Vulpes macrotis
The Kit fox is the smallest member of the canine family in the United States. It is yellow- gray above, shading to buff along the sides. It's under parts are lighter with white under the throat. The tail is tipped with black. About the size of a domestic cat, an adult weighs approximately 5 pounds. From the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, it is only 18-20 inches long. Kit fox dens are usually found in alluvial soil and have several entrances. They have exceptionally long, pointed ears and their legs are unusually short for a fox.
Habitat: While its range extends over much of the desert Southwest, the Kit fox is not seen very often. It prefers open, flat creosote bush flats and sand dunes.
Diet: The Kit fox is a carnivore that hunts rodents, birds, insects and scorpions.
Adaptations: The ears are heavily furred, both on the outside and inside, which protects them from blowing sand. This nocturnal hunter has extremely acute hearing. The soles of the feet are covered with long fur, with only the pads of the toes bare which enables the fox to move more easily through the soft sand and loose soils of its habitat.
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