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The '''red fox''' ('''''Vulpes vulpes''''') is a [[species]] of [[Caninae|canine]] [[mammal]] and the largest of the [[true fox]]es, as well as one of the most widely distributed members of the order [[Carnivora]],. beingit presentis native across the entire [[Northern Hemisphere]] including most of [[North America]], [[Europe]] and, [[Asia]], plusand parts of [[North Africa]]., Itand is listed as [[least concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List]].<ref name=IUCN/> Itsits range has increased alongside [[human expansionmigration]], having been [[Foxesfoxes in Australia|introduced to Australia]], where it is considered harmful to nativelocal small- and medium-sized rodents[[rodent]]s, [[marsupial]]s and even [[marsupialbird]]s. DueIt tois itslisted impactas [[least concern]] on nativethe species[[IUCN Red List]],<ref itname=IUCN/> and is included on the list of the "[[Listlist of the world's 100 worst invasive species]]" due to the impact of its [[introduced species|world'sforeign 100introduction]] worston invasive[[native species]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=100 of the World's Worst Invasive Alien Species |url=https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/100_worst.php |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Global Invasive Species Database}}</ref>
 
The red fox originated in [[Eurasia]] during the [[Middle Pleistocene]] at least 400,000 years ago<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bartolini Lucenti |first1=Saverio |last2=Madurell-Malapeira |first2=Joan |date=May 2020 |title=Unraveling the fossil record of foxes: An updated review on the Plio-Pleistocene Vulpes spp. from Europe |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277379120302584 |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |volume=236 |pages=106296 |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106296|bibcode=2020QSRv..23606296B }}</ref> and later colonisedcolonized North America sometime prior to 130,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kutschera |first1=Verena E |last2=Lecomte |first2=Nicolas |last3=Janke |first3=Axel |last4=Selva |first4=Nuria |last5=Sokolov |first5=Alexander A |last6=Haun |first6=Timm |last7=Steyer |first7=Katharina |last8=Nowak |first8=Carsten |last9=Hailer |first9=Frank |date=2013 |title=A range-wide synthesis and timeline for phylogeographic events in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=114 |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-13-114 |doi-access=free |issn=1471-2148 |pmc=3689046 |pmid=23738594|bibcode=2013BMCEE..13..114K }}</ref> Among the true foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of [[Carnivore|carnivory]].<ref name="mammals-of-ussr">{{cite book |last1=Heptner |first1=V. G. |last2=Naumov |first2=N. P. |title=Mammals of the Soviet Union |date=1998 |pages=115, 341–365, 453–502, 513–562 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |isbn=978-1886106819 |url=https://archive.org/details/mammalsofsov211998gept/page/115}}</ref> Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, the species often produces individuals with other colourings, including [[Leucismleucism|leucistic]] and [[Melanismmelanism|melanistic]] individuals.<ref name="mammals-of-ussr"/> Forty-five [[subspecies]] are currently recognised,<ref name=msw3/> which are divided into two categories: the large northern foxes and the small, [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] southern grey desert foxes of Asia and North Africa.<ref name="mammals-of-ussr"/>
 
Red foxes are usually found in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a [[mated pair]] and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits.<ref name="mammals-of-the-brit-isles">{{cite book |last1=Harris|first1=S. |last2=Yalden|first2=D. |name-list-style=amp |title=Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook |date=2008 |publisher=Mammal Society|location=Southampton|isbn=978-0906282656|edition=Fourth |pages=408–422}}</ref> The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target [[rabbit]]s, [[squirrel]]s, [[game bird]]s, [[reptile]]s, [[invertebrate]]s<ref name="mammals-of-ussr"/> and young [[ungulate]]s.<ref name="mammals-of-ussr"/> Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten sometimes.<ref name="mammals-of-na">{{cite book|last1=Feldhamer|first1=G. |last2=Thompson|first2=B. |last3=Chapman|first3=J. |name-list-style=amp |title=Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation: Biology, Management and Economics |date=2003 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=9780801874161|pages=516–530 |edition=Second |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-xQalfqP7BcC}}</ref> Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as [[Wolf|wolves]], [[coyote]]s, [[golden jackal]]s, large predatory birds such as [[golden eagle]]s and [[Eurasian eagle owl]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Fox Predators |website=Wildlife Online |url=https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/red-fox-predators |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610135922/https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/red-fox-predators |url-status=live }}</ref> and medium- and large-sized [[Felidae|felids]].<ref name="Fedriani 1999">{{cite journal |author1=Fedriani, J. M. |author2=Palomares, F. |author3=Delibes, M. |name-list-style=amp |jstor=4222449 |year=1999 |title=Niche relations among three sympatric Mediterranean carnivores |journal=Oecologia |volume=121 |issue=1 |pages=138–148 |pmid=28307883 |doi=10.1007/s004420050915 |bibcode=1999Oecol.121..138F |citeseerx=10.1.1.587.7215|s2cid=39202154}}</ref>
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