Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

San Joaquin Kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is the smallest fox in North America, with an average body length of 20 inches and weight of about 5 pounds. It is a member of the Canidae family, which includes dogs, wolves and foxes. San Joaquin kit foxes are lightly built, with long legs and large ears. Their coat ranges from tan to buffy gray in the summer to silvery gray in the winter. Their belly is whitish and their tail is black-tipped.

Lead Region:  California/Nevada Region (Region 8)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967

  • States/US Territories in which the San Joaquin Kit fox is known to occur:  California
  • USFWS Refuges in which the San Joaquin Kit fox is known to occur:  BITTER CREEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , GRASSLANDS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA , KERN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , MERCED NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , PIXLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 10 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/22/2006 71 FR 14538 14542 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 56 Species in California and Nevada: Notice of review.
09/02/2005 70 FR 52434 52436 Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, Contra Costa County, CA
07/21/2005 70 FR 42088 42088 Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Hillcrest Travel Plaza in Fresno County, CA
03/30/2005 70 FR 16300 16301 Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits for the Arnaudo Brothers, Wathen-Castanos, and River East Holding Sites in Merced County, CA
02/07/2005 70 FR 6452 6454 Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of Applications for Incidental Take Permits for the Arnaudo Brothers, Wathen-Castanos, and River East Holding Sites in Merced County, CA

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/30/1998 Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
03/22/2006 71 FR 14538 14542 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 56 Species in California and Nevada: Notice of review.
  • Notice 5-year Review

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the San Joaquin Kit fox.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 21 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    ARCO Coles Levvee (ARCO Western Energy)
    Cal. Dept. of Corrections Delano Prison
    Cal. Dept. of Corrections Statewide Electrified Fence Project
    Chevron Pipeline
    Coalinga Cogeneration
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Paramount Farming SHA, Artificial Escape Den Project

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    06/24/1992 57 FR 28167 21 ETWP; Notice of 90-day Findings on Petitions to List the Corral Beach Sand Dune Weevil and to Delist the San Joaquin Kit Fox; 57 FR 28167 21869
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009