Vulpes vulpes | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Taxa
Vulpes vulpes | (Linnaeus, 1758)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
A recent extensive global phylogeny of Red Foxes that included ~1,000 samples from across the species' range found that Red Foxes originated in the Middle East, then radiated out, and that Red Foxes in North America are genetically distinct and probably merit recognition as a distinct species (Vulpes fulva) (Statham et al. 2014).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Red Fox is found throughout the UAE in a variety of habitats, from arid, rocky mountains to sandy desert, coastal plains and small offshore islands. This is a highly adaptable species that has benefited from the expansion of human habitation, farms, irrigated plantations to extend its distribution into the deserts of the interior (Aspinall et al. 2005, Drew and Tourenq 2005). Over 25 Red Foxes were disturbed in 1992 while feeding on the refuse tip at the Shah oilfield, south of Liwa, deep in the desert (Hellyer 1993). The Red Fox has a very extensive global range covering the entire northern hemisphere, and it has been introduced elsewhere (Hoffmann and Sillero-Zubiri 2016). It is common across the Arabian Peninsula (Mallon and Budd 2011).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
An adaptable species occupying a wide range of habitats and taking advantage of the expansion of human settlements. Opportunistic and omnivorous, Red Foxes will eat almost anything they can catch or find, including small mammals, birds, insects, carrion, plants and fruits (Aspinall et al. 2005).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
The Red Fox is found throughout the UAE in a variety of habitats. It is assessed as Least Concern because it is widespread and common and apparently increasing. No regional adjustment is made to the Least Concern assessment.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/b352eff1/UNRL%20of%20Mammals%20-%20Report%202019.pdf.aspx?view=true
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Subject to shooting and trapping by farmers, game bird breeders and others.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The backcasted 1996 assessment for this species is Least Concern which matches the listing given by Hornby (1996).
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Vulpes vulpes Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Canidae Vulpes