , j . ( oct 2004 ) .
cope ' s rule , hypercarnivory , and extinction in north american canids
. science 306 ( 5693 ) : 101–104 . bibcode : 2004sci . . . 306 . . 101v . doi : 10 . 1126 / science . 1102417 . issn 0036 - 8075 . pmid 15459388 .
the fennec fox is the smallest member of the dog family , weighing only 1 to 1 . 5 kg ( 2 . 2 to 3 . 3 lb ) . it has pale , orange - white fur and oversized ears , which look huge compared to its small body .
perhaps the most distinctive feature of the fox family , as compared with wolves and coyotes , is the eyes . they are yellow with elliptical pupils . all other canids , including dogs , have round pupils . foxes are monogamous and do not live in packs . they are among…
whine - made shortly after birth . occurs at a high rate when cubs are hungry and when their body temperatures are low . whining stimulates the mother to care for her young ; it also has been known to stimulate the male fox into caring for his mate and cubs .
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 .
> fox by horsemen with a pack of hounds . in england , the home of the sport , foxhunting dates from at least the 15th century . in its inception , it was probably an adjunct to stag and hare hunting , with the same hounds used to chase each quarry . …
darwin’s fox was discovered by english naturalist charles darwin . this rare canid is found in just two places in chile : nahuelbuta national park , and on the island of chiloé . it lives in forests , and is rarely seen . it is one of the smallest members of the dog family .


the plymouth red-bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ) , sometimes called the plymouth red-bellied cooter , the first freshwater turtle in the us to be listed as endangered , by the united states fish and wildlife service was found only in plymouth county , massachusetts before the state began trying to establish populations in other areas .

current thinking is that they are not a full subspecies and that they belong in synonymy under pseudemys rubriventris or northern red-bellied cooter .

nevertheless , it is well recognized that the plymouth red-bellied turtle extends the range of the northern red-bellied cooter by 30 – 40 percent .

in 1983 , massasoit national wildlife refuge was established to help conserve the plymouth red-bellied turtle .

this turtle gets its name from its reddish plastron or undershell .

they have flattened or slightly concave vertebral scutes with a red bar on each marginal scute .

their upper shell or carapace ranges from brown to black .

an arrow-shaped stripe runs atop head , between the eyes , to their snout .

adults are 10 – 16 inches ( 25 – 41 cm ) .

males have elongated , straight claws on the front feet .

it lives in the plymouth pinelands of the massachusetts and spends most of its time in freshwater ponds .

in spring and summer , the females nest in sand while the males look for food .

females lay 5 – 17 eggs at a time .

the incubation of the eggs takes 73 to 80 days , and the eggs hatch at around 25 °c ( 77 °f ) .

hatchlings are about 32 millimetres ( 1.3 in ) long .

eggs and young turtles are prey to skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish .

their natural lifespan is 40 to 45 years .

the population had been reduced to 200 – 300 turtles by the 1980s .

by 2007 , there were estimated to be 400 – 600 breeding age turtles across 20 ponds .

this is due to overhunting by its natural predator the skunk and pollution from herbicides dumped into streams and ponds .

loss of habitat , as a result of filling in ponds to create houses is also a major issue .

