Pseudalopex sechurae (Thomas, 1900)
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6331155 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6585163 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ACCF40-BF23-FFDC-7B9D-F844FC9ADB55 |
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treatment provided by |
Conny |
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scientific name |
Pseudalopex sechurae |
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18. View On
Sechuran Fox
Pseudalopex sechurae View in CoL
French: Renard de Sechura / German: Sechura-Fuchs / Spanish: Zorro del Sechura
Other common names: Sechura Desert Fox, Peruvian Desert Fox
Taxonomy. Canis sechurae Thomas, 1900 View in CoL ,
NW Peru.
Monotypic.
Distribution. Coastal zones of NW Peru and SW Ecuador, between 3° S and 12° S latitude. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head-body 50-78 cm and tail 27-34 cm for males; weight 2-6—4- 2 kg for males. The smallest species of the genus Pseudalopex . The head is small, with relatively long ears (about two thirds the length of the head) and a short muzzle. Face is gray, and there is a rufous-brown ring around the eyes. The ears may be reddish on the back; the dark muzzle may have paler hairs around the lips. The pelage consists of pale underfur with agouti guard hairs; the underparts are fawn or cream-colored. There is sometimes a dark stripe down the back. The forelimbs (up to the elbows) and the hindlimbs (up to the heels) are usually reddish in color. The tail is relatively long and densely furred, ending in a dark tip. The dental formulais13/3, C 1/1, PM 4/4, M 2/3 = 42. The carnassials are slightly smaller, and the grinding teeth larger, than in allied forms; the canines are “fox-like”.
Habitat. Occupies a variety of habitats ranging from sandy deserts with low plant density to agricultural lands and dry forests. Few details of habitat preferences are known.
Food and Feeding. The Sechuran Fox is a generalist omnivore that preferentially consumesvertebrate prey or carrion when available, but often depends predominantly on seeds or seed pods. Feces collected during late winter and early spring in the inland Sechuran Desert contained mainly the remnants of undigested seeds or seed pods of algarrobo (Prosopis juliflora), zapote (Capparis scabrida) and vizcacho (C. avicennifolia). The syrupy matrix surrounding the seeds may be the actual source of nourishment. In a germination experiment, seeds recovered from feces sprouted earlier than those gathered from the ground, suggesting that the foxes not only act as seed dispersers, but affect the ability of the seeds to germinate rapidly when sporadic rains occur. Fox droppings along the coast contained crabs and several bird species. Following El Nino rains, fox droppings revealed a dramatic dietary shift to grasshoppers and mice (Paralomys gerbillus) as these prey became more abundant. In central Peru, the main summer foods were insects, scorpions (Carica candicans), fruits, and rodents. The lack of standing water in the inland desert habitat suggests that the foxes can survive without drinking. However, they may lick condensation from vegetation on foggy mornings. No food caching has been recorded.
Activity patterns. Primarily nocturnal. Radio-telemetry tracking indicated that individuals emerged from their rocky daytime sleeping dens before sunset and remained active through most of the night before re-entering the dens at dawn. The phases of the moon did not influence this activity pattern, perhaps because the foxes were consuming seeds and seed pods rather than hunting. Occasionally, they are seen during the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Little known. Groups larger than three individuals are rare, and usually only observed where food sources are concentrated. The home range of a radio-tracked adult male adjoined that of one adult female accompanied by two almost full-grown juveniles. However, they each foraged separately during the night and occupied separate dens during the day.
Breeding. Few details of breeding behavior known. Births are reported to occur primarily in October and November.
Status and Conservation. CITES not listed. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. While the speciesis easily observed in rural areas and disturbed environments from the states of Piura to La Libertad in Peru, large population fluctuations due to disease and persecution are causes for concern. Footprint surveys in Piura, Peru, show an average of 12-6 foxes per km. The Sechuran Fox is uncommon in Ecuador. In Peru, hunting outside established areas and trade has been prohibited since 2000, but it has proven difficult to control trade in rural areas. The most important threats are the market for handicrafts and amulets that are made of Sechuran Fox parts, and persecution because of damage to livestock. In Peru, the attitude of rural inhabitants to the species is antagonistic (68-3% of correspondents) or indifferent (317%). The stated reasons for favoring persecution were predation on domestic fowl and guinea pigs (65% of correspondents), the consumption of vegetables or stored goods (13:3%), and belief that goat predation occurs (10%). The Sechuran Fox also faces some pressure in agricultural zones and from urbanization and habitat degradation; habitat loss is considered the principle threatto this species in Ecuador.
Bibliography. Asa & Cossios (2004), Asa & Wallace (1990), Birdseye (1956), Cabrera (1931), Centro de Datos para la Conservacion (1989), Huey (1969), Langguth (1975).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
