Crab-eating Fox

Taxobox
name = Crab-eating FoxMSW3 Wozencraft | id=14000782]
status = LC
trend = stable
status_system = iucn2.3
status_ref = IUCN2006|assessors=Sillero-Zubiri & Hoffmann|year=2004|id=4248|title=Cerdocyon thous|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]

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image_caption = "Cerdocyon thous" from the Pantanal
image_width = 230px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Carnivora
familia = Canidae
subfamilia = Caninae
genus = "Cerdocyon"
genus_authority = C. E. H. Smith, 1839
species = "C. thous"
binomial = "Cerdocyon thous"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1766

The Crab-eating Fox ("Cerdocyon thous"), also known as the Forest Fox, Wood Fox, and the Common Fox, is a medium-sized canid found in the central part of South America. This fox is currently the only member of genus "Cerdocyon", but an extinct species is known from the Pleistocene: "Cerdocyon avius". This creature was probably similar to the crab-eating Fox.

The Crab-eating Fox is predominantly greyish-brown with areas of red on the face and legs, and black-tipped ears and tail. It has short, strong legs and its tail is long and bushy. It may reach an adult weight of 10 to 17 pounds. The head and body length averages 64,3 cm and the average tail length is 28,5 cm (Berta, 1982). This fox weighs between five and eight kg (A. Hover; C Yahnke, 2003). It is mainly nocturnal and also is active at dusk, spending its day in dens that were dug by different animals. It hunts individually or lives in pairs, it eats crabs, lizards and different small animals. It is easy to domesticate and farm, but its fur is not so highly valued as that of other species.

The Crab-eating Fox is a canid that ranges in savannas and woodlands, especially the llanos of South America. It is omnivorous, preferring insects or meat from rodents and birds when available. Other foods readily consumed include turtle eggs, carrion, and plants. During the wet season, the fox searches for crabs on muddy floodplains and then retreats to a den on higher ground, which may be no more than a large clump of grass.

The adult female gives birth to one or two litters per year, and the breeding pair is monogamous. The pair ranges the plains together.

This fox is occasionally hunted, but the fur is not valuable. The fox does not pose a danger to livestock. This is not currently a species of concern for conservation; however, its habitat is slowly shrinking due to human forces such as agriculture, as well as feral dogs' encroachment on its territory, though the population is still stable.

Occurrence and habitat

It lives in thin forests and on grasslands of South America. It ranges from Colombia and southern Venezuela to Paraguay, Uruguay and Northern Argentina. It lives on savannas and afforested areas (Eisenberg, 1999) such as subtropical forests, prickly, shrubby thickets and tropical savannas such as the caatinga, llanos and campo. Its habitat also includes wooded river banks such as Riparian forest. In the rainy season their range moves uphill, whilst in drier times they move to low ground (Nowak, 1999). Their habitat covers all environments except rainforests, high mountains and open grassy savannas. In some regions of their range they are threatened with extinction.

Taxonomy and evolution

"Cerdocyon thous", "Cerdocyon avius" and other species of the genus "Cerdocyon" underwent radiational evolution on the South American continent (Pietrzak, 2007). All relatives of the crab-eating fox ("Cerdocyon thous") are extinct. It is the only representative at present of the genus "Cerdocyon". As one of the species of the tribe Canini, it is related to the "Canis" genus. It was theorized at present that the crab-eating fox's nearest relative is the Short-eared Dog. This, however, has to be supported by mitochondrial investigations (Pietrzak, 2007). Two subgenera ("Atelocynus" and "Speothos") were long ago included in "Cerdocyon", and more recently "Cerdocyon" was included in the genus "Dusicyon" (Clutton - Brock, the et of al., 1976). There are 74 diploid chromosomes (36 pairs). The Crab-eating Fox is the South American equivalent of the Red Fox, occupying similar habitats.

Appearance

Short and thick fur. Coloration varies from grey - brown, to yellow air raid, to pale, navy-blue spotted, to dark grey. There is a black streak along the back legs with a black stripe along the back. On muzzle, ears and paws there is more reddish fur. Tail, legs and ear tips are black. The torso is somewhat narrow with strong short legs. The dense hairy tail stays upright when they are excited. The ears are wide and round. There are 42 teeth corresponding to consumption of a varied diet - from meat to vegetables.