plymouth red - bellied turtle

(
species turtle , red - bellied , plymouth
, 1996 ;
plymouth rebelly turtle habitat model
, 2001 ; ernst , et al . , 1994 )
1996 .
species turtle , red - bellied , plymouth
( on - line ) . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
glenn , c . r . 2006 .
earth ' s endangered creatures - plymouth red - bellied turtle facts
( online ) . accessed
the plymouth red - bellied turtle is thought to be limited to about 17 ponds and one river site in plymouth county , massachusetts . the total number of breeding individuals is believed to be about 300 .
the plymouth red - bellied turtle prefers deep , permanent ponds with nearby sandy areas for nesting , and surrounding vegetation of pine barrens or mixed deciduous forest .
plymouth red - bellied turtle .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
wikipedia article copyright notice : this article is licensed under the gnu free documentation license . it uses material from the wikipedia article
plymouth red - bellied turtle
.
plymouth red - bellied turtle .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . encyclopedia . com . ( july 9 , 2018 ) . urltoken
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1985 .
plymouth red - bellied turtle recovery plan .
u . s . fish and wildlife service , newton corner , massachusetts .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1994 .
plymouth red - bellied turtle recovery plan , second revision .
u . s . fish and wildlife service , newton corner , massachusetts .
red - bellied turtles are considered endangered according to the endangered species act of 1973 . the subspecies
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi is the scientific name for the common named plymouth red - bellied cooter . these turtles can be found in deep ponds , lakes , streams , rivers , and marshes . they mostly live in freshwater .
2001 .
plymouth rebelly turtle habitat model
( on - line ) . usfws gulf of maine watershed habitat analysis . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
eastern red - bellied turtles act as both predator and prey . their prey include crayfish , snails , fish , and tadpoles . predators of
the plymouth red - bellied turtle is believed to be a subspecies of the eastern red - bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) . some biologists argue that the subspecies only exists because of a taxonomic error , and that the plymouth red - bellied turtle is only an isolated population of the eastern red - bellied turtle . nevertheless , the subspecies is classified as endangered throughout its entire range in massachusetts . the eastern red - bellied turtle is a shy pond turtle species . adults grow from 10 to 15 inches in length . their carapaces are brown to black with flat scutes . their heads are arrow - like in shape with stripes that run between the eyes and to the nose . the plastron ( undershell ) is reddish in color , giving the red - bellied turtle its name . males have long claws on their front feet . eastern red - bellied turtles can be found in deep ponds , lakes , streams and rivers . they can often be found basking not too far from the water . diet consists of snails , slugs , crayfish , tadpoles , and aquatic plants . mating occurs in the spring , and nesting from june to july . females lay from 8 to 20 eggs , and the hatchlings emerge 10 to 15 weeks later . the young turtles sometimes remain in the nest throughout the winter . in massachusetts , these turtles are said to be very vulnerable ( as eggs and young turtles ) to predation by skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish , and the population was reduced to 200 to 300 turtles in the 1980s . conservation efforts include preservation of the turtles habitat and protection of the nests . there are also several head start programs in place in massachusetts to help raise hatchlings until they are able to survive on their own .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi , also known as the plymouth red - bellied turtle , or the northern red - bellied cooter , has been listed as endangered and protected under the endangered species act of 1973 since april 2 , 1980 ( 3 ) . until recently , the turtle was classified taxonomically as a subspecies due to differences in shell morphology ( 4 ) . when it was later found that this species showed no difference in morphology or genetics from the mid - atlantic red - bellied turtles pseudemys rubriventris ( 4 ) , the national wilderness institute filed a petition in 1997 asking that pseudemys rubriventris bangsi be removed from the endangered species list due to taxonomical error at the time of listing ( 2 ) .
eat the hatchlings and eggs . red - bellied turtles escape predators by burying themselves in the mud , swimming aggressively , or by withdrawing into their shells .
the northern red - bellied cooter ( pseudemys rubriventris pop . ) is endemic to ponds in eastern massachusetts [ 1 ] . it formerly occurred in a patchy distribution in most of the state ' s coastal counties including essex , middlesex , plymouth , barnstable , and dukes . the only non - coastal county with a historical record is worcester . today it occurs only in plymouth county .
