Vulpes bengalensis

Geographic Range

Vulpes bengalensis is native to the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal and Pakistan and is widespread throughout its range. These foxes are found in the Himalayan foothills to the tip of the Indian peninsula.

• Biogeographic Regions
• oriental oriental
  • native native

Habitat

Bengal foxes generally prefer foothills and non-forested regions such as open grassland, thorny scrub, semi-desert and arid environments. They can also be found in agricultural fields, as they are not generally fearful of humans. Bengal foxes inhabit burrows built approximately two to three feet below ground surface. These burrows have several openings converging towards the center burrow area. Many of these openings are blind while others lead towards a large, central breeding space.

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate
• tropical tropical
• terrestrial terrestrial

• Terrestrial Biomes
• desert or dune desert or dune
• savanna or grassland savanna or grassland
• scrub forest scrub forest

• Other Habitat Features
• agricultural agricultural

Physical Description

Bengal foxes are medium sized foxes. They have elongated muzzles and small patches of black hair on the upper portion of the muzzle. The most prominent feature of Bengal foxes is a large bushy tail accounting for up to 60% of their body length and possessing a distinct black tip. During normal movement, the tail is left trailing. When running the tail is carried horizontally. It is held vertically when these foxes make sudden turns. Dorsal pelage varies seasonally and within populations but is generally hoary gray on the dorsum and paler ventrally. Pelage on the ears is dark brown with a black margin. Their ears are large for their size and are possible an adaptation to thermoregulation in their hot, arid habitats. Dentition includes sharply pointed canines and and well developed molar teeth with a dental formula of 3/3-1/1-4/4-2/3 = 42.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• homoiothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

Reproduction

Bengal foxes are believed to live in long-term monogamous pairs, but this supposition is based on little evidence. During the breeding season, males vocalize intensely during the night and at dusk and dawn.

• Mating System
• monogamous monogamous

Bengal foxes remain near dens during the period from February to June, when they are raising pups. They breed from December to January with an average litter size of two. Birth occur from January to March. The breeding season is announced by re-excavation of old dens or the digging of new dens. Bengal foxes have also been known to appropriate gerbil burrows and show significant site fidelity, with dens being used year after year.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• viviparous viviparous

Parental investment in V. bengalensis is poorly studied but it is believed that both female and male foxes participate in raising offspring. Males have been reported to hunt in order to provide food to females and offspring during the pup rearing phase. Both males and females are responsible for guarding dens. There have been no observations of helpers in the pup rearing phase. Dens with young are rarely left unguarded for the first two months after their birth, parents take turns foraging. The young are care for 4 to 5 months after their birth, at which point they disperse. Dispersal often coincides with the beginning of the monsoon season, a season of plentiful prey abundance.

• Parental Investment
• altricial altricial
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-hatching/birth
  • provisioning
    • female
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • male
  • protecting
    • male
    • female
• pre-independence
  • provisioning
    • male
    • female
  • protecting
    • male

Lifespan/Longevity

Because of their low population densities, little is known about the lifespan of Bengal foxes in the wild. The average lifespan of Vulpes species generally ranges between 10 and 12 years, which may be indicative of the expected lifespan of V. bengalensis . The most significant cause of mortality is persecution by humans, as well as natural predation, roadkills, and human caused habitat degradation. Populations of Bengal foxes fluctuate naturally with prey availability.

Behavior

Bengal foxes are tame and generally not fearful of humans, making them vulnerable to hunting. In response to human presence, Bengal fox populations alter their active periods from daytime to crepuscular and nocturnal habits. In mild temperatures and cloudy weather, daytime hunting also occurs. Hunting is a solitary behavior in these foxes. The basic social unit is one breeding pair but larger aggregations may occur when grown pups remain in their natal area. Female Bengal foxes have been witnessed sharing dens during lactation and four adult foxes have been seen emerging from the same den.

• Key Behaviors
• terricolous
• nocturnal nocturnal
• crepuscular crepuscular
• motile motile
• sedentary sedentary
• solitary solitary
• territorial territorial

Home Range

Home ranges consist of one or several dens and foraging area around the dens. These dens contain complex tunnel systems. Generally a den has 2 to 7 entrance tunnels, but a den with 43 tunnels has been noted. Dens are reused and become larger with use. A single den in the Gujarat region spanned 10 x 8 m.

Communication and Perception

The common vocalization of Bengal foxes is a chattering cry that plays a major role in advertising territory. These foxes also growl, whimper, whine and "growl-bark." During the breeding season, males vocalize extensively during the early morning hours, at dusk, and at night. Scat and scent marking are also used to indicate territories and areas that have been recently hunted.

