cinereoargenteus

Cinereoargenteus is the specific epithet of the gray fox’s scientific name, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, a small canid native to the Americas. The epithet appears in zoological nomenclature to identify this species within the genus Urocyon.

Etymology: The name derives from Latin cinereus meaning ash-gray and argenteus meaning silvery, reflecting the animal’s coat coloration.

Distribution and habitat: The gray fox has a broad distribution from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to parts of South America. It occupies a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, scrubland, and semi-desert regions, and is capable of climbing trees, a trait that aids in foraging and escape from predators. It often occurs near water and can adapt to agricultural and urban edges.

Description and behavior: It is a small to medium-sized canid, with a compact body and a long, bushy tail. The fur is typically gray with reddish-brown on the flanks and a dark dorsal stripe on the tail in some individuals. Gray foxes are mainly crepuscular or nocturnal and are largely solitary outside the breeding season.

Diet and reproduction: They are omnivorous, feeding on small vertebrates, birds, insects, fruits, and berries. Mating occurs once yearly, with litters of 1–7 pups. Gestation lasts about 50–63 days; altricial young are cared for by the mother and, to a lesser extent, by the father.

Conservation: The gray fox is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to a wide distribution and a presumed large population, though habitat loss and vehicle collisions pose local threats and some regional populations may be decreasing.