The Tibetan fox has a comical appearance, characterized by a squared face with triangular eyes. It has an odd mixture of ugliness and cuteness. Its expression is perpetually innocent, tinged with a hint of melancholy. Its legs are shorter than those of the average fox, and it sports an unusually fluffy tail, giving it a bloated appearance.
The fur on its back is a deep maroon red, while its sides are a light gray. Its abdomen is white, and the lower part of its limbs are a pale red. It possesses well-developed teeth, with slender canine teeth.
The Tibetan fox is a high-altitude canine that prefers alpine meadows, grasslands, and arid areas in mountainous regions at 3500-5200 meters. Being native to the plateau region, it shares some typical characteristics with other plateau species, such as the snow leopard and pallas. It has strong hair to withstand cold temperatures and smaller ears to minimize heat loss.
The Tibetan fox, distinguished by its square face, is an exceptional specimen within the fox species. Nevertheless, due to its limited worth, the Tibetan fox remains highly opinionated.
Generous face squinting eyes
The Tibetan fox has a unique appearance, with a square face and triangular eyes. Despite its unconventional beauty, this face serves a purpose. Among all fox species, the Tibetan fox possesses the most specialized carnivorous skull. It has a slender upper jaw, a shorter lower jaw, longer cheek teeth, and extended canine teeth. Due to the increased muscle attachment, the Tibetan fox’s face is exceptionally adept at biting. Despite its prominent size, the fox still manages to have a charming expression. In contrast, the plateau pika appears content, as if their eyelids have been uplifted countless times.
The Tibetan fox’s eyes narrowed into a slit, resembling a tired gaze. It lacked the alertness of a predator. Often, the fox would lie beside its nest, sleeping with indifference to its surroundings. It would squint at the sun, frequently yawning throughout the day. Occasionally, its jaw would open wide, reaching a 120-degree angle.
He sleeps during the day, prowls at night, and even in pursuit of prey, he repeatedly encounters obstacles. This raises questions about how this lethargic and unmotivated predator can survive in the challenging plateau environment.
King of the Plateau
The Tibetan fox is a skilled predator that primarily hunts small animals, including plateau Ochotona curzoniae Hodgson, Marmota, alpine mouse, sand lizard, and others. By controlling the population of these small species, the Tibetan fox plays a crucial role in the local ecological chain in Tibet.
After solving the problem of eating, the Tibetan fox must locate a suitable habitat for warm winters and cool summers. However, on the vast plateau, there are no tall jungles, thus forcing the fox to seek shelter underground. Unlike rabbits, the Tibetan fox cannot dig holes, so it adopts the marmot’s strategy.
As the king of the plateau, the Tibetan fox often trails behind the brown bear. While the brown bear diligently excavates the pika’s burrow, the fox assumes the role of guarding other entrances, patiently waiting for the panicked pikas to emerge. Once it captures its prey, the fox swiftly retreats, leaving the brown bear in its place.
The lifestyle of the Tibetan fox can be described as “casual.” They only hunt when hungry and otherwise spend their time basking in the sun with their prey. Do you admire this optimistic Tibetan fox?
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