roy mcdiarmid ( pers . comm . , june 2001 ) indicates that current thinking is that the massachusetts populations previously referred to as pseudemys rubriventris bangsi babcock , 1937 ( plymouth red - bellied turtle ) , which are listed as endangered by the us fish & wildlife service , are not a full subspecies ; they belong in synonymy under p . rubriventris ( leconte , 1830 )
in 1983 , the massasoit national wildlife refuge was established to help conserve the plymouth red - bellied turtles . at the current moment , measures are being taken to preserve the turtle ' s habitats and protecting of the nests . there are many
head start
programs in massachusetts to help raise the hatchlings until they are big and strong enough to survive on their own .
table 1 : number and locations of hs hatchlings in plymouth county , ma from 1984 - 2006 ( 3 ) .
at maturity , the plymouth red - bellied turtle , pseudemys rubriventris bangsii , achieves a carapace ( upper shell ) length of up to 12 in ( 31 cm ) . the carapace is typically black to deep mahogany with reddish vertical bars , but color and patterning vary widely . the male undershell ( plastron ) is pale pink , overlaid with a dark mottling . the female under - shell is a brilliant coral red . the upper jaw is notched and displays distinct cusps .
archaeological evidence suggests that this species occurred in a fairly restricted area of eastern massachusetts defined by ipswich , concord , and martha ' s vineyard . a closely related subspecies , the red - bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris rubriventris ) , ranges from north carolina to southern new jersey .
red - bellied turtles were economically important to humans in the colonial times as a source of food and trade . today , their shells make decorative art . doctors have an interest in the workings of the turtles ' hearts and have performed operations recorded in scientific journals . red - bellied turtles also help control the population of hyacinth , an invasive aquatic plant .
the carapace of the red - bellied turtle can measure from 10 – 16 in and is dark brown or black in color ( 1 , 3 ) . the scutes ( modified scales ) on the carapace are flat and nearly concave ( 1 ) . there is also a red bar on the marginal scutes . the name red - bellied comes from the reddish color of the plastron , which is also accompanied by dark markings ( 1 ) . sexual dimorphism is evident at 5 to 7 years ( 3 ) with males having long , straight claws on front limbs ( 1 ) .
other negative impacts on this turtle include incidental mortality from highway traffic , occasional shooting , and use as pets . another threat could arise in the future if pond levels were subject to extensive draw downs as might occur if the plymouth aquifer were tapped as a water source for metropolitan areas . such draw downs could affect the turtle ' s food supply as well as cover .
red - bellied turtles are diurnal reptiles , spending most of their days basking on logs and swimming . they are most active from april to october . during winter , when water is covered with ice ,
eastern redbelly turtle
( on - line ) . enature . accessed 03 / 19 / 03 at urltoken .
the turtles hibernate in mud at the bottoms of rivers during the winter time . the description of a red - bellied turtle , as you can see , is a brown / black carapace and concave scutes . each scute has a red bar and there is a stripe on the head . scutes are lightly marked and the males have straight claws on front feet . dimensions are 10 - 15 inches . these turtles breed during june and july . there are 8 - 20 eggs in a clutch , dimension of egg is 1 inch . time period it takes to hatch is 10 - 15 weeks , but sometimes they don ' t hatch until the following year . their natural lifespan is 40 - 45 years . the red - bellied turtle gets its name from its reddish plastron .
the loss of federal protections and the associated recovery plan could have resulted in drastic population declines . in 1996 , there was new criteria for which a species could be considered endangered ; this was beneficial to protecting the plymouth red - bellied turtle ( 3 ) . the 1996 disjunct / discrete population segment policy allows populations to be considered on their own for extinction risks if there is significant reproductive isolation ( 3 ) . this lack of interbreeding with the rest of the species could be due to physiological , behavioral , ecological and / or physical factors ( 3 ) . in the case of pseudemys rubriventris bangsi , the nearest population is approximately 250 miles south ; this significant isolation distance may have existed for hundreds of years ( 3 ) . isolation and the lack of any migratory evidence have led to the plymouth red - bellied turtle being granted the status of a discrete population segment , under which it maintains its endangered designation under the endangered species act ( 3 ) . many recommend that the name bangsi be retained , even though it is no longer an official subspecies . some experts claim that the extinction of the plymouth population would result in a 40 % reduction in the range of the species ( 3 ) .
to counter habitat loss , the nature conservancy included several turtle ponds in its land registry program in massachusetts . under this system , landowners voluntarily agreed to avoid activities on their lands that would harm the turtle . this voluntary program provided the nucleus for the establishment of a permanent federal wildlife refuge in 1986 . the refuge includes all turtle ponds known to be inhabited and others that were once inhabited .
