Cape fox[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Vulpes
Species:	V. chama
Binomial name
Vulpes chama (A Smith, 1833)
Cape fox range
Synonyms
caama (C. E. H. Smith, 1839) hodsoni (Noack, 1910) variegatoides (Layard, 1861)

The Cape fox (Vulpes chama), also called the cama fox or the silver-backed fox, is a small fox.

It has black or silver gray fur with flanks and underside in light yellow. The tip of its tail is always black.

The Cape fox tend to be 45 to 61 cm (17.7-24 inches) long, not including a 30 to 40 cm (11.8-15.75 inch) tail. It is 28 to 33 cm (11-13 inch) tall at the shoulder, and usually weighs from 3.6 to 5 kg (8-11 lbs).

Habitat[link]

It inhabits mainly open country, from open grassland plains with scattered thickets to semi-desert scrub, and also extending into fynbos. It is widespread in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa, occurring in most parts of the Western and Northern Cape provinces, the Eastern Cape (excluding the south-eastern side) the Free State, western and north-western KwaZulu-Natal and the North-West province. It also occurs in Lesotho, a high mountainous region.

Behavior[link]

The Cape fox is nocturnal and it is mainly active at night and is most active just before dawn or after dusk; it can be spotted during the early mornings and early evenings. During the day it typically shelters in burrows underground, holes, hollows, or dense thickets, and it is an active digger that will excavate its own borrow, although it generally modifies an abandoned borrow of another species, such as a Springhare's burrow, to its specific requirements. They are solitary creatures, and although they form mated pairs the males and females are often found alone as they tend to forage separately and are seldom seen together. They are not territorial, however they will mark their territory with a pungent scent. Although it is a normally silent fox, the Cape fox is known to communicate with soft calls, whines or chirps. However, they will warn with a loud bark whenever alarmed. When aggressive, the Cape fox is known to growl and spit at its attacker. To show its excitement, the fox lifts its tail, and by which the higher the height of the tail lift often indicates the measure of excitement in the fox.

Food[link]

The Cape fox is an omnivorous animal, meaning that they will eat plants or animals. Although they prefer mainly invertebrates and small mammals such as rodents, they are opportunists and have hunted and eaten reptiles, rabbits, spiders, birds, and young hares. They will also eat eggs, beetle larvea, and carrion, as well as most insects or fruits. And when pushed, they have been able to kill newborn lambs up to three months of age, although this is a very rare occasion and has little impact.

Reproduction[link]

As for the Cape fox, and typical of most Canid species, they will mate for life. The Cape fox, however, is capable of breeding all year long, unlike the red fox, although they do typically have offspring in the months of October, November, December, or January. From conception, the female Cape fox has a gestation period of 51 to 53 days, and she gives birth to a litter size of 1 to 6 cubs (or kits). Reared underground in burrows, the cubs will stay close to the den until they are about 4 months old. Weaned at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, they don't begin to forage until they are 4 months of age, and they are usually dependent by the time they are 5 months of age, at which time they will disperse, typically in the months of June or July. Initially, they typically weigh from 50 to 100 grams (1.7 - 3.5 ounces) at birth, and both parents will care for the young, with the male even providing for the female for the first two weeks. A family group usually only consists of the parents and their offspring, but different family groups sometimes mix together during feeding. Multiple litters are possible, and have been observed; the female usually chases out the cubs from her litter, though, when she is expecting another litter. They are fully grown in about a year, with both the female and the male reaching sexual maturity at 9 months. The Cape fox has a life expectancy of about 6 years, but it can live up to 10 years.

Conservation[link]

The Cape fox is thought to help regulate populations of small mammals. Predators of the Cape fox include large raptors, such as Eagles and Owls, a well as Caracal, Leopards, Hyenas, and Lions. They often succumb to diseases such as rabies and distemper, although lately they have become the victims of traps set out for problem animals. A large number of Cape fox are killed on the road by vehicles, however many are hunted and persecuted as vermin, although modern farmers are better informed. Some are falsely mistaken as jackals and are accused of taking farmers' livestocks, and approximately 2,500 are killed yearly, although it is only about 16% of the total Cape fox population. Even with the threats they face, the Cape fox is not regarded as a threatened species.

References[link]

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Inverness cape, a sleeveless topcoat, common with Highland dress

A young woman in a crocheted cape

A cape is any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck.

Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic returns to fashion, for example, in nineteenth century Europe. Roman Catholic clergy wear a type of cape known as a ferraiolo, which is worn for formal events outside of a liturgical context. The cope is a liturgical vestment in the form of a cape. Capes are often highly decorated with elaborate embroidery. Capes remain in regular use as rain wear in various military units and police forces, for example in France. A gas cape was a voluminous military garment designed to give rain protection to someone wearing the bulky gas masks used in twentieth century wars.

In fashion, the word cape usually refers to a shorter garment and cloak to a full-length version of the different types of garment, though the two terms are sometimes used synonymously for full-length coverings. The fashion cape does not cover the front to any appreciable degree. In raingear, a cape is usually a long and roomy protective garment worn to keep one dry in the rain.

In full evening dress, ladies frequently use the cape as a fashion statement, or to protect the wearer or the fine fabrics of their evening-wear from the elements, especially where a coat would crush—or hide—the garment. These capes may be short (over the shoulders or to the waist) or a full-length cloak. Short capes were usually made of, or trimmed in, fur; however, because fur is less accepted as a fashion accessory in modern times, other expensive materials are substituted for it, with an opulent lining and trim. Typical fabrics used are velvet, silk and satin. Capes are still authorized as an alternative to the more utilitarian trench coat for U.S. Army officers in mess dress, formal evening uniform.

Caped overcoats were popular for men during the Victorian era, with some caped Ulsters featuring multiple layered capes, and the Inverness coat (both formal evening and working day variants) had a cape.^[1] The Inverness coat is no longer commonly worn, and the Ulster lost its cape in the 1920s.

In modern times, comic book superheroes, such as Superman, Batman, and Thor are often described as wearing "capes" or "opera capes", although most of these are long enough to count as opera cloaks.

See also[link]

Look up cape in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Cloak

Notes[link]

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