ZOOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF FOX (VULPES, CANIDAE)

U ovom radu pisano je o crvenoj lisici (Vulpes vulpes L.). Lisica je naš najpoznatiji i najrasprostranjeni predstavnik porodice pasa. Raširena je na cijelom kontinentu Europe. Dugačka je oko 80 cm, visoka 45-50 cm, a njen kitnjasti rep dugačak je 40 cm. Može doseći masu od 6 do 10 kg. Cijelo tijelo joj je prekriveno dlakom žutocrvene boje, koja je ispod brade, grla i po trbuhu bijele boje, a tabani i njuška su crni. Predstavnica je naše autohtone divljači a rasprostranjena je po svim lovištima. Stanište su joj sve šume i šumarci, kamenjar, a u novije vrijeme i polja. Odgovara joj svaki teren gdje može naći prirodnu jazbinu ili gdje može sama iskopati rovove u zemlji. Hrani se prvenstveno raznim glodavcima, a zatim svim ostalim pernatim i dlakavim životinjama koje može svladati. U nuždi jede žabe, guštere, kukce, uginule životinje, a voli i slatko voće i grožđe. Pari se u siječnju i veljači, jedan put godišnje i to u jazbini. Štence nosi 52 dana, te se koti u ožujku ili travnju. Okoti od 3 do 8 mladunaca koji se osamostale s 3 do 4 mjeseca. Životni vijek im je 10 do 12 godina u zatočeništvu a 2, 3 do 5 godina na slobodi. Lisice su u pravilu životinje sumraka kada polaze u potragu za hranom i aktivne su cijelu noć. Drže se svoga područja, ali u nedostatku hrane ili kada se namnože, šire se na susjedna područja gdje ima hrane. Prirodni neprijatelji su joj vuk, čagalj, ris, suri orao i sova ušura, no najveći neprijatelj joj je čovjek. Podliježe svim bolestima, kao i ostale vrste iz porodice pasa a najčešće su to šuga i bjesnoća.In this paper it is written on red fox (Vulpesvulpes L.). Fox is our best-known and the most widespread representative of canine species. It is spread throughout the continent of Europe. Its length is about 80 cm, 45-50 cm of height, and its ornate tail is 40 cm long. It can reach a weight of 6-10 kg. Its whole body is covered with yellow- red hair, and just under the chin, throat and belly there is white hair while plantar and muzzle is black. It represents our indigenous wildlife and it is spread throughout all of our hunting areas. The habitat of fox is woods and forests, rocky areas, and more recently the field. It is comfortable with every area where exsists a natural den or where it can dig on its own the trenches in the ground. Primarily it eats rodents, and then all the other feathered and furry animals that is able to overpower. In a case of an emergency and lack of food, foxes eat frogs, lizards, insects, dead animals, and sometime love to indulge the sweet fruit and grapes. The period of fox mating is in January and February, once a year, in a lair. Fox carries cubs for 52 days, and it spawns in April or May. Its spawns of 3-8 cubs become independent at period of 3-4 months of their life. Foxes live from about 10 to 12 years in captivity and 2-3 years in wild. Foxes are normally animals of dusk when they go in a search for a food and they are active all night. They stay in their area but in the absence of food or when they reproduce, they tend to spread to nearby areas where there is food. Natural enemies of foxes are wolf, eagle and owl, but her greatest enemy is man. It is submissive to all diseases, like other members of the canine species and most often those are mange and rabies