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Pseudalopex griseus
Topics: Fauna of Argentina Fauna of Bolivia Fauna of Chile Fauna of Peru
The Chilla, Grey Zorro or South American Grey Fox (Pseudalopex griseus), also known as the Patagonian Fox, is a species of zorro (false foxes).
Range and Habitat
The South American grey fox is found in the Southern Cone of South America, particularly in Argentina and Chile. Its range comprises a stripe, both sides of the Andes Mountain Range between parallels 17S (northernmost Chile) and 54S (Tierra del Fuego).
In Argentina, this species inhabits the western semiarid region of the country, from the Andean spurs (ca. 69W) to meridian 66W. South from the Rio Grande river, the distribution of the grey fox widens reaching the Atlantic coast. In Chile "chillas" are present throughout the country. Their presence in Peru has been mentioned. To date, however, there has been no confirmation of it. The Patagonian Fox was introduced to the Falkland Islands in the late 1920's early 1930's and are still present in quite large numbers on Beaver and Weddell Islands plus several smaller islands.
The South American grey fox occurs in a variety of habitats, from the warm, arid srcublands of the Argentinean Monte and the cold, arid Patagonian steppe to the forest of southernmost Chile.
Physical Appearance
The Grey Zorro is a small South American canid, weighing 2.5–4 kg , and measuring 43–70 cm in length.
Diet
Its diet consists mainly of rodents, birds, and rabbits.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
They breed in late austral fall, around March. After a gestation period of 2 months, 2-4 kits are born in a den. Not much else is recorded about their lifestyle.
References
Gonzalez del Solar, R. and J. Rau (2004) Pseudalopex griseus. In C. Sillero-Zubiri, M. Hoffman and D. Macdonald (eds.) Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs. Gland, Switzerland, IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. Pp. 56-63.
Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
IUCN (2004): Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs
More information
Funes, M. C., Novaro, A. J., Monsalvo, O. B., Pailacura, O., Sanchez Aldao, G., Pessino, M., Dosio, R., Chehebar, C., Ramilo, E., Bellati, J., Puig, S., Videla, F., Oporto, N., Gonzalez del Solar, R., Castillo, E., Garcia, E., Loekemeyer, N., Bugnest, F. and Mateazzi, G. (2006) El manejo de los zorros en la Argentina. Compatibilizando las interacciones entre la ganaderia, la caza comercial y la conservacion. In Bolkovik, M. L. and Ramadori, D. (eds.), Manejo de fauna silvestre en la Argentina. Programas de uso sustentable. Buenos Aires, Direccion de Fauna Silvestre. Chapter 12.
http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=19
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Pseudalopex griseus
