Island fox [NT]

Urocyon littoralis [Scientific name]
Zorro isleño [Spanish]
Zorro gris de las islas [Spanish]
Renard gris insulaire [French]

The island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is a small fox species endemic to six of the eight Channel Islands of California, exhibiting many traits associated with island conditions, such as reduced fear of humans and diminutive stature. As a result of their smaller size, these foxes typically have fewer caudal vertebrae (15-22; n=47) than their closest relative, the grey fox (21-22; n=31). Indigenous people from the region historically kept these foxes as pets and reared them for their pelts, showing a propensity for semi-domestication. The home range size of the island fox is one of the smallest recorded for any canid.

1.8 (1.5–2.3) kg • 52.8 (45.6–57.8) cm head+body length
2.0 (1.4–2.5) kg • 53.6 (47.0–58.5) cm head+body length

POPULATION TREND

INCREASING

HABITAT & ECOLOGY

Forest • Grassland • Human modified • Inland Wetlands • Marine Coastal • Marine Intertidal • Shrubland

More information on the IUCN Red List