3 . michael j . amaral . northern red - bellied cooter ( pseudemys rubriventris ) 5 - year review : summary and evaluation may 3 , 2007 u . s . fish and wildlife service new england field office concord , new hampshire urltoken
5 . aquatic oxygen consumption by wintering red - bellied turtles terry e . graham ; robert w . guimond journal of herpetology , vol . 29 , no . 3 . ( sep . , 1995 ) , pp . 471 - 474 .
the carapaces of adult red - bellied turtles are on average 26 to 32 cm in length . the carapace is a mahogany black color with red lines running dorso - ventrally . they have a serrated front upper - jaw . the head is brown and arrow - shaped with a yellow line that extends between the eyes and snout . a series of consecutive thick and thin yellow bands come off the anterior of the eye and travel laterally down the neck . this species exhibits sexual dimorphism . the plastrons of male red - bellied turtles are light pink . they have long , straight claws on their feet and an anal opening that extends beyond the shell . the females are larger than the males with brighter red plastrons containing gray borders . the hatchlings of
the greatest threat to this turtle is its limited distribution . many of the habitat ponds are within an area of only 1 , 500 acres ( 607 hectares ) . in the early 1980s , plymouth county experienced a development boom . pondshore land , in particular , was considered prime for residential development . the massachusetts wetlands protection act provided some protection against alteration of turtle pond habitats . but even when ponds were left intact by construction , houses and roads eliminated nesting and basking sites .
eastern red - bellied turtles inhabit large freshwater lakes , rivers , ponds , and creeks . most of these waters are fast moving , deep - bodied , and contain a muddy bottom where the water depth ranges from 2 - 3 . 5 m . occasionally ,
female eastern red - bellied turtles dig a nest cavity 10 cm wide by 10 cm deep in the sand in early june or july . this nest cavity is found in a well - insulated area 90 m from the water , and 1 m above pond level .
there are currently 20 ponds in plymouth county massachusetts , a region in southeastern massachusetts experiencing increasing land development , that are inhabited by pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ( 3 ) . the ponds are land - locked coastal plain ponds fed by groundwater , springs and connected by an underground aquifer ( 3 ) . as much as 50 % of the population inhabits federal pond , which is owned and utilized by federal furnace cranberry company ( 3 ) . plymouth county is being developed quickly and the cranberry company has been reviewing development opportunities which could endanger the turtle even more ( 3 ) . although southeastern massachusetts cranberry agriculture draws nearly 3 . 5 billion gallons of water per year from local surface waters , red - bellied turtles have a better chance of continuing their existence by depending on the same water as cranberry growers than sharing their ponds with residential development .
turtle taxonomy working group [ van dijk , p . p . , j . iverson , a . rhodin , h . shaffer , and r . bour ]
when listed as an endangered species , the taxon was called the
plymouth red - bellied turtle
and was considered a subspecies ( pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ) [ 1 ] . the subspecies has since been invalidated , but the 1994 federal recovery plan explains that as an ecologically and geographically distinct population , it still qualifies as an endangered species . the nearest individuals of the southern population are 250 miles away in southern new jersey . the northern population is also unique in only being found naturally in ponds . the southern population is often riverine . the taxon ' s status as an endangered species will be reviewed in 2006 in response to a delisting petition [ 2 , 5 ] .
browne , r . , a . haskell , c . griffin , j . ridgeway . 1996 . genetic variations among populations of the redbelly turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) .
[ 1 ] u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1994 . plymouth redbelly turtle ( pseudernys rubriventris ) recovery plan , second revision . u . s . fish and wildife service , hadley , massachusetts . 48 pp . [ 2 ] amaral , m . 2006 . personal communication with michael amaral , u . s . fish and wildlife service , concord , nh , february 7 , 2006 . [ 3 ] amaral , m . 2006 . released northern red - bellied cooters , 1985 - 2003 . spreadsheet provided by michael amaral , u . s . fish and wildlife service , concord , nh , february 7 , 2006 . [ 4 ] french , t . 2006 . personal communication with tom french , massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program , westborough , ma , february 7 , 2006 , and february 8 , 2006 . [ 5 ] gordon , r . 1997 . petition to remove the ' plymouth redbelly turtle ' ( ' pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ' ) from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants . national wilderness institute , february 3 , 1997 .
