Morphometric measurements of red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) in Egypt

Abstract

Competing interest: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists. Abstract The present study investigated the morphometric measurements in 44 red foxes in two developmental stages young and adult of different sexes male and female, from three localities of Egypt Giza, Sohag, and Qena governorates, Egypt, during the period from February 2016 to April 2021 along all year`s period except during winter to avoid stress and potential injury to pups and adults. Foxes were immobilized using injected intramuscularly in femoral or scapular body areas before the examination. Different measurements were selected; head and body length (HBL), tail length (TaL), hindfoot length (HFL), and neck circumference (NC) besides body weight. Results revealed that bodyweight, head and body length, and tail length in adult male foxes were significantly higher than in adult females. The results also revealed that all morphometric measurements besides body weight were significantly higher in adult male animals than young males, also the same parameters were higher in adult female animals than young females.