scienceOman

The Fox With a Cat's Claws

This tiny fox can climb nearly vertical cliffs and trees with ease, using its extremely long tail for balance. It's primarily frugivorous. Unusual for a canid. And some populations in Oman eat almost exclusively dates.

Eyal Bartov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A canid with cat-like abilities

Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) is a master of vertical terrain. This small canid, weighing only 1.5 to 3 kilograms, navigates the steep, crumbling cliffs of the Al Hajar mountains with an agility more typical of a feline. Its climbing prowess comes from a unique set of physical adaptations. Unlike other desert foxes, its footpads are naked, providing superior grip on narrow rock ledges. It also possesses sharp, curved, semi-retractable claws that function like crampons, allowing it to scale sheer rock faces. Observers have documented the fox making astonishing leaps to ledges 3 meters (9.8 feet) above them.

The fox's exceptionally long, bushy tail is critical to its acrobatic movements. The tail measures around 30-41 cm, often equaling or exceeding its head-body length of about 42 cm. This impressive appendage acts as a counterbalance, providing stability as the fox leaps between precarious footholds. Its entire physique is built for this environment, from its strong hind legs for powerful jumps to its slender frame for maneuvering through tight crevices. These features allow it to exploit a habitat that is inaccessible to potential predators and competitors.

A diet of dates and insects

The diet of Blanford's fox is as unusual as its climbing skills. For a member of the canid family, it is remarkably frugivorous, meaning it primarily eats fruit. In many parts of its range, fruits and insects form the bulk of its caloric intake. This dietary flexibility allows it to thrive in arid regions where traditional prey may be scarce. Studies have shown its diet includes items like caperberries, melons, and grapes.

In the Arabian Peninsula, and particularly in Oman, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is an important food source. Some populations subsist heavily on dates, supplemented with insects like beetles, grasshoppers, and ants. This fruit-heavy diet is so effective that the fox rarely needs to drink, deriving most of its required moisture directly from its food. This adaptation is important for survival in the dry, mountainous environment of Al Hajar. While it does occasionally consume small rodents or lizards, its reliance on fruit and invertebrates is different from nearly all other foxes.

💡Fun Facts

Blanford's fox was first described by English naturalist William Thomas Blanford in 1877.
It is the second smallest fox species in the world, only slightly larger than the Fennec fox.
The fox's large ears, a common trait in desert canids, help to dissipate body heat during the day.
It is strictly nocturnal, a behavior that helps it avoid daytime heat and predation from diurnal raptors.

References

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Practical Information

Opening Hours: Accessible 24/7
Admission: Free
Accessibility: The Al Hajar Mountains are a rugged, natural environment. Access to specific areas requires a 4x4 vehicle and hiking over steep, uneven, and rocky terrain.
Website: Visit website →

Blanford's Fox Climbing AbilityAd Dakhiliyah Governorate, Oman