The Andean fox is not a fox at all, but a wolf-like imposter

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite its name and striking resemblance to the common red fox, the culpeo is not a true fox. This South American predator is more closely related to wolves and jackals, having evolved its fox-like appearance through convergent evolution. It stands as the continent's second-largest native canid, trailing only the maned wolf.

The culpeo, or Lycalopex culpaeus, is a master of adaptation across South America. Its range stretches from the southern reaches of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia all the way north to Ecuador, Peru, and parts of Colombia. These animals thrive in diverse environments, from deserts and chaparrals to temperate rainforests and high-altitude plateaus like the Altiplano, reaching elevations as high as 4,800 meters. Their physical build is intermediate between a red fox and a coyote, with males averaging 11.4 kg and females 8.4 kg.

As an opportunistic predator, the culpeo maintains a varied diet that includes rodents, birds, lizards, and carrion. Its ecological impact is significant; the introduction of European rabbits in 1915 is believed to have facilitated the culpeo's expansion across the Patagonian plains. Because they occasionally hunt livestock like sheep and goats, they are frequently hunted in parts of Argentina and Chile. Despite this, the species remains widespread and is not currently considered threatened with extinction.

The culpeo's history is deeply intertwined with human culture, most notably through the Selkʼnam people of Tierra del Fuego. They successfully domesticated the culpeo to create the Fuegian dog, a companion used for hunting, fishing, and warmth. Tragically, this unique animal vanished in the late 19th or early 20th century, a casualty of the Selkʼnam genocide. Today, the culpeo's taxonomy remains a subject of scientific debate, with researchers having shifted it between various genera, including Dusicyon, Canis, and Pseudalopex, before settling on the currently preferred Lycalopex.

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