Cape Fox
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| Cape Fox Conservation status: Lower risk (lc) | ||||||||||||||
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| Vulpes chama (A Smith, 1833) |
The Cape Fox (Vulpes chama), also called Cama Fox or Silver-backed Fox is a small fox.
It has black or silver gray fur with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black.
Cape Foxes tend to be 45 to 61cm long, not including a 30 to 40cm tail. They are 28 to 33cm tall at the shoulder, and usually weigh from 3.6 to 5kg.
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Habitat
The Cape Fox is found in Southern Africa from Zimbabwe to Angola. It prefers the open savanna and semi-arid regions in southwestern Africa, from Southern Zimbabwe to the Cape province.
Behavior
It is nocturnal, found alone or in pairs, in savannas and steppes.
Food
Like most foxes it is an omnivore, preferring small mammals, reptiles, and carrion, but will also eat insects and fruit.
Reproduction
The Cape Fox, unlike the Red Fox, mates the whole year. It gives birth after 51-53 days, in a usual litter-size of 3-6. They are weaned after 6-8 weeks and grown up in about one year. They have an average weight at birth of 50-100 grams (1.7-3.5 oz).
It reaches sexual maturity in nine months with an expected life span of 10 years.