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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →They are red foxes. Red foxes can naturally have dark or silver coats, so their appearance does not make them a different species.
The answer: red fox
This question appeared in the June 16, 2024 Bing Homepage Quiz. The answer choices were red fox, coyote, and gray wolf; the quiz answer archive records red fox as the correct choice.
The associated image is captioned “Red fox father and kit, Washington, USA” and credited to wildlife photographer Chase Dekker/Minden Pictures. The quiz calls the animals a “father and son,” but the photograph and caption do not establish the younger fox’s sex or biological relationship. “Father and kit” is the more cautious image description.
Why do they look black or silver if they are red foxes?
Red fox is the species’ common name; individuals can have different coat colors. The National Park Service explains that red foxes can be red, black, silver, or cross-colored, and that different color phases may occur in the same litter.
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“Melanistic” describes unusually dark pigmentation. “Silver fox” commonly refers to a dark red fox with silver-tipped hairs. The image archive describes these foxes as melanistic, but the safest identification is dark or melanistic red foxes, sometimes described as silver foxes—not a separate species.
What kind of animal is a red fox scientifically?
A red fox is a mammal in the dog family, Canidae. Its scientific name is Vulpes vulpes. Its basic classification is:
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Canidae |
| Genus | Vulpes |
| Species | Vulpes vulpes |
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists the red fox as Vulpes vulpes in the family Canidae.
Why are they not coyotes or gray wolves?
Coat color alone is not a reliable way to distinguish these canids. A useful identifying feature of red foxes, including those with dark color phases, is their prominent white-tipped tail, as noted by the National Park Service. The quiz answer archive identifies the pictured animals as red foxes.
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What does “kit” mean?
A kit or cub is a young fox. The image archive uses “kit,” while the quiz uses “son.”
Do red fox fathers care for their young?
Yes. As general natural-history context, National Geographic describes both red fox parents attending kits; the father may demonstrate foraging and tracking behavior. This does not prove anything about the particular animals’ behavior in a still photograph.
Final quiz choice
Select Red fox. The animals appear to be dark or melanistic red foxes, sometimes described as silver foxes. The image caption calls the younger fox a kit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Are silver foxes a separate species?
No. “Silver fox” describes a dark color form of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes.
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Are the animals definitely a father and son?
The quiz uses “father and son,” while the image archive captions them as a father and kit. The photograph and caption do not establish the younger animal’s sex or biological parentage.
Why is the fox black or silver?
Red foxes naturally occur in several color phases, including black and silver, according to the National Park Service. Coat color does not indicate a different species.
What is the scientific name of the red fox?
The red fox is Vulpes vulpes, a mammal in the Canidae, or dog, family.
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