gray fox

gray fox
a fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, ranging from Central America through the southwestern and eastern U.S., having blackish-gray upper parts and rusty-yellowish feet, legs, and ears.
[1670-80, Amer.]

* * *

Grizzled, gray-furred New World fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) found in forested, rocky, and brush-covered country from Canada to northern South America.

Distinguished by the reddish color on its neck, ears, and legs, it grows to a length of about 20–30 in. (50–75 cm), excluding its 12–16-in. (30–40-cm) tail, and a weight of about 7–13 lbs (3–6 kg). Unlike other foxes, it commonly climbs trees. Primarily nocturnal, it takes a variety of foods, including small birds and mammals, insects, and fruits.

* * *

mammal
 (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), grizzled, gray-furred New World fox of the family Canidae. It is found in forested, rocky, and brush-covered country from Canada to northern South America. Distinguished by the reddish colour on its neck, ears, and legs, the gray fox grows to a length of about 50–75 cm (20–30 inches), excluding its 30–40-centimetre tail, and a weight of about 3–6 kg (7–13 pounds). It is more retiring and less crafty than the red fox, and unlike other foxes it commonly climbs trees. It is primarily nocturnal and takes a variety of foods, including small birds and mammals, insects, and fruit. Its two to seven dark-furred pups are born in spring, after a gestation of about 63 days.

      The gray fox, though it may sometimes raid hen houses, is beneficial in controlling the rodent population; its fur is often sold but is not of great value. A closely related but smaller form, the island gray fox (U. littoralis), is found on islands off the coast of southern California. The name gray fox is sometimes also applied to the hoary fox (see fox) of Europe.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gray Fox — Personnage de fiction Genre Masculin Espèce Humain Activité(s) Membre de Fox Hound …   Wikipédia en Français

  • gray fox — n. either of two New World foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus or U. littoralis) having short gray and white hair and able to climb trees …   English World dictionary

  • Gray fox — For other uses, see Gray fox (disambiguation). Gray fox[1] Conservation status …   Wikipedia

  • Gray Fox — Taxobox name = Gray FoxMSW3 Wozencraft | pages = | id = 14000841] status = LC status system = iucn2.3 status ref = IUCN2007|assessors=Cypher et al |year=2004|id=22780|title=Urocyon cinereoargenteus|downloaded=06 May 2008 Database entry includes… …   Wikipedia

  • gray fox — noun dark grey American fox; from Central America through southern United States • Syn: ↑grey fox, ↑Urocyon cinereoargenteus • Hypernyms: ↑fox • Member Holonyms: ↑Urocyon, ↑genus Urocyon * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • Gray Fox (personaje) — Gray Fox es un personaje ficticio de la saga de videojuegos Metal Gear. Es considerado como uno de los mejores soldados del mundo, siendo el único miembro de las FOXHOUND en conseguir el nombre en clave «Fox». Nacido como Frank Jaeger, hijo de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gray Fox (Metal Gear) — Gray Fox Character study illustration by Yoji Shinkawa, depicting Gray Fox before and after becoming the Cyborg Ninja, with an alternate image featuring his face plate open Series Metal Gear …   Wikipedia

  • Gray Fox (disambiguation) — Gray Fox or Grey Fox may refer to:*the Gray Fox, a species of fox found in North, Central and northern South America *the South American Gray Fox, a species of fox found in southern South America * Gray Fox was one of the codenames given to the… …   Wikipedia

  • gray fox — noun Date: circa 1679 a fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) with coarse gray hair and white underparts that occurs from southern Canada to northern South America …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • South American gray fox — South American gray fox[1] Conservation status …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”