Comparison Between Foxes and Wolves Research Assignment (Essay Sample)

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Comparison Between Foxes and Wolves
Foxes and wolves are two kinds of animals that belong to the larger dog family. Some of the animals in this family have similar aspects while others greatly differ from each other. The wolves are of two species; the red and grey wolves while foxes exist in 37 species (Hediger 13). Fox and wolfs belong to the same family; the Canidae family and can be taken as distant cousins. Although they come from the same family, not all characteristics of the two kinds of animals are similar (Mech, Smith & MacNulty 15). In some ways, the two animals differ. The most common difference is their body size which differs greatly. However, they share few characteristics. This paper compares and contrasts the foxes and the wolves.
A major notable difference between wolves and foxes is their body sizes. Wolves are generally big animals. Their bodies are well built, with a large deeply descending ribcage. They have a slopping back and their necks are heavily muscled. Mature wolves grow to a height of about 3 feet (Hediger 20). On the other hand, foxes are of small body size. In fact, foxes are the smallest in the Canidae family. Their height when mature is about 1 foot. In terms of body mass, a mature wolf can weigh as much as 150 pounds. This is exceeds that of a mature fox that rarely weigh more 30 pounds. In terms of appearance, foxes have narrower and pointed snouts compared to wolves (Mech, Smith & MacNulty 25). The ears are upright and triangular in shape as opposed to the wolves’ which are more rounded.
Wolves are generally social animals that live in packs. The packs may comprise many wolves but mostly, they assemble in packs of about 6 to 10 animals (Hediger 23). With their large numbers in a pack, wolves are able to hunt and prey on bigger animals. In contrast, foxes are solitary animals. They live and hunt alone although the sometimes form small groups of about 2 to 3 animals. For this reason, their hunting abilities are limited. They prey on small animals such as rabbits and insects. At times, foxes eat berries and wild fruits.
Another aspect which differentiates the two types of animals is the way they reproduce. A female wolf gives birth to 5 to 6 pups in a season. On average, a female fox gives birth to about 4 to 5 kits per season (Hediger 20). The young ones of these animals also possess notable differences. The kits usually have grey, red or white fur at birth. As the kits grow, they adopt a reddish-brown color although they can also be white or silvery colored. On the other hand, pups at birth have white, brown or black fur at birth. Mature wolves are generally grey although white, red and black wolves exist. When compared, the wolves’ tail is longer than that of the foxes. In addition, the fox’s tail is bushy. Also, the wolf has longer legs compared to the fox. This enables it to move on the snow (Mech, Smith & MacNulty 35). The claws of a fox are partially retractable whereas those of a wolf are not.
The other difference between the two types of animals is their habitat and geographical distribution. Foxes generally live in the forests, deserts and even the human habited areas. On the other hand, wolves are found in the forests, deserts and arctic tundra regions of the northern hemisphere (Hediger 23). Generally, foxes are friendly to people and are not affected by human contact. People do not hunt foxes as they are generally...