 Status:
 Critically Endangered
Darwin's Fox is endemic to Chile. It has a disjunct distribution with two
populations: one found in the forests of Chiloé Island (42°S, 74°W), and another
on the coastal mountains in Nahuelbuta National Park of mainland Chile (37°45'S,
73°00'W).
Vila et al. (2004) found evidence for what may be a third population at
Punta Chanchan, north of Valdivia.
Population trend: Decreasing
 (Click on map for more detail)
Habitat and Ecology: Darwin's Fox is generally believed to be a forest
obligate species found only in southern temperate rainforests (Jaksic et al.
1990; Medel et al. 1990). Recent research on Chiloé, based on trapping
and telemetry data on a disturbance gradient, indicates that, in decreasing
order, foxes use old-growth forest followed by secondary forest followed by
pastures and openings (Jiménez 2000). Although variable among individuals, about
70% of their home ranges comprised old-growth forest. However, compared with the
amount available, foxes preferred secondary forest and avoided old growth.
Selection of openings varied among individuals. The forest is of Valdivian type,
comprising a few native conifers and several species of broad-leaved evergreen
species, and dominated by fruit-bearing trees of the Mirtaceae family. This
forest is dense, with different strata and very moist all year round (Jiménez
et al. 1990).
On the Pacific coast of Chiloé, Darwin's Fox lives in a fragmented environment
of coastal sand dunes mixed with dense evergreen forest. On the northern part of
the island, Darwin's Fox uses a relatively flat, but fragmented landscape of
broad-leaf forest and dairy cow pastures. Research on the mainland population
supports the notion of the species using primarily dense forest (Jaksic et al.
1990; Jiménez et al. 1990). Capture and telemetry data indicate that
animals are found in dense Araucaria-Nothofagus forest, open Nothofagus
forest and open pasture with decreasing frequency (McMahon et al. 1999).
The forest comprises mainly monkey-puzzle trees (Araucaria araucania) and
five species of southern beech (Nothofagus spp.), one of which is
non-deciduous.
Detailed Species Account
A detailed summary of the biology and conservation status of this species from the CSG's Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs - 2004
Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan) is available on-line here.
Reports/Papers:
Relevant Links:
Other Names:
Spanish: zorro de Darwin, zorro de Chiloé; zorro chilote; Indigenous names: Huilliche:
payneguru (i.e. blue fox)(Chile).
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Darwin's fox - (c)
(for more photos of this and other wild canid species, see:
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