hibernate in the mud at the bottom of rivers . red - bellied turtles are not territorial . they are shy and wary of humans and predators and swim rapidly and bury themselves in the mud when scared . numerous individuals frequently inhabit the same rocks or logs while sunbathing . however , aggression over basking spots between
there is a dispute over the correct genus of the eastern redbelly turtle . some choose to use pseudemys while others use chrysemys . oftentimes , chrysemys is used only for painted turtles .
predation by raccoons , skunks , and widemouth bass is also considered a serious threat to the turtle population . raccoons and skunks dig out nests and eat the eggs , while bass snatch turtle hatchlings from the water before the shells have a chance to harden . to counter this threat , researchers under the direction of the massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program began locating turtle nests and fencing sites to exclude predators . at the time of fencing , several eggs are removed from each nest , then hatched and raised in a collaborative captive breeding program .
spans the mid - atlantic coastal waters of the usa from new jersey to north carolina . this includes areas east to the potomac river and west to w . virginia . there is a disjunctive population of eastern red - bellied turtles in massachusetts , as well as a small , introduced population in long island , new york .
lay eggs under 10 cm of sand . the young emerge as hatchlings after 73 to 80 days and quickly make their way to the nearest water source , where they will develop into adults . hatchlings are typically between 29 and 36 mm in plastron length . eastern red - bellied turtles reach sexual maturity after 5 to 9 years .
are found in brackish water at the mouths of rivers . they surround themselves with aquatic vegetation , rocks , and logs for basking in the sun . eastern red - bellied turtles become terrestrial for short periods of time while laying eggs in june or july . they show little evidence of migration and often occupy the same habitat year - round .
red - bellied turtles are omnivores that feed on snails , plants , worms , tadpoles , crayfish , and insect larvae . these turtles are endangered throughout massachusetts . their population had been reduced to 200 - 300 turtles by 1980s . by 2007 , there were estimated to be about 400 - 600 breeding age turtles across 20 ponds . reasons for endangerment are overhunting . skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish eat the turtle ' s eggs and hatchlings . their habitat is threatened by draining of the wetlands . another major issure to endangerment is loss of habitat by filling in ponds with houses .
hatchlings are held over the winter , during which time they develop at a rate five times faster than those remaining in the wild . by spring , these young turtles are able to resist predation and are released into the turtle ponds .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi must cope with harsh winters that are not experienced by mid - atlantic populations of pseudemys rubriventris ( 3 ) . winter research utilizing scuba has observed plymouth red - bellied turtles sleeping exposed on the bottom of ponds as opposed to being burrowed in the mud . this occurs despite ponds being completely frozen ( 5 ) . pseudemys rubriventris bangsi has also been observed making small jaw movements to draw in water for buccopharyngeal gas exchange ( 3 , 5 ) . other observations included more movement under ice cover than previously thought . radio - telemetry showed movements of 7 . 6 m per week , although during some weeks they remained motionless ( 5 ) . these underwater movements increased to 36 m per week after ice melt ( 5 ) .
the term is used in the 1994 iucn red list of threatened animals to refer collectively to species categorized as endangered ( e ) , vulnerable ( v ) , rare ( r ) , indeterminate ( i ) , or insufficiently known ( k ) and in the 1996 iucn red list of threatened animals to refer collectively to species categorized as critically endangered ( cr ) , endangered ( en ) , or vulnerable ( vu ) .
the headstart program is at the core of the recovery plan for the plymouth red - bellied turtle . due to high predation , one of the main strategies in the recovery plan is to protect nests and take hatchlings from the wild . the hatchlings are raised in captivity in 84ºf water and fed a head of romaine lettuce per day until they grow to be much larger than their non - headstarted counterparts . this strategy allows turtles to reach a size large enough to avoid much of the predation that threatens them in the wild . studies have shown that carapace lengths of 66 - 95 mm and 296 mm increase survival rates to high levels ( 6 ) . sometimes the headstarted turtles are six times larger than they would be if they had been left in the wild as a hatchling ( 6 ) . the first headstarted turtles were taken in 1984 and released in 1985 . since then , 2725 turtles have been headstarted through this recovery effort ( 3 ) . headstarted turtles , along with having a higher survival rate , also reach sexual maturity sooner ( 3 ) .
produce one clutch of eggs yearly containing 8 to 22 eggs . hatching occurs in 73 to 80 days . the hatchlings emerge from august to october . if late nesting occurs , hatchlings do not emerge before the winter . eggs incubated on natural sand are larger and have a better chance of survival than eggs incubated in artificial settings . due to the loss of natural habitats , female red - bellied turtles sometimes lay eggs in homeowner ' s yards . females try to return to the same nesting sights every year .
