joe perthigwynion 1 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 has anyone else seen a fox that is nearly completly silver/grey? Quote Link to post
billy bronk 76 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 has anyone else seen a fox that is nearly completly silver/grey? seen plenty of them http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Cycles-Silverfox-Nevada-Bicycle/dp/B000OYEWFG Quote Link to post
leepieman123 8 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 has anyone else seen a fox that is nearly completly silver/grey? seen plenty of them http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Cycles-Silverfox-Nevada-Bicycle/dp/B000OYEWFG lol Quote Link to post
rolysmate 49 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 Yes I took one at bottesford some years ago, from a distance it allmost looked white Quote Link to post
Tomm Parr 30 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 (edited) Its due to melanism (too much pigment - so darker) or albino (too little pigment - so lighter). Historically, ones with strange colours didn't live long (they stood out a mile to prey and predators alike). The red fox population has exploded due to town rubbish, meaning plenty of scavenged food. Thus, funny coloured ones find it easier to survive as it doesn't matter if they stick out like a sore thumb. They are especially common in and around towns. A Russian geneticist has domesticated them (trying to find the gene that allows domestication) and after a few generations of domestication, the young were increasingly funny coloured, because in the absence of predators or prey, colour becomes irrelevant. I think you all know what's coming... The strange colours are due to the fact that life is too easy for them.... Edited March 29, 2011 by Tomm Parr Quote Link to post
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