Descripción

Es un animal pequeño, de entre 2,5 y 4 kg de peso y 25 cm de altura. Su cuerpo es de color gris oscuro y negro, con manchas rojizas en la zona de las orejas y en sus patas. Su comportamiento es poco conocido, pero se sabe que prefiere las zonas cubiertas de vegetación antes que las zonas descubiertas, lo cual es un rasgo que lo distingue de las demás especies del género.

Hábitat

Habita en los bosques templados del sur de Chile, en dos sub poblaciones separadas por más de 500 km de distancia. La austral es la mayor, con cerca del 90 % del total, se encuentra en la parte occidental de isla Grande de Chiloé. La septentrional es la menor, se sitúa en una pequeña zona de la cordillera de Nahuelbuta, dentro del Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta y en sus alrededores.

Especie amenazada

Está en peligro crítico de extinción a causa de la destrucción de su hábitat, de los ataques de perros y de la persecución de agricultores, que lo consideran una amenaza para sus gallinas. La población total se estima en unos 600 individuos.

En diciembre de 2011, se firmó el primer acuerdo institucional entre entidades públicas y privadas chilenas para la protección de esta especie.

DARWIN FOX

THE CHILOTE FOX or DARWIN FOX (Lycalopex fulvipes, formerly called Pseudalopex fulvipes) is a canid endemic of the South of Chile. It was described on the first time in 1834 by Charles Darwin, who erroneously classed it as a subspecies of the chilla fox (L. griseus).

It is considered one of the species of canine in greater risk of extinction world.

Charles Darwin is responsible for one of the names for this animal, since it was the first European to identify it. According to the story, while collecting specimens in Chiloé in 1834 a little curious Fox came up to see what happened. He was captured and Darwin donated it to the British Museum where it remains embalmed.

Description

It is a small animal, between 2.5 and 4 kg in weight and 25 cm in height. Its body is dark grey and black color, with red spots in the area of the ears and legs. Their behavior is little known, but it is known that prefers the areas covered with vegetation, which is a feature that distinguishes it from other species of the genus.

Habitat

Lives in the southern Chilean forests, in two sub temperate populations separated by more than 500 km of distance. The austral is the largest, with about 90% of the total, it is in the western part of (Large island of Chiloé) Isla Grande de Chiloé. The North is the smallest, it is located in a small area of the Nahuelbuta Mountain Range, within the Nahuelbuta National Park and its surroundings.

Threatened species

It is in critical danger of extinction due to the destruction of their habitat, attacks of dogs and the persecution of farmers, who consider it a threat to their hens. The total population is estimated at 600 individuals.

The first interinstitutional agreement between Chilean public and private entities for the protection of this species was signed in December 2011.