4 . robert a . browne ; n . alison haskell ; curtice r . griffin ; jeffrey w . ridgeway genetic variation among populations of the redbelly turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) copeia , vol . 1996 , no . 1 . ( feb . 2 , 1996 ) , pp . 192 - 195 .
the primary management objective for this turtle is to restore and maintain self - sustaining populations . reclassification to threatened status could occur if the species increases to at least 15 self - sustaining populations with 600 breeding - age individuals . delisting will be considered when numbers increase to 1 , 000 breeding - age turtles in 20 or more self - sustaining populations ( in ponds , lakes and possibly rivers ) . in addition to the population targets , maintenance of sufficient habitat to allow long - term survival of the population and an understanding of the turtle ' s life history and habitat requirements sufficient for management purposes , will be required to meet the full recovery objective .
the main threats to the plymouth population are habitat loss , altered habitat , and high predation ( 3 ) . ponds that previously had sunny shores ideal for egg incubation now are surrounded by a closed canopy due to intentional suppression of forest fires that use to occur naturally due to native american fires and lightning ( 3 ) . cooler temperatures in the shade have resulted in loss of nesting habitat and an unequal sex ratio as described above ( 3 ) .
during the incubation period , and in the first few years of life , pseudemys rubriventris bangsi experiences very high predation . nest predation , which can be as high as 100 % for nests that are not protected at federal pond , is carried out by crows , red fox , skunks , raccoons and coyotes , while hatchlings are preyed on by largemouth bass ( micropterus salmoides ) , chain pickerel ( esox niger ) , snapping turtles , great blue heron and bull frogs ( rana catesbeiana ) ( 3 , 6 ) . analysis of the stomach contents of bull frogs provides evidence that they are one of the main predators of hatchlings ( 6 ) . the survival rate of hatchlings is thought to be very low . similar freshwater turtles , such as blanding’s turtle , may have a hatchling survival rate of only 1 % ( 3 ) . it is difficult to study the survival rate using the current shell notch identifying technique , because the notches are no longer discernable when the turtles are recaptured as adults ( 3 ) .
due to the loss of historic populations , increasing shoreline and between - pond development , and increased predation pressure , the northern red - bellied cooter was placed on the endangered species listed and granted critical habitat in 1980 [ 1 ] . twelve occupied ponds were known at the time . three additional populations , including federal pond , were discovered in subsequent years . federal pond was and is the largest population . an active
headstarting
program introduced the cooter to ten additional ponds and two rivers by 2005 [ 2 , 3 , 4 ] . all nests discovered each year are caged to protect the eggs and hatchlings from predators ( about 95 % of uncaged nests suffer predation ) [ 2 ] . when hatching is complete , 50 % of the hatchlings are released into the same pond and 50 % are moved to headstarting facilities which raise them to a size that is less vulnerable to predation . the headstarted turtles are reintroduced to the same or new sites . between 1985 and 2005 , the program released over 2 , 500 turtles [ 3 , 4 ] . headstarted turtles were first documented to breed in the wild in 2000 [ 5 ] .
this turtle is primarily aquatic , preferring small ponds but is occasionally found on land near the water . it is most active from late march to october . in the winter it rests on the pond bottom beneath the ice in an inactive state similar to hibernation , known as brumation . it feeds on aquatic vegetation , crayfish , and other small pond fauna . in late spring and early summer , the female selects a nesting site in sandy soil close to the pond . after scooping a hole , she deposits 10 - 17 eggs , which incubate between 73 and 80 days . hatchlings are only about 1 in ( 2 . 5 cm ) long . hatchlings may emerge from nests to enter ponds in late summer , or overwinter in the nest chamber and emerge the following spring . females reach sexual maturity in 8 - 15 years ; males may mature earlier .
- - natureserve explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50 , 000 plants , animals and ecological communtities of the u . s and canada . natureserve explorer provides in - depth information on rare and endangered species , but includes common plants and animals too . natureserve explorer is a product of natureserve in collaboration with the natural heritage network .
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disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
range depth 2 to 3 . 5 m 6 . 56 to 11 . 48 ft
have an orange plastron and a green carapace covered with light green markings . the skin is light green as well . a possible subspecies ,
of massachusetts , has a greater height ( by 2 . 4 times ) due to a more domed carapace .
