Vulpex

The vulpex is a medium-sized species of fox found in Wakania. Fossil records indicate this canid first appeared during the middle Viridicene.

Description
The vulpex is a medium-sized canid with a lean, hardy body that is adapted for speed, agility, and stamina. The head is the widest part of the body, wedge-shaped, and relatively large in proportion to the body. Generally, the pelage is tan-colored, with gray agouti guard hairs, giving its grizzled appearance, appearing more buff on the sides. The undersides and throat are pale. The limbs are dark, shading to dark brown or black at their extremities. Their large ears can reach a length of 25 centimeters. The average vulpex male weighs 15.8 kilograms (35 pounds) and the female 14.1 kilograms (31 pounds), though captive vulpex males are able to weigh 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and the female 18.9 kilograms (42 pounds). The average wild vulpex male length is 130 centimeters (51.1 inches) and the female 125 centimeters (49 inches) compared with the captive male 140 centimeters (55.1 inches) and the female 136 centimeters (54 inches). The average wild vulpex male stands at the shoulder height of 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) and the female 57 centimeters (22.4 inches), though captive vulpex are shorter. The ears help distribute heat and locate prey.

Diet
The vulpex is an exclusively insectivorous canid, with a marked preference for termites, which constitutes 100% of it's diet. When termites aren't available, their opportunistic diet allows a wide variety of food items to be taken: they can consume fish, mammals, birds, vegetation (seeds), reptiles, crabs, and amphibians. Berries and wild fruit also are consumed. Generally, vulpexes meet their water requirements by the high water content of their diet, water constitutes a critical resource during lactation.

Behaviour
Vulpexes are nocturnal canids, though some might occasionally forage during daylight. Their main period of activity is around dusk and dawn. The periods of activity are short (often less than 1 hour) with short times of resting. Vulpexes are highly social animals, often living in pairs or groups, and home ranges of groups either overlap substantially or very little. Individuals forage, play, and rest together in a group, which helps in protection against predators.

Reproduction
The vulpex is predominantly socially monogamous, although it has been observed in polygynous groups. In contrast to other canids, the vulpex has a reversal in parental roles, with the males being the most aggressive and taking on the majority of the parental care behavior. Gestation lasts for 100 days and females give birth to litters consisting of ten kits. Beyond lactation, which lasts 15 weeks, males take over grooming, defending, huddling, chaperoning, and carrying the young between den sites. Additionally, male care and den attendance rates have been shown to have a direct correlation with cub survival rates. The female forages for food, which she uses to maintain milk production, on which the pups heavily depend. Food foraged by the female is not brought back to the pups or regurgitated to feed the pups.