The fox is a truly special creature. Immortalized in fables and folktales worldwide, it has long been portrayed as cunning, clever, and graceful. Many people can name a species or two, but the sheer variety of foxes across the globe will likely surprise you!
Here’s our list of the world’s most colorful foxes:
1. American Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes fulvus
- Habitat: Various habitat types in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains (except in Texas and the southern Great Plains)
- Size: About 8-15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small mammals, though they will also eat birds and plant matter
- Colorful feature: The American red fox fits most people’s idea of a fox. It is a rich red-orange with a white neck and chest. Its legs are black and the tip of its tail is white.
This subspecies is what many people are referring to when they talk about the red fox. However, the American is one of many subspecies of the red fox, or Vulpes vulpes. Red foxes can be found worldwide, and while experts don’t know for sure, there’s a good chance that the ancestors of the American red fox actually came from Europe.
2. Gray Zorro
- Latin name: Lycalopex griseus
- Habitat: Various habitat types in southern South America
- Size: About 5-12 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small animals, carrion, arthropods, eggs, and fruit
- Colorful feature: These grayish foxes have a fairly complex pattern when you look closely. It has agouti guard hairs that make it look brindled, and its legs and head are usually more reddish. Its fluffy tail has a dark dorsal stripe.
This fox is also known as the South American gray fox, the chilla, or the Patagonian gray fox. Despite the name, it is part of a different genus than the gray fox. It serves a very useful purpose in its native range, as it helps clean up carrion. Since it also will eat fruit, it’s a great spreader of seeds.
3. Arctic Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes lagopus
- Habitat: Cold, snowy animals across the Arctic tundra biome
- Size: Around 8 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small animals and carrion
- Colorful feature: Most of us know the Arctic fox for its fluffy white winter coat. And while this color is striking, it also has a pretty, darker summer morph that is somewhat between chocolate and lavender in color.
The Arctic fox is one of the better-known fox species. It is also especially hardy. Its internal body temperature is up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the temperature of its surroundings. That means that it must be especially careful to conserve body heat. It does this well; its coat is the best insulator of any mammal’s coat in the world. It even has fur on the soles of its feet and restricted blood flow to the legs in order to help it conserve more heat.
4. Newfoundland Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes deletrix
- Habitat: Various habitat types in Newfoundland, Canada and surrounding areas
- Size: About 8-15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly smaller animals, especially mammals
- Colorful feature: Like all red fox species, the Newfoundland fox can come in several different morphs, The most common is, of course, red. However, Newfoundland foxes tend to be a pale, tawny color compared to that of an American or European red fox.
Some red fox species have relatively small ranges as you can see with this one, the Newfoundland fox. Because its range is so close to that of the American red fox, this species looks relatively similar. Of the many red fox species out there, the Newfoundland fox is one of the ones that are especially well equipped to handle cold.
5. Simien Fox
- Latin name: Canis simensis
- Habitat: Selected mountain ranges in Africa
- Size: Males are about 31-43 pounds, while females are about 24.7 to 3.2 pounds
- Diet: Mostly big-headed African mole rats, though it also eats other small animals and sometimes eggs
- Colorful feature: This stunning animal has a reddish color that is somewhat similar to the red fox, though its hair is less uniform in color. It is tawny to reddish with a few white markings.
Unfortunately, the Simien fox (also known as the Ethiopian wolf or the Simien jackal) is classified as an endangered species. That is partially due to its wild numbers that measure in the low hundreds. It’s also due to its fragmented habitat divided across several mountain ranges.
6. Japanese Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes japonica
- Habitat: Various parts of Japan, especially in areas of deciduous forest
- Size: Usually between about 9 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Typically a range of smaller mammals
- Colorful feature: The Japanese red fox looks a good bit like the American red fox. Like most red fox species, it is usually a rich red in color, though its hindquarters are silvery gray.
Like many red fox subspecies, the Japanese red fox still looks a lot like the other various red fox types. However, it frequently is not quite as bright red. It also has more grayish areas; the hindquarters are somewhat gray, though it also has gray hairs interspersed throughout the coat. It also has a splash of white on the neck and across the belly.
7. Andean Fox
- Latin name: Lycalopex culpaeus
- Habitat: Various habitat types in many areas of western South America
- Size: Males are about 25 pounds while females are about 19 pounds
- Diet: Primarily various small animals
- Colorful feature: Though it’s not a close relative, the Andean fox looks a little like the red fox. It is reddish to tawny with a grayish back. However, its patterning is different from that of the gray fox, whose back is darker and much more grizzled.
This species has quite a few different names. Like other members of its genus, it is often called a “zorro.” You might hear it called the culpeo, the Andean culpeo, Andean zorro, Andean fox, Paramo wolf, Indian wolf, or coleo fox. It has five separate subspecies. These subspecies look similar, though many of them have backs that are darker than others. The darkest among them look a bit like gray foxes.
8. Bengal Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes bengalensis
- Habitat: Diverse habitat types across the Indian subcontinent
- Size: Usually between 5 and 9 pounds
- Diet: Insects, smaller birds, small mammals, reptiles, and fruit
- Colorful feature: The Bengal fox is stunning with its all-over grizzled appearance. It’s somewhat variable in color; some individuals are more buff in color, while others are more of a silvery gray. The legs are usually darker brown to reddish in color.
The Bengal fox is delicate and almost catlike in appearance. It has a slender head with a tapered muzzle, and its ears come to a point. Its dark eyes are usually rimmed in white, and it has a splash of white around the neck. Like most foxes, it has a long and bushy tail. The tail fades to a dark color that is nearly black at the tip.
9. Crab-Eating Fox
- Latin name: Cerdocyon thous
- Habitat: Forests, savannas, and shrubby areas in northern and eastern South America
- Size: Usually between 10 and 17 pounds
- Diet: Crabs, other crustaceans, tortoises, insects, reptiles, eggs, carrion, and fruit
- Colorful feature: Like many foxes, this one is usually grizzled with patches of red on the face and legs. However, its color is more variable than that of other species. It can be yellowish, gray, brown, dark gray, or a paler version of any of these colors.
This somewhat odd-looking fox is sometimes called the maikong, bushdog, wood dog, and forest fox. It has characteristics of both foxes and dogs. Interestingly enough, it is not one of the “true foxes,” as these animals belong to the genus Vulpes. Still, it looks and behaves enough like a fox that it is often considered to be one.
10. Bat-Eared Fox
- Latin name: Otocyon megalotis
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid parts of southern and eastern Africa
- Size: About 6 pounds to 11 pounds
- Diet: Almost entirely insects, though it will eat other small animals if insects are not available
- Colorful feature: Like many foxes, this one has coloring similar to the point coloring often seen in cats. The legs are dark seal brown to black, as is the face and the tips of the ears. Its body is a grizzled gray-brown that looks decidedly different from the darker points.
The odd-looking bat-eared fox is one of the older species on the list. Fossils indicate that it first appeared between 770,000 years ago and 126,000 years ago. Its name is pretty self-explanatory; it has very large ears like a bat. At first glance, its proportionately small face looks very bat-like as well. Though most people call it the bat-eared fox, you may occasionally hear it called the Delalande’s fox, long-eared fox, big-eared fox, or black-eared fox.
11. Hoary Fox
- Latin name: Lycalopex vetulus
- Habitat: Usually in the cerrado, a massive savanna in central Brazil
- Size: Between about 7 and 9 pounds
- Diet: Mostly smaller invertebrates like insects
- Colorful feature: As the name suggests, the hoary fox has noticeable white grizzling across the body. Most of its upper body is deep gray, though it has reddish ears and legs.
The hoary fox is sometimes also called the hoary zorro. Like other zorros, it is not a true fox, but in Brazil it is called raposinha-do-campo, or “meadow fox.” It is unique in that it mostly feeds on insects, as the majority of foxes eat larger animals. It is currently classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being near threatened.
12. Gray Fox
- Latin name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- Habitat: Wooded, brushy, or rocky areas in southern North America through northern South America
- Size: Usually between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly mammals, birds, fruit, and other types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: Though the name might make you think that the gray fox is all gray, it appears to have a reddish base color that is blanketed by dark grizzled gray. Its color is somewhat variable, as the red patches are darker in some individuals than others.
The gray fox is another fox species that is very well-known. It was once the dominant fox species within its range, but it has been outcompeted by the various subspecies of the red fox. It is able to protect itself from predation by coyotes by choosing to inhabit areas relatively close to human activities.
13. Rüppell’s Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes rueppellii
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid regions of North Africa, the Middle East, and southwestern Asia
- Size: About 3.7 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals and types of plant matter; diet varies substantially depending on exact habitat
- Colorful feature: This fox is a pale sandy color that helps it blend into its desert habitat. Its back tends to be fairly dark, while its sandy-colored flanks are ticked with white and gray.
Like most foxes that live in the desert, the Rüppell’s fox is slender with a short coat and very large ears. Like the arctic fox, this species also has patches of fur on the soles of its feet. But while the fur on the arctic fox’s feet protects it from the cold, the fur on the soles of the Rüppell’s fox protects it from the extreme heat of the desert.
14. Cascade Mountain Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes cascadensis
- Habitat: The Cascade Mountains near Crater Lake in Oregon
- Size: Usually between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly smaller mammals, insects, and berries
- Colorful feature: This red fox subspecies usually has a more agouti-patterned coat than other subspecies. It has a bushy tail whose white tip is a lot less prominent, though it has the dark legs of many other subspecies of red fox.
This subspecies has a range that is substantially smaller than that of other red fox subspecies. Due to its small population, it is under threat from habitat destruction in the Cascade Mountains. Some individuals live in Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, although the woodlands immediately surrounding the park are not protected from logging and other forms of habitat destruction.
15. Swift Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes velox
- Habitat: Grasslands in western North America
- Size: About 5 to 7 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals, grasses, and fruits
- Colorful feature: This fox has fairly interesting coloration; it is a grizzled grayish tan on the top of the back and yellowish tan on the sides. It has a black-tipped tail that is unlike that of the red fox, whose tail is almost always tipped in white.
This smallish fox is roughly the size of a pet cat. Its small ears and fluffy coat also make it look surprisingly catlike. The swift fox has also made an impressive comeback in terms of population numbers; it became nearly extinct in the 1930s. It was successfully reintroduced to its native habitat, where its population numbers rebounded quickly. Now the IUCN classifies it as being of least concern.
16. Pampas Fox
- Latin name: Lycalopex gymnocercus
- Habitat: Pampas habitats in parts of South America
- Size: About 5.3 to 17.6 pounds
- Diet: Various types of small animals and plant matter
- Colorful feature: The grizzling on the coat of the Pampas fox makes it look a bit like a small wolf at first glance. Its head, neck, and legs are reddish. The back and tail are gray and black agouti, with the tip of the tail being completely black.
The Pampas fox is another of the “false foxes.” It is also one of the zorro species and is sometimes called the gray Pampean fox, the Pampas zorro, the Azara’s fox, or Azara’s zorro. It’s somewhat easy to confuse it for the Andean fox. Though the species is not currently threatened, the population is in decline due to hunting for pelts.
17. Gold Platinum Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: This type is only found in captivity
- Size: Between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Various types of small animals
- Colorful feature: These foxes have soft-colored coats that are pale orange or yellow with distinctive white patterning. They also can have colorful eyes. Their eyes are usually brown, though they can be green, blue, or mixed in color.
The gold platinum fox is not a separate species. Rather, it is a special color morph of the red fox. It does not occur in the wild, though you may sometimes find it on fur farms. This color is a cross of a regular red fox and a platinum fox (another color morph).
18. Sechuran Fox
- Latin name: Lycalopex sechurae
- Habitat: Mostly the Sechura Desert in Peru
- Size: Between 5.7 and 9.3 pounds
- Diet: Insects, small animals, and plant matter; it can eat only plants when necessary
- Colorful feature: These beautiful foxes have striking gray agouti fur over much of the body. Their underparts are a soft, cream-colored white.
This is another “false fox” that is sometimes called the Peruvian desert fox or the Sechuran zorro. It is very unusual in that its teeth have adapted to let it feed on dry desert plants. It still has sharp canine teeth that allow it to hunt live prey. Currently, the IUCN classifies the Sechuran fox as being near threatened.
19. Anadyr Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes beringiana
- Habitat: Cold tundra in Siberia and surrounding areas
- Size: Usually between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small mammals
- Colorful feature: As you can see in the photo, the Anadyr fox is especially bright red in color. The black on its legs is especially dark as well.
The Anadyr fox is another red fox subspecies. However, it’s unique in that it has adapted to live in the very cold tundra of Siberia. Like most red fox species, it has a striking white patch on the chest and neck, and its ears are tipped in deep black.
20. Blanford’s Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes cana
- Habitat: Various scattered habitats throughout Central Asia and the Middle East
- Size: About 2 pounds on average
- Diet: Mostly fruit and insects
- Colorful feature: This tiny, delicate fox is a tan color with gray agouti fur across the back. Its head is more of a reddish brown.
This desert fox has one of the most proportionally long tails on the list. The tail is often the length of the body or longer, and it is incredibly bushy. The large tail serves an important purpose; it’s a useful counterbalance for when the fox climbs steep surfaces with very little traction. The Blanford’s fox is also one of the most athletic species on the list. It can easily jump ledges that are nearly 10 feet above it!
21. Melanistic Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Melanism occurs across all red fox habitats
- Size: Between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: Though it’s rare, melanism occurs naturally in the wild. The melanistic red fox is either all black (like the fox in the picture) or partially black. Partially black foxes tend to have a dark stripe of black on the face and down the body. The rest of the fur is the normal red color.
Melanism in foxes and other animal species is caused by hyperpigmentation of the skin. It’s very rare, so if you see a melanistic fox in the wild, consider yourself lucky! Melanistic red foxes sometimes have light brown eyes that look especially striking against their all-black faces.
22. Black-Backed Sand Fox
- Latin name: Lupulella mesomelas
- Habitat: Mostly open areas in eastern and southern Africa
- Size: Between about 13 and 29 pounds
- Diet: Mammals, invertebrates, carrion, eggs, and plant matter
- Colorful feature: This interesting canid has a red-tan body color. Its back is covered in a black and silver “saddle” that is especially distinctive. Its tail is a similar matching color.
The black-backed sand fox, also called the black-backed jackal, is another on the list that is not considered to be a true fox. That said, it certainly fits most people’s picture of what a fox looks like. Unfortunately, they cause major issues with rabies in their native habitat. They tend to be effective rabies vectors and can spread it to stray dogs, posing a risk to humans as well.
23. Cherry Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Any existing red fox habitat
- Size: Between about 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: The cherry red fox is another naturally occurring color morph of the red fox. It isn’t as stark of a difference as most morphs; it is simply a darker, redder color than your average red fox. But as you can see in the photo, its coloration is quite striking!
Compared to other wild species, the red fox comes in a startling variety of colors. And while many have been developed by the fur industry, quite a few can be seen in the wild. The cherry red morph is more red than it is orange, but it still has the characteristic black marking, white neck and chest, and white tip of the tail.
24. White-Footed Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes pusilla
- Habitat: Sandy and desert areas in Pakistan, India, and parts of Iraq and Iran
- Size: Usually between 7 and 10 pounds
- Diet: Gerbils and sand rats
- Colorful feature: This fox varies somewhat in coloration; it is usually a sandy agouti color, although some individuals are more gray. Its face and tail are usually reddish like the face and tail of a red fox, and the tail has the characteristic white tip.
At first glance, you wouldn’t think this slender desert fox is a red fox subspecies. It looks a lot like the Bengal fox mentioned above, although it is not related. Its range does not overlap with any other red fox subspecies. That might explain why it has evolved to look much different from most other subspecies.
25. Pastel Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Mostly found in captivity
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: The pastel fox varies significantly in color. Some are dark brown, while others are a dilute, nearly lavender color. Interestingly, darker-colored foxes tend to have darker eyes and paler pastel foxes tend to have lighter eyes.
Pastel foxes are often found on fur farms. They originated in Europe, although they are bred on fur farms across the world. However, thanks to their beautiful coloring, they are sometimes kept as pets. It’s important to realize that red foxes (and red fox color mutations like this one) are not easy pets to keep. They tend to have especially pungent-smelling urine and can become incredibly destructive.
26. Black Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Any existing red fox habitat
- Size: Between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: Black foxes are a deep jet black. However, they are technically very, very dark forms of the silver fox. Though they are black and don’t have the silver coat highlights of the silver fox, they still have white-tipped tails.
The black fox is another mutation of the red fox. It’s one of the naturally occurring morphs, though it can also be found on fur farms. Occasionally, you might see a black fox with a white patch on the chest. That said, patches of white are typically linked to piebald foxes, another naturally occurring (but rare) mutation.
27. Turkestan Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes ochroxantha
- Habitat: Various habitat types in Turkestan and surrounding areas
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly various small animals
- Colorful feature: Like many foxes that can be found in desert areas and savannas, the Turkestan red fox tends to be lighter in color than most other red fox subspecies. As you can see in the photo, the Turkestan fox usually has a decent amount of white mixed in with the most orange fur. It also has a larger white ruff and paler ears than most red fox types.
The Turkestan fox in the picture is a taxidermied specimen, but it still gives you a good general idea of what the Turkestan fox looks like. Its pale color helps it keep cool and camouflage in desert habitats. This red fox subspecies has not been as widely studied or photographed as many other red fox types.
28. Golden Cross Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Red fox habitats overlapping with the Alaskan silver fox
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small animals
- Colorful feature: The golden cross fox looks a little like other cross fox varieties; it is just markedly lighter. It has more red on the body than most cross foxes, though the red is pale enough that it often looks golden. Similarly, the black cross markings are often closer to being silvery gray.
This unusual-looking fox is somewhat rare, as it’s produced by a specific cross: one parent must be an Alaskan silver fox and the other must be a regular red fox. It’s possible to spot one in the wild, but they are relatively rare. It can be hard to distinguish from the typical cross fox at first, but the silvery highlights in the black markings are a telltale sign.
29. Hill Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes montana
- Habitat: Various habitat types (especially forested areas) throughout the Himalayas
- Size: About 8 to 11 pounds
- Diet: Mostly different types of smaller animals, though it also will eat plant matter
- Colorful feature: The hill fox is yet another red fox subspecies that looks similar to the American red fox. However, some individuals like the one in the picture tend to have backs that are more of a pure red, while the sides have more agouti patterning. These foxes tend to be a bit more sandy-colored than many red fox types, but they still have the white-tipped tail.
The name of this fox might make you think it lives in mildly hilly areas. However, it can actually be found throughout the Himalayas. It is smaller than many red fox subspecies and has proportionally smaller teeth. As you might expect of a fox living in a colder area, this fox has fur on its feet, much of which is soft and woolly.
30. Florida Gray Fox
- Latin name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus
- Habitat: Usually densely forested or thicketed areas in Florida (and often relatively close to humans)
- Size: About 4 to 6 pounds
- Diet: Various vertebrates and invertebrates, eggs, fruit, and other plant matter
- Colorful feature: Florida gray foxes have the same reddish base coat and gray grizzled “blanket.” But as you can see in the picture, they sometimes have much more gray than other gray fox species. Their mostly dark coloration creates a beautiful contrast with the white ruff of fur about the neck and chest.
Compared to the red fox, the gray fox has fewer subspecies. The Florida gray fox is one subspecies. It tends to be a little smaller than other gray fox subspecies. This fox is somewhat rare in that it is able to climb trees!
31. Albino Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Any existing red fox habitat
- Size: Usually between 8 and 15 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals as well as a range of plant matter
- Colorful feature: This striking fox is a rare natural mutation of the red fox. It has white or whitish fur and typically has light or blue eyes. As you can see in the photo, it is sometimes kept as a pet.
Though albino foxes may be beautiful, they tend to not do well in the wild. You may already know that white prey animals are often captured quickly. But white predators like foxes have the opposite problem; they can’t camouflage when hunting, so prey animals have an easy time avoiding them. Thus, the albino red fox has a good bit of trouble finding food.
32. Arabian Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes arabica
- Habitat: Deserts, mountains, and even urban areas in the United Arab Emirates and surrounding areas
- Size: Between 6 and 10 pounds
- Diet: Small animals, fish, carrion, and various types of desert vegetation
- Colorful feature: This spindly-looking fox is reddish in color, though its sides are about the color of sand. Like some other red fox subspecies, it has a somewhat darker back. And as you can see in the photo, it has piercing yellow eyes.
Upon looking at it, you might be very surprised to learn that the Arabian red fox is a subspecies of Vulpes vulpes! That difference can be explained by its desert habitat, a vastly different environment from that of many other red fox subspecies.
33. Iberian Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes silacea
- Habitat: Various habitat types across the Iberian Peninsula
- Size: Around 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various types of small animals (especially mammals) as well as fruit and other plant matter
- Colorful feature: The Iberian fox looks a bit like the American red fox, but it has a lot more white interspersed throughout the coat. This creates a roan-like appearance that makes most Iberian foxes look almost frosted.
While some people keep foxes as pets, most species of fox aren’t considered to be domesticated. However, research indicates that ancient Iberian peoples may have domesticated what is today known as the Iberian fox. The Iberian fox is a red fox subspecies, and like most red fox subspecies, it is not considered to be domesticated now.
34. European Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes crucigera
- Habitat: Various habitat types across much of Europe, though it prefers wooded areas
- Size: About 22 to 30 pounds
- Diet: Various smaller animals and some kinds of plant matter
- Colorful feature: The European red fox is generally bigger than the American red fox, though it has some other notable differences, too. A larger portion of its coat is agouti, including much of the head. It often appears to have a plain red “mask” around the eyes and down the muzzle. Its legs are a sharply contrasting stark black.
The European red fox is essentially the European counterpart to the American red fox. It is an invasive species in Australia, where it was originally brought to assist with hunting. Now, it poses a significant threat to livestock and to many of Australia’s native species.
35. Russian Domesticated Red Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes amicus
- Habitat: These foxes are only found in captivity
- Size: Usually around 8-15 pounds
- Diet: Largely small mammals
- Colorful feature: These foxes come in a wide range of colors. Some even have white markings like many domesticated dogs. Some, like the ones in the picture, have mesmerizing silvery fur.
The Russian red fox is a domesticated form of the red fox. Keeping one of these foxes is a lot different from keeping a wild fox. The domesticated fox was developed via a selective breeding program known as Dmitry Belyaev’s Farm Fox Experiment. These truly domesticated foxes behave more like dogs. And while they may be easy to keep, they’re hard to get; truly domesticated foxes can only be imported from Novosibirsk, Siberia, and doing so will usually cost about $10,000.
36. Cross Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Various habitat types across North America
- Size: Roughly 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Primarily smaller mammals, birds, eggs, fruit, and some other types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: The cross fox is simply a partially melanistic form of the red fox. Its fur forms a dark “cross” of a dark dorsal stripe and another stripe draped over the shoulder.
Historically, the cross fox was hunted and bred for fur. Cross fox skins were considered to be more valuable than red fox skins, though they did not command as high a price as the skin of the silver fox. The cross fox is somewhat rare today, but they seem to be more common in northern Canada.
37. Golden Jackal
- Latin name: Canis aureus
- Habitat: Mostly deciduous forests in South Asia, southwestern Asia, and some surrounding countries
- Size: About 18 to 22 pounds
- Diet: Mostly various types of animals, carrion, fruits, and other types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: Despite the name, the golden jackal is usually more tawny than gold. Much like the black-backed sand fox, it has a “saddle” of dark brown and silvery fur on its back.
This interesting canid isn’t quite a true fox, but it looks a lot like a mixture of a fox and a wolf. Thanks to its relatively short legs and tails, it’s not quite as graceful as either one. The golden jackal will sometimes hybridize with dogs in the wild if given the opportunity.
38. Pale Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes pallida
- Habitat: Semi-arid parts of northern Africa
- Size: Between 4 and 8 pounds
- Diet: Mostly plants, berries, and small animals
- Colorful feature: This large-eared fox is usually a pale sandy color, although some individuals (like the one in the picture) are darker than others. Its agouti fur becomes paler toward the belly, allowing it to easily blend in with rocky or sandy areas.
Though it isn’t a recent discovery, the pale fox is rarely studied. It tends to live in remote locations and its sandy coat helps it to blend in incredibly well. Since it often lives in desert territory, the pale fox is able to get nearly all of its water from its diet.
39. Nova Scotia Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes rubricosa
- Habitat: Various habitat types throughout Nova Scotia
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Largely smaller animals, carrion, and plant matter, though they will scavenge for any available food
- Colorful feature: The Nova Scotia fox is a Canadian red fox subspecies that is typically paler than average. Some individuals look more sandy than they do red. However, they still have the classic black legs and ears of most red fox subspecies.
The Nova Scotia fox is often a nuisance when it lives close to human homes. It will often get into garbage or compost, scavenge spilled seeds from bird feeders, and prey on smaller pets. However, Nova Scotia’s Wildlife Act bans killing or trapping foxes outside of the designated season.
40. Blue Arctic Fox
- Latin name: Alopex lagopus
- Habitat: Mostly coastal areas in the Arctic tundra biome
- Size: Between 7 and 21 pounds
- Diet: Small animals, seaweed, berries, and carrion
- Colorful feature: This stunning fox has a coat that is a deep charcoal blue. Some individuals have a coat color closer to gray or brown.
We already profiled the arctic fox, a remarkable species that turns brownish in summer and white in winter. But it also comes in a rare blue morph. This morph has a bluish coat year-round, although its winter coat is slightly paler. Though it is the same species as the Arctic fox, the blue morph has a dominant blue gene. Despite the fact that the blue gene is a dominant one, only about 1% of Arctic foxes are blue.
41. Chocolate Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: This variety is only found in captivity
- Size: Roughly 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various small animals and some types of plant matter
- Colorful feature: This color is one of the many red fox morphs. Chocolate foxes have deep chocolate or liver chestnut fur. But as you can see in the picture, one of the most stunning features of the chocolate fox just might be its stunning golden eyes.
The chocolate fox is one that is relatively common on fur farms. It has a couple of other names; it is sometimes called the copper fox or the copper cinnamon fox. Some individuals do look a little more coppery or red, but most chocolate foxes are mainly brown or liver chestnut in color.
42. Kit Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes macrotis
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid parts of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and central Mexico
- Size: About 3.5 to 6 pounds
- Diet: Mainly rats, though they also eat birds, carrion, fish, reptiles, and occasionally plants
- Colorful feature: The smallish kit fox has beautiful patterning that is a little bit like that of the gray fox. The top of its back and flanks are a grizzled gray, its belly is white, and the fur between these parts is a pale reddish color.
Some people say that the kit fox is effectively the North American counterpart to the fennec fox. Like most desert foxes, it has very large ears and is relatively small. Its pointy ears and smallish face make it look a little like a domestic cat.
43. Corsac Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes corsac
- Habitat: Steppes and semidesert parts of northeastern and central Asia
- Size: About 3.5 to 7.1 pounds
- Diet: Mostly vertebrates, though it will occasionally scavenge and eat plant matter
- Colorful feature: This fox has a beautifully soft color. It is usually gray to yellow. And in the winter, its coat becomes pale gray and silky.
The lovely Corsac fox will sometimes look like a different species between its summer and winter coats. Its summer coat is shorter and is usually a dark, sandy color. Its winter coat is silky, soft, and pale gray. Though some sources indicate that the Corsac fox was once domesticated, that is not the case today.
44. Darwin’s Fox
- Latin name: Lycalopex fulvipes
- Habitat: Southern temperate rainforests in selected parts of Chile
- Size: Usually between 4 and 9 pounds
- Diet: Several different species of vertebrates, invertebrates, carrion, and some fruit
- Colorful feature: This smallish, distinctive fox has beautifully patterned grizzled fur. Its overall color ranges from tawny gray to dark brown to gray-black.
This small fox is currently classified by the IUCN as an endangered species. Though its numbers in the wild are still fairly low (and its range is fairly small), it has recently rebounded from being considered a critically endangered species. Habitat destruction, disease, and being killed by humans continue to be threats.
45. Marble Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: This variety is found in captivity
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various types of animals as well as some plant matter
- Colorful feature: This lovely color variant of the red fox is usually mostly white. The head is patterned with black or gray, with much of the body being white. However, some have distinct or very pale patches of black or gray.
Some people errantly describe the marble fox (also called the “Arctic marble fox”) as its own species. However, while it’s exquisitely beautiful, it is simply a color variant of the red fox. Thanks to its beautiful coloration, it is one of the more common colorations found in the pet fox trade.
46. Red Marble Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: This variety is only found in captivity
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various types of animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: The red marble fox looks a lot like the standard marble fox. But instead of black marbled into white, this color has reddish patches marbled into white.
Like the marble fox, the red marble fox is also popular in the pet trade. Those selling it in the pet trade often call it a “sun glow.”
47. Cape Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes chama
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid areas of southern Africa
- Size: About 5.5 to 9.5 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small mammals, though they also eat other animals and some plant matter
- Colorful feature: This little fox has beautiful soft coloring that is a mixture of tawny and silvery gray.
The catlike Cape fox looks a lot like other types of “true foxes” that live in the desert. It is paler than many other species. This soft coloration helps it camouflage during early morning or early evening.
48. Tibetan Sand Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes ferrilata
- Habitat: Steppes and semi-desert areas on the Tibetan Plateau
- Size: About 9 to 12 pounds
- Diet: Mostly pikas, though it will also eat other animals
- Colorful feature: The soft coat of this fox is a combination of grizzled gray and reddish tan. Though its color may look a bit nondescript, you can see its complexity when you look closely.
The Tibetan sand fox has a somewhat unusual-looking head. You aren’t seeing things; it has a concave forehead that’s part of its specially-evolved skull structure.
49. Island Fox
- Latin name: Urocyon littoralis
- Habitat: Various habitats on California’s Channel Islands
- Size: Between 2 and 6 pounds
- Diet: Small animals, crabs, eggs, fruit, and insects
- Colorful feature: This fox looks a lot like a smaller version of the gray fox. However, both its gray and reddish portions are darker.
The Island fox tends to be relatively unafraid of humans. Some have even been kept as pets! In some areas, it’s also very helpful when it comes to pest control.
50. Fennec Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes zerda
- Habitat: Deserts in North Africa
- Size: Between about 2 and 4 pounds
- Diet: Mostly small animals, eggs, insects, fruit, and tubers
- Colorful feature: The fennec fox has a considerable range of color. It ranges from being near-white to a deep, tawny brown.
If you’re familiar with the exotic pet trade, you’ve probably seen the fennec fox offered for sale. While it may not count as a truly domesticated breed, most breeders will hand-raise fox kits to make them tamer.
51. Silver Fox
- Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
- Habitat: Any existing red fox habitat
- Size: About 8 to 15 pounds
- Diet: Various types of animals, fruit, and other plant matter
- Colorful feature: The beautiful silver fox ranges from near-black to largely silver. It usually has a grizzled silver body, black ears and legs, and a black tail with a white tip.
This stunning animal is not a species in itself. Rather, it is a naturally-occurring color variety of the red fox. Looking at it, it’s easy to see why silver fox pelts were once considered to be the most valuable and frequently worn by royalty.
Nature’s Brightly Colored Foxes
While some of these foxes are specialty colors only found in captivity, most of them appear in the wild. Whether you prefer the looks of the tiny, big-eared fennec fox or admire the rugged beauty of the gray fox in the wild, we hope you’ll keep an eye out for these colorful creatures wherever you go.