has never been observed . scientists know mating does occur in shallow water in the fall or spring . with regards to a closely related species ,
, the male pursues the female and sniffs her tail after the female releases a pheromone . in the following mating ritual , he then swims above and in front of her in the water and rapidly strokes her face with his claws . if a female
accepts his advances , the male then swims behind the female , mounting her for copulation .
. they frequent the same rocks and logs while sunbathing and often sit on top of each other . regarding
, a closely related species , females communicate by the emission of pheromones and males by tactile contact and a mating dance .
. juveniles are herbivorous and adults are omnivorous . laboratory hatchlings can be fed brine shrimp
. lawn mowers frequently kill turtles resting in grass . housing developments around rivers and ponds result in loss of nesting sights .
include bullfrogs , skunks , raccoons , wading birds , crows , and mice . eastern redbelly turtles play an important role in the middle of the food chain . they also are responsible for controlling the population of hyacinth , an invasive plant .
is considered threatened by the lacey act . this makes it illegal to import , export , transport , sell , or buy any part of the animal , dead or alive . the environmental protection agency is responsible for maintaining water treatment plants that do not harm the turtles . main causes of endangerment include expanding housing developments and a loss of nesting sights , pollutants , pesticides , and predation on eggs and hatchlings . the u . s . fish and wildlife service enacted a plan in 1985 to protect existing populations , to prevent hunting of the turtles , to collect eggs to hatch in captivity , and to educate the local public on the turtles .
kelly clark ( author ) , university of michigan - ann arbor , phil myers ( editor ) , museum of zoology , university of michigan - ann arbor .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in salinity .
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment ; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature .
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced , thus lowering the animal ' s energy requirements . the act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state , typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female ; development of offspring occurs outside the mother ' s body .
many forms .
a species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups , based on structure , color , or other similar characteristics . the term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area ; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species ( e . g . a north - to - south decrease in size ) is not polymorphism . polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis , or they may be the result of environmental influences . we do not consider sexual differences ( i . e . sexual dimorphism ) , seasonal changes ( e . g . change in fur color ) , or age - related changes to be polymorphic . polymorphism in a local population can be an adaptation to prevent density - dependent predation , where predators preferentially prey on the most common morph .
referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody ( usually , but not always , a river or stream ) .
one of the sexes ( usually males ) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex . for example : antlers , elongated tails , special spurs .
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
a terrestrial biome . savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy . extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical africa and south america , and in australia .
a grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees , a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest . see also tropical savanna and grassland biome .
a terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes ( > 23 . 5° n or s latitude ) . vegetation is made up mostly of grasses , the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available . fire and grazing are important in the long - term maintenance of grasslands .
2004 .
pseudemys rubriventris
( on - line ) . natureserve explorer . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
1999 .
pseudemys concinna
( on - line image ) . accessed april 06 , 2003 at urltoken .
2003 .
pseudemys rubriventris study
( on - line ) . jug bay wetlands sanctuary . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
to cite this page : clark , k . 2004 .
pseudemys rubriventris
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi has a life expectancy of 40 to 45 years and does not reach sexual maturity until 15 to 20 years in age ( 3 ) . females dig terrestrial nests near ponds and lay one to two clutches per year , although one is more typical ( 3 ) . the incubation period is 73 to 80 days and the temperature required is 25ºc ( 3 ) . sex determination of the offspring is dependent on temperature , with cooler temperatures producing more males ( 3 ) . due to closed forest canopies at nesting areas , an increasing percentage of nests are lacking the required sunlight needed to produce females . in boot pond , this has resulted in a reported ratio of 21 males to every eight females . this unequal sex ratio is limiting to the effective size of the population ( 3 ) .
