Description

The South American Gray Fox is found in the Southern Cone of South America, particularly in the Andes between parallels 17ºS and 54ºS. The South American Gray Fox occurs in a variety of habitats, from the warm areas of Argentine to the cold southern forests.

The South American Gray Fox is of small size, measuring 40 to 70 cm in length, to which the 30 cm tail must be added. It can weigh up to 4.5kg because of its varied diet including small mammals such as rodents and hares, as well as carrions, birds, reptiles and fruits.

Its fur is greyish with a few yellowish parts like the head and the legs. Likewise, its chin and the end of its tail display black stains which contrast with the white color of its abdomen.

Just like other foxes, the relationship with man is not good due to their eating habits: in periods of shortage, they will feed on birds and small mammals belonging to the fields. The high commercial value of fox skin led to persecution and undiscriminate capture of this animal by man.