Pseudalopex

Pseudalopex
Pseudalopex culpaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Subfamily: Caninae Genus: Pseudalopex Burmeister, 1856
Species
Pseudalopex culpaeus Pseudalopex fulvipes Pseudalopex griseus Pseudalopex gymnocercus Pseudalopex sechurae Pseudalopex vetulus

Pseudalopex is the genus name for some South American members of the Canidae family. It literally means \'false fox\', from the Greek words Pseud- and alopex. The common name for the genus is zorro, from Spanish, and raposa, from Portuguese, both words standing for fox. The most numerous species of this genus is probably Pseudalopex griseus, the grey zorro, with large ears and a highly marketable, russet-fringed pelt. This genus is more closely related to the dog-like canids than to the true foxes. The Zorros are hunted in Argentina for their durable, soft pelt. In Argentina they have the name of \'lamb-killer\'. In reality, Zorros rarely kill lambs, although, if hunger strikes, they will prey on weak or sick infants.

Species currently included in this genus include:

Culpeo, Pseudalopex culpaeus

Darwin\'s Fox, Pseudalopex fulvipes

Grey zorro, Pseudalopex griseus

Pampas Fox, Pseudalopex gymnocercus

Sechura Fox, Pseudalopex sechurae

Hoary Fox, Pseudalopex vetulus

The genus Lycalopex is still occasionally used for the Hoary Fox, but the species is recently more often included in Pseudalopex.

See also

• Crab-eating Fox
• Short-eared Dog

References

Wikispecies has information related to:

Pseudalopex

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Pseudalopex

• Pseudalopex at Animal Diversity
• Nowak, Ronald M. (2005). Walker\'s Carnivores of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0-8018-8032-7

This article about a carnivore is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia