The Turkmenian Fox (Vulpes vulpes flavescens) is a vulpine mammal. It is a sub-species of the Red Fox.
The Turkmenian Fox has greyish fur with reddish-yellow tints. Its winter fur is dense, long, soft, and silky. It sides are lighter than its back and its chin, lower lips, throat and front of the chest are white. The tip of its fluffy tail is white. It has a long body, long narrow head, and short legs. Its front paws have five toes and its back paws have four toes. Each toe has a strong claw. It has orange-brown, oval-shaped pupils with excellent vision.
It grows to 49-58 centimetres (19-23 inches) in length. Its tail measures 30-55 centimetres (12-22 inches) long.
The Turkmenian Fox lives in northern Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Central Asia.
It mainly feeds on rabbits, mice, voles, squirrels, hamsters, birds, and reptiles. It is carnivorous. It hunts early in the morning and late in the evening. Its predators include wolves, coyotes, jackals, and wild cats.
It can jump over 200 centimetres (79 inches) high. It can trot at 50 kilometres per hour (30 miles per hour). It is also a good swimmer.
It is often found in pairs or small family groups of up to 8 individuals. The female is called a vixen and young babies are called cubs or kits.
It usually mates for life – it is monogamous. The female is pregnant for 49-58 days, before giving birth to 4-6 kits. Kits are born blind, deaf and toothless, with dark-brown fluffy fur. The mother remains with the kits for 2–3 weeks, and is very protective of her young.
The Turkmenian Fox lives for about 5 years.
[Location of photographs: Tashkent Zoo, Uzbekistan]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM