island fox

American  

[ahy-luhnd foks] / ˈaɪ lənd ˈfɒks /

noun

1. a fox, Urocyon littoralis, whose entire population lives on six of the eight Channel Islands of California, with each island population a subspecies distinct from those on the other islands: a third smaller than its ancestor the gray fox, the island fox is the largest mammal native to the Channel Islands yet is one of the world’s smallest canids.

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Etymology

Origin of island fox

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Catalina, the southernmost of the Channel Islands, is geologically pivotal in preserving biodiversity that exists nowhere else on the planet, including the Catalina Island fox and the Catalina Island mountain-mahogany, the rarest tree in North America.

From National Geographic

Catalina has more than 60 endemic species of plants and animals, so be on the lookout for Catalina Island fox and Catalina live-forever succulents, among other unique wildlife.

From Los Angeles Times

Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016 downlisted the Santa Catalina Island fox from endangered to threatened.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, it trumpets such conservation success stories as the Catalina Island fox, which has made one of the most remarkable recoveries known for an endangered species.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the Channel Islands, Anacapa and Santa Barbara are the only islands that that are not habitats for the adorable island fox.

From Los Angeles Times