The geographical distribution of the Arabian fox (Vulpes vulpes arabica Th.) in central and southern Iraq, with some observations about the existence of a new species | ||
| Euphrates Journal of Agriculture Science | ||
| Article 1, Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2012, Pages 56-63 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Abstract: The foxes are the commonest carnivores in the most of the territory of Iraq. Their numbers Started to decrease in recent years due; changing in the climate and environmental factors, and their fur to be commercially, and approaching to the people populations to harmful to the birds and domestic animals. The common Red fox in Iraq represented in two subspecies ; - the mountain fox ; Vulpes v. flavescens Gray, 1838: inhabit northern regions of Iraq, and the arabian fox ; Vulpes v. arabica Thomson, 1902 : inhabit the central and southern regions of Iraq, which will be the subject of this research. For the purposes of implementation of this study was to achieve 10 field trips to central and southern Governorates, and distributing questionaries forms for 70 people. Thus, the number of Governorates covered by the study was 13 Governorates. The total number of foxes that have been monitored reached 125 as follows: 32 foxes directly seen, 93 a result of the questionnaires. According to the results show, that the Wasit Governorates, occupies first place among the Iraqi Governorates in the number of foxes that have been monitored. Some ethological and ecological features concerning the arabian fox also were observed : active at all time of the day, but usually hunt early in the morning or evening. Spends day in the earth, or where undisturbed sleeping in cover. Although Arabian foxes seen in all regions of central and southern regions, but the intensity is concentrated near the peasant complexes and between agricultural fields. The fox is generally included among the useful wild animals, as it plays an important part in the extermination of noxious rodents as well as having valuable fur. The foxes are dangerous to some extent as a vector of various diseases, particularly rabies etc. The results obtained in this study were compared with important results obtained by Harrison. We found some differences in measurements. The aims of this research is; to study the geographical distribution of Red fox in central and southern Iraq, and to install some observations of this animal, as well as to shed light on the possibility of the existence of another species of foxes in Iraq had not been recorded previously, Afghan fox or Blanford's fox Vulpes cana Blanford, 1877 in western Iraq . Key words : Arabian fox, Geographical distribution, New species. | ||
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