As the name implies, this is a species of foxes living in Tibet and in the mountainous regions adjacent to it. This is one of the smallest mammals of the same genus, leading a secretive lifestyle. In addition, Tibetan foxes are predatory animals. Examples of the vital activity of these creatures we will consider in this article.
How do they look?
Tibetan fox (photo is in the article) belongs to small fox breeds. Its small body is completely covered with thick hair, and from below there is a dense underfur protecting the animal from strong winds. The muzzle of Tibetan foxes is somewhat different from the muzzle of their relatives: it is more pointed and elongated. Thick fur, concentrated around the neck, makes the face of the fox somewhat square. Her ears are small but sharp, and her eyes are narrow.
The teeth of these animals are well developed, and the fangs are extremely long and large, much larger than the rest of the foxes. The color of the fur varies from grayish-red to beige. The tail ends with a light brush. Often, on the sides of these animals, a rusty brown color can turn gray to the bottom. This, in turn, creates some illusion of a strip on the sides of the fox body. The body length of an adult varies from 58 to 72 centimeters. At the same time, her tail accounts for 30 to 46 centimeters. An adult Tibetan fox weighs up to 5.5 kilograms.
Where do they live?
As the name of these animals suggests, they are found mainly in Tibet, namely in the semi-deserts and steppes of the Tibetan plateau. However, these mammals can be found in northwestern India, and in some Chinese provinces, and in Nepal. Scientists who observed Tibetan foxes in 2008 report that these animals were discovered at altitudes of more than 5 kilometers above sea level. This, of course, somewhat surprised scientists, because it is known that it is almost impossible to meet these predators in places where their favorite food is missing. A favorite food of Tibetan foxes are pikas.
What do they eat?
As noted above, the main diet of these foxes - pikas, or senostavki - these are representatives of the order rabbit-like. Only, unlike rabbits, pikas have very short ears, and the hind and front legs are almost the same length. Outwardly, these creatures are similar to hamsters and mice, however, their relatives are not rodents, but hares. For their habit of storing hay for the winter, these creations were called senostavki. It is worth noting that not only Tibetan foxes, but also other carnivorous animals feed on pests (examples of other predators are not considered in this article).
Also, the diet of Tibetan foxes includes various small rodents (field voles, squirrels, chipmunks, mice), hares and small birds nesting on the ground. They do not disdain delicious bird eggs. It is worth noting that the predator will never give up any other living creatures (lizards, insects) and immediately eat it. So from this point of view, the Tibetan fox is an omnivore. But in conditions of food diversity, pikas are the ultimate dream of these predators.
Their way of life
Typical habitats of these animals are natural burrows under the rocks or in any other secluded places. If asylum difficulties arise, the foxes dig their own lairs on their own. The Tibetan fox leads a secretive lifestyle, so zoologists know little about its life. But something they still installed. For example, zoologists know that these creatures are hunted in pairs (female and male), after which they divide in half all the caught prey. In addition, Tibetan foxes are lucky owners of a rather subtle hearing that allows them even at relatively large distances to discover their favorite pikas.
These animals use the sense of smell solely to navigate their territory well. It is also known that the Tibetan fox does not protect its personal space from other relatives. That is why the territoriality of these animals is weakly expressed. Once by scientists, a whole “harem” of these predators was found: Tibetan foxes not only lived side by side with each other, but even hunted on common lands. It is curious that until 2006 no one filmed them on a video camera. The reason is the natural hyper-caution of these animals. For the first time they were filmed by the operators of the world famous British broadcasting corporation BBC.
Their importance in nature
The benefits that this fox brings to man and nature are hard to overestimate. Since this predator is a wild animal, the fox plays a huge role in regulating the number of small rodents and other small vertebrates. Zoologists and agronomists do not exclude that Tibetan foxes bring significant benefits to soils, as they aerate them in the process of digging their shelters. But that's not all! The fur of these foxes is actively used by residents of various regions of Tibet: hats are made from it, which reliably protect from rain and winds.