Hesperocyon (SciiFii)

The aardfox (Hesperocyon vulpes), also known as the civet fox, is a species of primitive canid that originally lived in North America during the Late Eocene to the Early Oligocene as an extinct species of Hesperocyon and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. Despite its name, the aardfox is not a fox, nor a civet as one of its common names might suggest, but a primitive canine part of the subfamily Hesperocyoninae. The aardfox is a very small dog, growing up to about 2 feet 7 inches (80 centimeters) in length (including its tail) and weighs between 1.5 and 1.8 kilograms. The aardfox largely resembles a civet in general, hence its name. The aardfox is an omnivore that primarily feeds on fruits, seeds, insects, scorpions, spiders, smaller vertebrates, carrion, and man-made waste. Filling the similar ecological niche to the yellow mongoose of Africa and being largely immune to many animal venom, the aardfox often preys on would-be deadly venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes to help keep their populations under control. The aardfox is primarily diurnal, though nocturnal activity has been observed. The social structure of the aardfox is hierarchical, based around a central breeding pair and their most recent offspring. There are also subadults, the elderly, or adult relatives of the central pair. Male ranges tend to overlap, while females from other dens have contiguous non-overlapping ranges. Every day, the alpha male will mark members of his group with anal gland secretions, and his boundaries with facial and anal secretions, as well as urine. The alpha male also rubs his back against raised objects, leaving behind hair as a visual marker of territory. Other members of the group mark their dens with cheek secretions. When frightened, the aardfox will growl and secrete from its anal glands. It can also scream, bark, and purr, though these are exceptions, as the aardfox is usually silent, and communicates mood and status through tail movements. The aardfox colony can have between 10-30 members. The aardfox's mating season is between January and March, and it gives birth between April and June. Usually, two or three offspring are produced per pregnancy, and they are weaned at 10 weeks, reaching adult size after 10 months. The conservation status of the aardfox is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the aardfox's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii