Higher classification Caninae | Phylum Chordata Scientific name Urocyon Rank Genus | |
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Lower classifications | ||
Island fox urocyon littoralis santacruzae on santa cruz island california
The genus Urocyon (from the Greek word for "tailed dog") is a genus that contains two (or possibly three, see next paragraph) living Western Hemisphere foxes in the family Canidae; the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the closely related island fox (Urocyon littoralis), which is a dwarf cousin of the gray fox; as well as one fossil species, Urocyon progressus.
Contents
- Island fox urocyon littoralis santacruzae on santa cruz island california
- Gray fox urocyon cinereoargenteus
- References
Urocyon and the raccoon dog are the only canids able to climb trees. Urocyon is one of the oldest fox genera still in existence. Evidence of the Cozumel fox, a disputed extinct or critically endangered third species, was found on the island of Cozumel, Mexico. The Cozumel fox, which has not been scientifically described to date, is a dwarf form like the island fox, but a bit larger, being up to three-quarters the size of the gray fox.
Gray fox urocyon cinereoargenteus