• Communication Channels
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

• Other Communication Modes
• scent marks scent marks

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Vulpes bengalensis is an omnivorous, opportunistic species that feeds mainly on insects, birds and their eggs, small rodents, reptiles, and fruits. While the primary diet of adults is insects, the fecal matter of pups is is composed primarily of rodent hair. Common prey includes orthopterans , termites , ants , beetle grubs , spiders , soft-furred rats ( Millardia meltada ), little Indian field mice ( Mus booduga ), Indian gerbils ( Tatera indica ), Indian mynahs ( Acridotheres tristis ), grey partridge ( Francolinus ponticerianus ), and ashy-crowned finch larks ( Eremopterix grisea ). Less common prey items include ground lizards, rat snakes ( Ptyas mucuosus ), hedgehogs ( Parantechinus nudiventris ), and Indian hares ( Lepus nigricollis ). They feed on fruits of ber ( Ziziphus ), neem ( Azadirachta indica ), mango ( Mangifera indica ), jambu ( Syizigium cumini ), and banyan ( Ficus bengalensis ).

• Primary Diet
• omnivore omnivore

• Animal Foods
• birds
• mammals
• reptiles
• eggs
• insects
• terrestrial non-insect arthropods

• Plant Foods
• fruit

Predation

Asiatic wolves ( Canis lupus pallipes ) and feral dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) are recognized as natural predators of V. bengalensis . However, this predation does not appear to have a significant impact on population density.

Ecosystem Roles

Bengal foxes prey on small rodents and birds and are subject to predation by Asiatic wolves and feral dogs ( Canis lupus ). More research should be conducted in order to fully understand the role Bengal foxes play in prey population cycles. Current research is investigating the potential for disease transfer from free-ranging domesticated dogs in agricultural regions to Bengal fox populations. At the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, an outbreak of distemper was responsible for a five fold change in population density over 3 years. Both Asiatic wolves ( C. l. pallipes ) and and jackals ( C. aureus ) appropriate and enlarge Bengal fox dens.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

There is no formal trade for fur as it is seen as low quality, however local trades do exist for claws, skin, tails, and teeth for potential medicinal purposes or as charms. Bengal foxes may help to control populations of agricultural pests, such as orthopterans and small rodents.

• Positive Impacts
• body parts are source of valuable material
• controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

Currently, no evidence suggests Bengal foxes are harmful to human populations. While these foxes inhabit agricultural areas, there are no reports of them raiding poultry or attacking sheep. They have been reported to carry rabies, distemper, and heartworm, like other canids .

• Negative Impacts
• causes or carries domestic animal disease causes or carries domestic animal disease

Conservation Status

Data suggest declining numbers in V. bengalensis populations, but population estimates are difficult to come by. Several threats exist from human interactions with their environment. Bengal foxes are susceptible to habitat loss and degradation, persecution, roadkills, and changes in native species dynamics due to pathogens or parasites. The Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972 as amended up to 1991) prohibits hunting of all wildlife and lists the Bengal fox in Schedule II. Currently no active conservation efforts are in place.

Bengal foxes are held in captivity in several places, where they seem to do well. In 2001, there were 15 males, 14 females, and 11 unsexed individuals in several zoos.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Pamela Meadors (author), University of Alaska Fairbanks, Link E. Olson (editor, instructor), University of Alaska Fairbanks.

References

Henry, J. 1977. The use of urine marking in the scavenging behaviour of the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ). Behaviour , 61: 82-106.

Johnsingh, A., Y. Jhala. 2004. Vulpes bengalensis (Shaw 1800). In Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals, and Dogs. Status Survery and Conservation Action Plan , 2004: 219-222.

Johnsingh, A. 1978. Some aspects of the ecology and behaviour of the Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis . Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society , 75: 397-405.

Manakadan, R., A. Rahmani. 2000. Population and ecology of the Indian fox Vulpes bengalensis at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of the Bombay natural History Society , 97: 3-14.

Rao, A., L. Archarjyo. 1971. Histopathological changes in some of the organs in heart worm infection in an Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis). Indian Vet Journal , 48/4: 342-344.

Sheldon, J. 1992. Wild dogs: The natural history of the non-domesticated Canidae . New York, New York: Academic Press.

Vanak, A. 2005. "Distribution and status of the Indian fox Vulpes bengalensis in southern India" (On-line pdf). Canid News 8.1. Accessed December 01, 2006 at http://www.canids.org/canidnews/8/Indian_fox_in_southern_India.pdf .