Do you know the hoary fox?

Along with other species of the genera Lycalopex, Cerdocyon, and Atelocynus, the hoary fox (or "raposinha-do-campo") is part of a specific group known as “South American foxes” (SOUZA, 2018). The ancestor of these species is thought to have left North America along with a second lineage (represented by a possible ancestor of the genera Chrysocyon and Speothos) and arrived in South America approximately 3.4 million years ago. Once established, both lineages likely dispersed throughout the continent and occupied niches that were previously available, later differentiating into the genera we know today. Recent genetic analyses have not only corroborated the hypothesis that the genus Lycalopex constitutes, in fact, an originally South American group, but also suggest that Lycalopex vetulus is the species that retains the characteristics closest to the common ancestor of the genus (SOUZA, 2018).

The hoary fox is the smallest Brazilian canid and exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than females. They are characterized by a relatively short muzzle, a long and bushy tail, and triangular, wide, and proportionally large ears, with a weight ranging from 2.5 to 4 kg in males and 3 to 3.6 kg in females. The dorsal fur and the upper part of the head are grayish, and the ventral fur is yellowish, with a black mandibular region and tail tip, and reddish-toned ears and legs (Figure 1). Males may present a darker stripe along the central part of the back that extends to the tip of the tail. Due to their similar appearance, they are often confused with the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), a species with an overlapping distribution to that of the hoary fox.

Figure 1. Wild adult hoary fox (L. vetulus) individual. Photography: Pró-Carnívoros. Source: Pró-Carnívoros. 

This species is found in the central region of the country, being associated with the Cerrado biome as well as drier environments of the Pantanal and xeric regions of the Brazilian Northeast. Its range extends from the western region of the State of São Paulo to the State of Piauí, passing through the States of Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, and Tocantins (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Distribution range of the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus). Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 2020.

Regarding behavior, hoary foxes prefer open habitats and appear to adapt well to insect-rich pastures and plantations of soybean, rice, corn, and eucalyptus, and are rarely seen in forested environments (such as cerradão and gallery forests) or flooded environments. Hoary foxes exhibit crepuscular or nocturnal activity and are considered solitary and monogamous, forming breeding pairs during the mating season in mid-April. The pair remains together while raising the pups, with contact between the female and male being most intense during the first four months of the offspring's life. Gestation lasts about 60 days, yielding litters of 2 to 4 pups, which are typically born in abandoned armadillo burrows or dense vegetation (Figure 3). Their diet includes mainly insects (termites, ants, and dung beetles), and can also consist of small rodents, birds, and fruits. During periods of greater food availability, they can be seen in groups of 3 to 5 individuals.

Figure 3. Wild hoary fox (L. vetulus) pups. Source: Conexão Planeta.

The greatest threats to the conservation of the hoary fox appear to be habitat destruction and other direct and indirect negative anthropogenic impacts. Since the species occurs mainly within the Cerrado biome—which is among the 25 most threatened ecosystems on the planet—human activities represent the largest source of mortality for the species. Furthermore, significant unquantified losses result from roadkills, predation by domestic dogs, diseases, retaliation due to perceived predation on domestic animals, and high pup/juvenile mortality. This has resulted in a population decline of at least 30% over the last 15 years, a trend that is projected to hit the 30% threshold over the next 15 years. Consequently, it has been categorized as Near Threatened (NT) (IUCN, 2020).

Measures aimed at protecting this species are extremely important and necessary due to the diverse threats the hoary fox faces and its ecological importance. In this regard, conservation programs—such as the Cerrado Mammals Conservation Program (PCMC), through the 'Raposinha do Pontal' Project—work to gather information on the ecology, behavior, health, and genetics of this species, as well as its interactions with other wild carnivores and the effects of human-induced modifications in agroecosystems (CERRADO MAMMALS CONSERVATION PROGRAM, 2025). Thus, the monitoring of individuals is conducted through activities such as capture campaigns, which aim to collect samples for subsequent analysis—an essential measure to learn more about these animals and, consequently, protect them in the best possible way. Therefore, alongside protective measures for these individuals, projects that seek to research more about this species and the factors influencing it are essential for the conservation of the hoary fox.

Author: Ana Julia Duarte

References

TARDIN, R. H.; RODRIGUES, F. H. G.; PAULA, R. C. de. Carnivora – Canidae (Cachorro-do-mato, Cachorro-vinagre, Lobo-guará e Raposa-do-campo). In: CUBAS, Z. S.; SILVA, J. C. R.; CATÃO-DIAS, J. L. (org.). Tratado de Animais Selvagens. 2. ed. São Paulo: Editora Roca LTDA., 2014. p. 681-706.

INSTITUTO PRÓ-CARNÍVOROS. Raposinha-do-campo. Disponível em: https://procarnivoros.org.br/animais/raposinha-do-campo/. Acesso em: 3 out. 2025.

SOUZA, F. L. de. Ecologia e conservação da raposa-do-campo (Lycalopex vetulus). 2018. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais) – Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia. Disponível em: https://repositorio.ufu.br/bitstream/123456789/24303/1/EcologiaConservacaoRaposa.pdf. Acesso em: 3 out. 2025.

IUCN. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Species ID 87695615. Disponível em: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/pdf/87695615. Acesso em: 22 out. 2025.

PROGRAMA DE CONSERVAÇÃO MAMÍFEROS DO CERRADO. Projeto Raposinha do Pontal. Disponível em: https://www.pcmcbrasil.com/projeto-raposinha-do-pontal-1. Acesso em: 04 nov. 2025.