Corsac Fox

About this species

Size

45–65cm head-and-body length

Weight

1.6–3.2kg

Diet

Rodents, pikas, insects, other small vertebrates, carrion, and some fruit

Habitat

Open steppe and semidesert

Range

Central and northeast Asia, including most of Mongolia

Litter size

Usually 2–6

Gestation

52–60 days

The corsac is a medium-sized fox measuring 45–65cm from head to body and weighing 1.6–3.2kg. Its coat is grey to yellowish above and paler below, with pale markings around the mouth, chin, and throat. In winter the fur becomes much thicker and silkier, straw-grey with a darker line along the back. Compared with the red fox it is smaller and adapted to more open, arid country. The ears are moderately large, while the tail is 19–35cm long and well furred. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Corsac foxes occur across most of Mongolia outside the far north, favouring open steppe and semidesert while avoiding dense vegetation, high mountains, shifting-sand desert, and deep snow. They hunt rodents, pikas, insects, and other small vertebrates, also scavenging and occasionally eating fruit. Activity is mainly nocturnal, but animals may appear by day when feeding kits or when winter food is scarce. They use their own shallow dens or take over marmot, ground-squirrel, and badger burrows. Mating occurs from January to March, and two to six kits are usual after 52–60 days. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Description: Wildlife of Mongolia guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)