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FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
We know you've read tons of metaphors based on foxes, but would you like to read everything there is to know about a special species of fox?
The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) is a small fox native to the Middle East and Central Asia. It is in the genus Vulpes and belongs to the Canidae family. All members of this genus are referred to as 'true foxes' as they form a proper clade and are separated from wolves, jackals, and coyotes of the genus Canis. The Blanford's fox was first introduced and described by William Thomas Blanford in 1877 and was named after him. The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) is native to southwest Asia and these foxes have a rather patchy range. This species can be found across the Arabian peninsula in the Middle East from Jordan, Israel, the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These foxes were also recently spotted in Yemen. They are usually found near mountains and regions with natural vegetation. They have cat-like large ears, bushy tails, and are covered in fur.
Appearance-wise there are no significant differences between the male and female species. The Blanford's fox is nocturnal. It is also known as the Afghan fox, royal fox, dog fox, hoary fox, steppe fox, black fox, king fox, cliff fox, or Baluchistan fox. Unlike wolves, this species does not live in packs.
Read on to find details about their range, habitat, population size, diet, gestation period, breeding, and feeding habits! Learn about some other mammals from our fox facts and red fox facts pages.
The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) just like its name suggests is a fox belonging to the Animalia kingdom.
The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) belongs to the Mammalia class.
Accurate data about their population size is unknown. However, Blanford's foxes are considered a common species across their range.
The Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) range occupies regions of Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. In Afghanistan, it is commonly known as the Afghan fox.
The Blanford's fox habitat includes semi-arid regions, steppes, and mountains within their range. They are often found at an altitude of about 3937 ft (1,200 m) above sea level. In southwestern Arabia, foxes of this species prefer living on mountains that have plenty of natural vegetation. They are nocturnal, but in Israel, due to the extreme climatic conditions at night especially in deserts, these foxes choose to forage and wander in the late afternoon and evenings.
Blanford's foxes are solitary and live alone. They pair up only during the breeding season.
Blandford's foxes live up to four to five years and do not exceed 10 years in the wild.
Blanford's foxes are monogamous and reach sexual maturity when they are 10-12 months of age. The breeding season begins in late January or February. Female foxes give birth to one to three pups in a single breeding season. The gestation period lasts for 50-60 days. The young pups are nursed by their mothers for at least 28-45 days after birth. They are born with soft, darker gray, or almost black fur, and weigh around 2.1 lb (29 g). When they are two months of age, they accompany their parents on hunts, and by the next few months forage independently.
Mountain lions often prey on the pups.
The IUNC Red List of Threatened Species has classified Blanford's foxes as a species of Least Concern.
The Blanford's fox is a small to medium-sized fox with wide, large ears and a long, bushy tail that equals its body length. The tip of the tail is black and occasionally white. This fox generally has a lean body, but the body size can vary according to its geographical location and habitat. The body is covered with brownish-gray fur that fades out to a pale yellow color near the stomach. During winters, the coat is woolly, dense, with a black undercoat and off-white speckles. This helps the fox stay warm and maintain its body temperature even in extreme cold weathers.
In contrast to its winter coat, the summer coat is thinner and paler, and the speckles are almost invisible. Near the spine, a black spot and an extending band are visible that becomes crest along the length of the tail. Unlike most desert fox species, Blandford's foxes do not have pads covered with fur or hair, instead, they have sharp, retractile, curvy, and cat-like claws. Young juveniles are identical to adults and have similar markings, but their fur is softer and darker.
A Blanford's fox looks cute because of its large ears, its bushy tail equal to its body length, and of course it soft fur.
Blanford's foxes communicate by analyzing chemical cues or scent, via vocalization, and through body language. They have different body postures that can determine whether they are aggressive, submissive, fearful, or dominant. When curious, this fox stands still, raise its ears, and stiffens its tail. When scared, it will curve or arch its body. Blanford's foxes have an impressive vocal repertoire and use a wide range of sounds like howls, barks, and high-pitched calls to communicate.
Generally, the fox of this species grows up to 15-31.5 in (38.5-80 cm) in length and the tail is 13-16 in (33-41 cm) long. Some reach a total length of 28.-29.9 in (73.5-76 cm), and a tail length of 13.7-14.1 in (35-36 cm).
Among all extant canids, only the fennec fox is smaller than a hoary fox!
While the speed rate is unknown, this fox can climb rocks and jump over ledges that are 9.8 ft (3 m) tall easily. These foxes use their sharp, curved claws, and bare footpads for traction on narrow ledges and their long, bushy tails as a counterbalance.
An adult steppe fox weighs around 2.1 lb (0.9 kg).
Just like other foxes, the male members of this species are called dog foxes and the females are called vixens!
A baby Blanford's fox is called a young pup, cub, or kit. The pups are independent by the time they are three or four months of age.
The Blanford's fox is omnivorous and it is often spotted foraging in mountains, and occasionally in rural settlements. Their diet includes a variety of food items like rodents, small birds, and medium to large insects like grasshoppers. Blanford’s foxes in Pakistan are largely frugivorous and feed on Russian olives, melons, and grapes. Blanford’s foxes are solitary foragers and rarely forage in pairs with their partners or young cubs. Unlike other fox species, this fox is not very predatory and rarely hunts other animals for food.
Large predatory birds like falcons often hunt these foxes.
They might cause minor physical injuries by biting and scratching if they feel threatened. They are both playful and violent and do not pose as threats to humans.
No, even though they are not dangerous for humans, they are still wild animals and do not make great pets. A kit if adopted when it is young might respond to human touch, however a kit requires a lot of attention. Kits need to be fed milk every four hours without fail. They also tend to start biting furniture, cables, and leather items around the house.
Biblical foxes mentioned in the Song of Songs 2:15 and described as 'little foxes who ruin the vineyards' are believed to be the frugivorous Blanford's foxes.
The most popular fox species in the world is the red fox.
The 12 true foxes are the red fox, Arctic fox, fennec fox, Bengal fox, pale fox, Blanford’s fox, Cape fox, corsac fox, Ruppel's Fox, kit fox, Tibetan sand fox, and swift fox.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our harbour porpoise facts or masai giraffe facts pages
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Blanford's fox coloring pages.
Second image by Eyal Bartov
<p>Specializing in the creation of SEO-friendly content, Mellisa brings enthusiasm and expertise to our team. Her work in digital marketing and social media is complemented by her academic background in economics and English literature, as she holds a Bachelor's degree in these subjects from Wilson College Chowpatty, Mumbai. Mellisa's experience working with clients from various industries, including retail, education, and technology, reflects her ability to adapt her skills to different contexts and audiences.</p>
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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