It is hard to guess what a Red fox weights. But we have the answer:
An adult Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on average weights 4.83 kg (10.65 lbs).
The Red fox is from the family Canidae (genus: Vulpes). It is usually born with about 101 grams (0.22 lbs). They can live for up to 15 years. When reaching adult age, they grow up to 62.9 cm (2′ 1″). Usually, Red foxs have 4 babies per litter.
As a reference: An average human weights in at 62 kg (137 lbs) and reaches an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″). Humans spend 280 days (40 weeks) in the womb of their mother and reach around 75 years of age.
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia plus parts of Northern Africa. It is listed as least concern by the IUCN. Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations. Due to its presence in Australia, it is included on the list of the “world’s 100 worst invasive species”.The red fox originated from smaller-sized ancestors from Eurasia during the Middle Villafranchian period, and colonised North America shortly after the Wisconsin glaciation. Among the true foxes, the red fox represents a more progressive form in the direction of carnivory. Apart from its large size, the red fox is distinguished from other fox species by its ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Despite its name, the species often produces individuals with other colourings, including leucistic and melanistic individuals. Forty-five subspecies are currently recognised, which are divided into two categories: the large northern foxes, and the small, basal southern foxes of Asia and North Africa.Red foxes are usually together in pairs or small groups consisting of families, such as a mated pair and their young, or a male with several females having kinship ties. The young of the mated pair remain with their parents to assist in caring for new kits. The species primarily feeds on small rodents, though it may also target rabbits, game birds, reptiles, invertebrates and young ungulates. Fruit and vegetable matter is also eaten sometimes. Although the red fox tends to kill smaller predators, including other fox species, it is vulnerable to attack from larger predators, such as wolves, coyotes, golden jackals and medium- and large-sized felines.The species has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for many centuries, as well as being represented in human folklore and mythology. Because of its widespread distribution and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade. Too small to pose a threat to humans, it has extensively benefited from the presence of human habitation, and has successfully colonised many suburban and urban areas. Domestication of the red fox is also underway in Russia, and has resulted in the domesticated red fox.
Animals of the same family as a Red fox
We found other animals of the Canidae family:
- South American gray fox bringing 6.34 kilos (13.98 lbs) to the scale
- Crab-eating fox bringing 5.74 kilos (12.65 lbs) to the scale
- Tibetan sand fox bringing 5.54 kilos (12.21 lbs) to the scale
- Red wolf bringing 26.7 kilos (58.86 lbs) to the scale
- Blanford’s fox with a weight of 994 grams
- Corsac fox bringing 2.62 kilos (5.78 lbs) to the scale
- Rüppell’s fox bringing 3.25 kilos (7.17 lbs) to the scale
- African wild dog bringing 22 kilos (48.5 lbs) to the scale
- Bengal fox bringing 2.51 kilos (5.53 lbs) to the scale
- Hoary fox bringing 4.23 kilos (9.33 lbs) to the scale
Animals with the same weight as a Red fox
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Vulpes vulpes:
- Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth with a weight of 5.7 kilos (12.57 lbs)
- Mexican agouti with a weight of 5 kilos (11.02 lbs)
- Common spotted cuscus with a weight of 4.06 kilos (8.95 lbs)
- Brown’s pademelon with a weight of 5.48 kilos (12.08 lbs)
- Günther’s dik-dik with a weight of 4.61 kilos (10.16 lbs)
- White-striped dorcopsis with a weight of 5.5 kilos (12.13 lbs)
- Bridled nail-tail wallaby with a weight of 4.95 kilos (10.91 lbs)
- Greater spot-nosed monkey with a weight of 5.26 kilos (11.6 lbs)
- Sechuran fox with a weight of 4.23 kilos (9.33 lbs)
- Pampas cat with a weight of 4.4 kilos (9.7 lbs)
Animals with the same size as a Red fox
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Red fox:
- Kirk’s dik-dik with a size of 65.5 cm (2′ 2″)
- Indian crested porcupine with a size of 75 cm (2′ 6″)
- Drill (animal) with a size of 70 cm (2′ 4″)
- Dusky leaf monkey with a size of 54.9 cm (1′ 10″)
- Corsac fox with a size of 58 cm (1′ 11″)
- Gray dorcopsis with a size of 66.4 cm (2′ 3″)
- Philippine porcupine with a size of 54.2 cm (1′ 10″)
- Lion-tailed macaque with a size of 54.7 cm (1′ 10″)
- Lowlands tree-kangaroo with a size of 60.3 cm (2′ 0″)
- Nilgiri marten with a size of 51.3 cm (1′ 9″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Red fox
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (4) as a Red fox:
- Large bamboo rat
- Indian bush rat
- Southern big-eared mouse
- Indian desert jird
- Tropical pocket gopher
- North American least shrew
- Utah prairie dog
- Long-tailed dunnart
- Kellen’s dormouse
- Dune hairy-footed gerbil
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Red fox
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Red fox:
- Celebes crested macaque with an average maximal age of 18 years
- Dhole with an average maximal age of 16 years
- Dorcas gazelle with an average maximal age of 17.42 years
- Yellow-footed rock-wallaby with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Dama gazelle with an average maximal age of 17.25 years
- Steenbok with an average maximal age of 14 years
- Squirrel glider with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Hirola with an average maximal age of 15.17 years
- Greater mouse-deer with an average maximal age of 16.25 years
- Malayan civet with an average maximal age of 12 years