Life cycle and behaviour

Crab-eating Fox creates monogamic teams, or small groups which hunt with several teams during the reproductive season. The population distribution is as follows: some explorers show one individual distribution for 4 km². Berta (1982) shows one had changed from 0,6 to 0,9 km² for one individual. Territorialism was noticed during the dry time; during rainy seasons, when there is more food, they pay less attention to territory (Nowak, 1999). Hideouts and dens often are founded in bushes and in thick grass, and there are several entrance holes. Despite being capable of tunnelling, they prefer to take over other animals' burrows. Hunting methods are adapted to type of prey. Several characteristic sounds are made by the Crab-eating Fox such as barking, whirring and howling, which occur often when pairs lose contact. Greetings include: tail waving, rolling over or folding the ears flat in a subordinate gesture. Returning group members begin a ritual of sniffing, tail lifting and mutual licking.

Reproduction

As a tropical animal, reproduction is not fixed to certain times of year, and takes place twice yearly. The reproductive period most often begins in November or December, and July. The birth of offspring follows after a 56-day gestation, typically in January, February or sometimes March (Nowak, 1999). The number of cubs varies from three to six (Mendel, 1988). Newborns are toothless and blind (Berta, 1982). The eyes open after about fourteen days, and solid food is taken from thirty days after birth. Lactation lasts approximately 90 days (Nowak, 1999). The cubs' fur is dark gray above with a brighter underbelly. Both adult males and females look after cubs. From about twenty days, the cubs' fur becomes more like adults' coats, completing around thirty-five days. Sexual maturity occurs after nine months, after which territories are marked with urine (Berta, 1982; Mendel, 1988).

Diet

The Crab-eating Fox is an opportunist and an omnivore. They eat tortoises, fruit, eggs, crustaceans, insects, lizards, crabs and carrion. Field analysis shows a food distribution of 25% rodents, 24.1% reptiles, 0.6% marsupials, 0.6% rabbits, 10.3% birds, 35.1% amphibians and 5.2% fish. Different studies during the rainy season in Venezuela showed a distribution of 54% insects and 20% vertebrates, changing in the dry season to 48% vertebrates, 31% crabs and 16% insects. Their diet is varied and differs in different investigations, suggesting opportunistic feeding and geographical variation. During the wet season the diet contains more crabs and crustaceans, while during the dry season it contains more insects (Berta, 1982; Quatl, 2007). The Crab-eating Fox contributes to the control of rodents and harmful insects.

Threats

Despite the low value of their pelts, these canids can often be killed by locals, though there have been no unambiguous proof that they attack farm animals. They are easy to domesticate, and often bred by local people. This does not, however, remove the threat to their population. The species is not protected at present. Despite this, they are in danger from a shrinking habitat through agricultural activity, as well as from feral dogs which can pose a threat for a number of species.

tatus of conservation

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists the fox as not threatened by extinction - Appendix II (CITES, 2000). The IUCN lists the Crab-eating Fox as "Least Concern".

Subspecies

The Crab-eating Fox has five recognized subspecies, differing in sizes and coloring of fur (Bisbal, 1988).
* "C. t. thous", Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana North Brasil.
* "C. t. azarae", North Brasil.
* "C. t. entrerianus", Brasil, Bolivia.Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
* "C. t. aquilus", north Venezuela and Colombia.
* "C. t. germanus", Bogotá region (Colombia).

References

* Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). "Walker's Carnivores of the World". Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7

External links

* [http://www.canids.org/species/Cerdocyon_thous.htm Detailed Cerdocyon thous PDF article] at the [http://www.canids.org Canid Specialist Group] (CSG) site (2004).
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cerdocyon_thous.html Animal Diversity Web: Cerdocyon thous-Information]
* [http://www.animais.villenet.com.br/animais/especie_cerdocyon_thous.htm Leão, Tigre & Cia. - Raposa Caranguejeira - Cerdocyon thous]
* [http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=12 Lioncrusher's Domain - Crab Eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) facts and pictures]