[–] 14 points 4 months ago

Oh hiiii thats me, just doing routine tree inspection, need to know how nap-able the trees are.

In all seriousness, thats a gray fox (Urocyon Cinereoargenteus), with one of their kits from this year. I could only wish to see one one day, as they only exist in north america (and spilled a tiny bit into south america). It's not entirely clear, but the ears look quite short, so most likely some eastern gray fox, these are the tree climbers. Western ones have larger ears as they live more in desert like areas to help with heat dissipation, and being able to hear small insects.

Unlike any other canine, gray foxes got somewhat rotatable wrists, and retractable claws. This allows them to grip onto trees very well, kinda like cats. So they'll happily climb trees vertically, see https://findafox.net/post/view/1131?search=gray_fox+climbing

And of course, what does one do in a tree? Take a "comfy" nap

Even though they are named foxes, genetically they are not related to red foxes (vulpes vulpes), instead being its own genus, which is even older than vulpes.

And of course, they'll do no harm, only bring cuteness :3

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Indeed, they evolved in similar environments, meant to fulfill a specific role in said environment. Here's a quote from my friend Vuca that sums it up pretty good.

    A taxonomic exclusionist might consider only members of genus Vulpes to truly be foxes, but such is not my own view, thus here is why I am inclusive of what I deem a "fox":

    "Fox" is a pre-scientific appellation. Hence I think what is considered a "fox" ought to be based on appearance and behavior (lay pre-scientific traits) rather than genetic taxonomy. And here are what I would define as the traits of a "fox":

    1. a small-to-medium size wild canid
    2. with a long bushy tail
    3. that hunts small prey, in a solitary manner
    4. that does not live in packs

    From: https://findafox.net/user/vuca

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  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

    Gray foxes are not from the Vulpes genus, which we call 'true' foxes, and are illustrated in the post. Theyre from the genus Urocyon! Which actually evolutionary predates Vulpes. Gray foxes not being part of Vulpes does not mean they are not foxes in the scientific sense, but in the sense of it being an animal which behaves, looks like a fox, so we still call them foxes.

    Also think about the crab-eating fox (cerdocyon), bat-eared fox (otocyon) and all south American foxes (lycalopex). Theyre not true foxes as theyre not vulpes, but theyre still what we call foxes! :3

    See also:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caninae

    https://findafox.net/post/view/1704

    https://findafox.net/post/view/2906

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