What is a Cross Fox - February 2016
Dark color variant of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes).
I was fortunate to observe let alone photograph this beautiful canid while in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. I traveled to the park to photograph red fox but I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to photograph a morph fox as well. This particular fox was making a living near a wetlands area and preying on mallard ducks and muskrats.
red foxcrossmorphvulpes vulpesgrand teton national parkwintermammalwildlifesnowwyoming
From Mammals
Dark Beauty
The gene that is responsible for the dark or melanistic phase of a red fox is apparently pleiotropic (responsible for many traits) because melanistic red fox have larger tails, extra hair on the bottom of their paws, and thick curly ventral (chest and abdominal) hair. Although the "cross fox" has a unique appearance and characteristics, they are the same species as the "red fox" (Vulpes vulpes).
red foxmorphcrossvulpesgrand teton national parkwyomingwinterwildlife
From Mammals
Phantom of the Aspens
My brief encounter with this rare magnificent canid ended at sunset as he disappeared into the safety of an aspen grove. Although commonly called a "cross fox", it may be more appropriate to refer to these dark colored red fox as "morphs" or color variants.
http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/red_fox.htmlred foxcrossmorphvulpes vulpesgrand teton national parkwintermammalwildlifesnowwyoming
From Mammals