Urocyon

Urocyon
Temporal range:
Gray and island fox
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Subfamily: Caninae
Tribe: Urocyonini
Genus: Urocyon
Baird, 1857
Type species
Canis virginianus
Schreber, 1774
Species
  • U. cinereoargenteus (Schreber), 1774
  • U. littoralis Baird, 1857
  • † U. citrinus Tedford, Wang & Taylor (2009)
  • † U. galushai Tedford, Wang & Taylor (2009)
  • † U. minicephalus Martin, 1974
  • † U. progressus Stevens, 1965
  • † U. webbi Tedford, Wang & Taylor (2009)

Urocyon (Greek: "tailed dog") is a genus of Canidae which includes the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the island fox (Urocyon littoralis). These two fox species are found in the Western Hemisphere. Whole genome sequencing indicates that, among living canids, Urocyon is sister to the remaining genera. Fossils of what is believed to be the ancestor of the gray fox, Urocyon progressus, have been found in Kansas and date to the Upper Pliocene, with some undescribed specimens dating even older.

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