Diurnal activity is more common at times when kits need to be fed and when food is scarce, as during the winter. It does not have a defended territory, and unlike some foxes, sometimes forms packs. The Corsac fox is a nocturnal and nomadic hunter of the steppes. Golden eagles are major predators, with 38% of remains found belonging to the corsac fox at a golden eagle nest in Mongolia. Natural predators of the corsac fox include gray wolf, Eurasian eagle-owl, eagles, and (rarely, for pups) the upland buzzard. Although predominantly carnivorous, it occasionally eats fruit and other vegetation, especially during winter when availability of animal prey is low. It scavenges for carrion and human refuse as well. It also feeds opportunistically on larger prey including hares and pikas. Its diet varies throughout its range, but consists foremost of small and medium-sized vertebrates, insects and small rodents, such as voles, gerbils, jerboas, hamsters, and ground squirrels. The corsac fox is an opportunistic forager and hunter. Corsac foxes generally stay far away from human disturbances.Įcology and behavior Corsac fox in its summer coat Golden eagles frequently prey on the corsac foxĪs an adaption to the arid climate in which they live, corsac foxes can forego food and water for extended periods of time. True deserts with drifting sands are also avoided, as are snowfields more than about 15 cm (6 in) deep. These foxes inhabit open grassy steppes and semideserts, and avoid dense vegetation and mountainous regions. turkmenicus - southern Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, Mongolia, and neighbouring regions kalmykorum - northern Uzbekistan, Caucasus Vulpes corsac corsac - northern Kazakhstan, southern Siberia.Three subspecies are currently recognised: In the south, their range extends into the more northern parts of Iran, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and China, and they can also be found in neighbouring regions of Russia. They are found throughout Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and through all except the northernmost regions of Mongolia. Distribution and habitat Ĭorsac foxes live in the steppes and semidesert of central and northeast Asia. Ĭorsac foxes are reported to bark during hunting or when threatening rivals, and to use higher pitch yelps or chirps as alarm calls or social greetings. The glands are found in the anal region, above the base of the tail, and on the paws and cheeks. It has a number of scent glands, some of which produce pungent odors, although not so extreme as those found in some other Vulpes species. It is reported to have keen eyesight and hearing and an acute sense of smell. One source claims that this species can climb trees and has been domesticated in the past. įor a fox, it has small teeth and a wide skull. During the winter, the coat becomes much thicker and silkier in texture, and is straw-grey in colour, with a darker line running down the back. It has grey to yellowish fur over much of the body, with paler underparts and pale markings on the mouth, chin, and throat. Adults weigh from 1.6 to 3.2 kilograms (3.5 to 7.1 lb). The Corsac fox is a medium-sized fox, with a head and body length of 45 to 65 cm (18 to 26 in), and a tail 19 to 35 cm (7.5 to 13.8 in) long. The word "corsac" is derived from the Russian name for the animal, "korsák" (корса́к), derived ultimately from Turkic "karsak". Since 2004, it has been classified as least concern by IUCN, but populations fluctuate significantly, and numbers can drop tenfold within a single year. The corsac fox ( Vulpes corsac), also known simply as a corsac, is a medium-sized fox found in steppes, semi-deserts and deserts in Central Asia, ranging into Mongolia and northern China.
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