the mid - atlantic populations of pseudemys rubriventris live in different habitats compared to their northern disjuncts . they inhabit rivers , creeks , interconnected pond habitats , and / or brackish water ( 3 ) . while pseudemys rubriventris bangsi have to travel in upland areas to migrate to another pond , the mid - atlantic population of pseudemys rubriventris can travel huge distances by water ( 3 , 4 ) . not only do they have different pressures in the winter , they also have different dispersal strategies and associated food webs ( 3 ) .
there is very little habitat protected for these turtles . crooked pond is protected in the massasoit national wildlife refuge , and east head pond is in the myles standish state forest , but a neighboring cranberry grower holds the water rights ( 3 ) . there is a nesting beach protected on island pond and gunner’s pond , but the entire pond is not protected ( 3 ) .
the recovery plan lists the criteria necessary for changing the esa status from endangered to threatened as having 600 breeding adults in 15 or more self - sustaining populations of 50 or more turtles . delisting the turtles would require 1000 breeders in 20 self - sustaining populations . the current population estimates suggest that there may be between 400 and 600 breeders in the current population in 20 ponds , but only 10 of these ponds contain more than 20 breeders , and very few are protected ponds . these populations , as you can see from table 1 , have received many turtles through the headstart program . it is not known how the population would respond if the headstart program was stopped . even if the population goals are met in the near future , the sustainability goal of the populations may not be met for some time . in order for the populations to be self - sustainable , a solution to the low survival of hatchlings in the wild is needed .
6 . size related survival of headstarted redbelly turtles ( pseudemys rubriventris ) in massachusetts alison haskell ; terry e . graham ; curtice r . griffin ; jay b . hestbeck journal of herpetology , vol . 30 , no . 4 . ( dec . , 1996 ) , pp . 524 - 527 .
this great blue heron was filmed and photographed on an après work canoe paddle at jacob’s pond in norwell , ma . the great blue heron has great size and stature at 4’ tall . i highly recommend this pond for anyone looking to see wildlife by canoe or kayak .
despite the heron being so large , it easily takes off from the water and doesn’t seem to care that it’s 6’ wide wingspan is pushing though tree branches . they wait motionless on their stick - like legs in the water or slowly stalk their prey before they ambush them . they swallow their prey whole , rather that be fish , frogs , or even rodents . you may find that they show up at your backyard koi pond so beware . .
there is no sexual dimorphism , meaning that the males and females look the same . their backs and wings are a bluish - grey . their neck is brownish - cream and has a scruffy appearance . their face is white . they’ve got two black stripes above their eyes , and the middle of their crown is white .
this bird can be found around freshwater or brackish water habitats all over new england and into atlantic canada . the great white heron in florida was thought to be a separate species , but it is now accepted that they are the same species with different coloration .
i hope that all of you can also add the great blue heron to your own species list . please visit urltoken and click on blue heron to add your own sightings to our range maps or tell us about them in our comment section . check our other pages on species from around new england and atlantic canada .
new england and atlantic canada is home to various beautiful oak tree species . with a little effort , one can learn to identify the difference among these by the leaf shapes .
while an active head start program has introduced turtles to several new ponds and the river site , and has significantly increased the number of turtles in other ponds , the turtles take years to reach breeding status . it is therefore premature to evaluate the ultimate success of this effort .
the potential for recovery is reasonable if nest predation can be prevented and if head starting of young is done on a larger scale than in the past . due to the limited range of this species , delisting may not be possible . reclassification may be possible by the year 2000 , if ongoing recovery efforts continue to be successful .
graham , t . e . 1984 .
pseudemys rubriventris predation .
herpetology review 15 : 19 - 20 .
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due to the difficulty of censusing the species , quantitative population trend data have not been gathered [ 2 ] . however , species experts are in agreement that the number of occupied sites and the number of individuals has increased in size since 1980 , primarily due to the headstarting program and to a lesser extent natural reproduction [ 2 , 4 ] . the 1994 federal recovery plan requires a total of at least 600 breeding - age turtles distributed among at least 15 self - sustaining populations for downlisting to be considered [ 1 ] . delisting will require at least 1 , 000 breeding - age turtles in 20 or more self - sustaining populations .