Foxes come in a range of colors from red and orange to gray, black, and white. The specific coloring of male and female foxes depends on the species, but in general there are some common trends when it comes to fox fur coloration.
Red Foxes
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most widespread and common fox species. They have rusty reddish-orange fur on the body and a bushy tail with a white tip. The legs, ears, and underside are generally black.
Male and female red foxes are colored similarly. Both sexes have the distinctive red-orange coat. However, female red foxes may have slightly more grey mixed into their fur than males, making their coats a lighter reddish shade on average.
Arctic Foxes
Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) live in the tundra and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They have thick luxurious fur that comes in two color variations: white or blue-gray.
During the summer months, Arctic foxes shed their heavy winter coat and grow a much lighter brownish-gray fur. Their winter fur grows back in as the seasons change.
Male and female Arctic foxes do not display major differences in coloring. Both sexes may be either white or blue-gray depending on their geographical location and the time of year.
Gray Foxes
The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) iscommon in North America. As the name suggests, grayfoxes have thick grayish fur over much of their body. They also typically have a black stripe along the back and tail and reddish fur on the neck, sides of the head, and legs.
There are no significant color differences between male and female gray foxes. Both have the same mix of gray, black, and reddish-orange fur.
Swift Foxes
Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) inhabit the prairies and plains of North America. Their fur is sandy brown or tan mixed with white and black accents. Swift foxes have black tips on the ears and tail.
Male and female swift foxes do not vary in color. Both sexes have the typical tawny brown or tan coat with black and white markings.
Fennec Foxes
The fennec fox has beige fur with black tipped ears and tail. Their fur is very soft and fluffy. Male and female fennec foxes do not differ significantly in fur coloration and pattern.
Kit Foxes
Kit foxes have light grey, tan or yellowish-grey fur. Their tails are bushy with a black tip. Male and female kit foxes are similarly colored with no major differences between the sexes.
Corsac Foxes
Corsac foxes are mostly grayish, sandy yellow in color with lighter underparts. They have furry tails with black tips. Male and female corsac foxes do not display sexual dimorphism in their fur coloring.
Tibetan Foxes
Tibetan foxes are small foxes native to the Tibetan Plateau. Their fur is sandy colored with a mix of grayish, reddish-brown and yellow hues. Their tails have black tips. There are no significant color differences between male and female Tibetan foxes.
Crab-Eating Foxes
The crab-eating fox has greyish-brown or greyish-yellow fur over much of its body with lighter underparts. The ears, legs, and neck have reddish tones. Male and female crab-eating foxes have the same typical fur coloring and do not display sexual dimorphism.
Culpeo Foxes
Culpeo foxes are mostly grey in color with reddish tones on the legs and underside. Their tails have black tips. Male and female culpeo foxes exhibit similar fur coloration of grey and reddish-brown tones.
Darwin’s Foxes
Darwin’s fox has grayish fur mixed with reddish-brown tones mainly on the legs and ears. Their tails have a black stripe and tip. Male and female Darwin’s foxes do not differ significantly in their fur coloring and pattern.
Island Foxes
Island foxes are a small fox native to the Channel Islands off the coast of California. Their fur is typically greyish with rusty red tones. Male and female island foxes do not vary markedly in fur coloration and have similar mixes of grey, black, and rust-red.
Rüppell’s Foxes
Rüppell’s foxes have sandy grey or tan fur with a black dorsal stripe extending from the shoulders to the tail. Their ears have black fur on the outer surfaces. Males and females have the same typical fur patterning.
Bat-eared Foxes
Bat-eared foxes have light greyish fur mixed with yellowish and reddish tones. They have black ears with white spots. There are no major differences in fur color between male and female bat-eared foxes.
Blanford’s Foxes
Blanford’s foxes have light sandy grey and brown fur over most of the body with white underparts. The tail has a black tip. Males and females are similarly colored with no distinct sexual dimorphism.
Pale Foxes
The pale fox has very light grey or pale yellowish-grey fur. The chin and underside are white. The tail has a black tip. Male and female pale foxes do not differ in fur coloring.
Bengal Foxes
Bengal foxes have grey, rufous or fawn-colored fur. The throat, underside and legs are white. Their tails have black markings and a black tip. Male and female Bengal foxes have the same typical light brownish-grey fur.
Cape Foxes
The Cape fox has greyish, yellowish or reddish fur with pale underparts. The ears, legs, and tail tip are black. Male and female Cape foxes are similarly colored with no distinct differences.
Blanford’s Foxes
Blanford’s foxes have light sandy grey and brown fur over most of the body with white underparts. The tail has a black tip. Males and females are similarly colored with no distinct sexual dimorphism.
Fennec Foxes
Fennec foxes are small foxes native to the Sahara Desert. They have sandy beige fur with white underparts and black tipped ears and tail. Males and females have the same beige coat color.
Raccoon dog
The raccoon dog, also known as the tanuki, has greyish-brown fur with dark patches around the eyes. Their muzzles are short and pointed. Male and female raccoon dogs have the same color fur.
Summary
In summary, most fox species do not display major differences in fur color between males and females. Both sexes tend to have the same typical coloration for their species. Arctic foxes, red foxes, and kit foxes show the most obvious sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly lighter reddish or greyish than males on average. But in general, fox coloration is linked to species and habitat, not sex. The different fox species showcase the wide range of coat colors and patterns in the canid family.
Conclusion
Foxes exhibit a remarkable diversity of fur colors and patterns across different species. While there are some subtle color differences between male and female foxes in a few species, generally both sexes have the same species-typical coat coloring. Habitat, camouflage, and species differentiation appear to play a bigger role in determining fox fur coloration than gender alone. The distinctive coats of foxes, whether shades of red, grey, black, or white, reveal their shared canid ancestry as well as their unique adaptations to thrive in ecosystems around the world.