Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)

86. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) View in CoL

( Fig. 93 View FIGURE 93 )

(IUCN Red List: LC)

Subspecies: V. v. arabica Thomas, 1902 , V. v. flavescens J. E. Gray, 1843 , and V. v. palaestina Thomas, 1920 .

Distribution: Widespread in dry open arid lands, forested areas, riparian habitats, short grasslands, and steppe landscapes across the country ( Fig. 94 View FIGURE 94 ).

Previous records: Tell Abiad ( Misonne 1957), Banias ( Harrison & Bates 1991), Tell Sheikh Hamad ( Kock et al. 1994), Slenfe mountains ( Serra 2004), around Palmyra, Talila Reserve ( Serra 2002; Serra et al. 2009a, b), Latakia, Palmyra, environs of Deir-ez-Zor, Idleb, Salamiyah, Ghota ( Masseti 2009), Abu Qubays, Al-Furunlok and Jabal Abd Al-Aziz ( Daoud & Khalil 2009a, b, c), steppes of Deir ez-Zor and ar-Raqqa ( Aidek 2010; Murdoch & Aidek 2012).

Recent records: Qal’at Jandal (1994), Ar-Rawda steppe, ach-Chola, ad-Dukhoul, Al- Bolaiyah, Al-Bseireh, Al-Hjeifat steppe, ar- Rasafah, ash-Shaddady, as-Sarayim, as-Suwar, az-Zimlah, Al-Thlithawat, Mabroukah, Slouq, Jabal Abd Al-Aziz, Kabajep, Khadhra Almay (2006–2012), an-Nasriyeh, Atheria, Al-Qaryatein, Khanaser, Tual Al-Aba, Um Medf’a, northeast of Salamiyah, Al-Nabk (2011), Abu Qubays, Deir Sawwan, Ar-Rastan, Al-Lajat, east of Al Quneitra, Al-Rafeed, Mesiaf, Wadi Al-Qarn, Mueayzilah, Slenfeh, vicinity of Sweida, Sheen, Bloudan, Ain Albeida, Taldarah, Dannoun and ash-Sheikh Badr (2020–2021), Doma, Rsass and Al-Gheidha (2022).

Remarks: The distribution of Red Fox subspecies is poorly documented in Syria; however, based on examination of photographic records, three subspecies may occur. The Arabian subspecies V. v. arabica Thomas, 1902 is probably confined to the arid plains of south and southeast Syria, the Turkmenian subspecies V. v. flavescens J. E. Gray, 1843 to Mesopotamia, while the Palestinian subspecies V. v. palaestina Thomas, 1920 to the mountains of Lebanon and Palestine (see Larivière & Pasitschniak-Arts 1996; Harrison & Bates 1991; Al-Sheikhly et al. 2015). Nevertheless, the ranges of these different subspecies may overlap in north and northeast Syria, a claim that warrants further research.