Cape Fox
Nwabisa Ngumbela

© Nigel J Dennis

Igama

Cape Fox, Silver-backed Fox [Vulpes chama]

Ukubukeka

Impungushe (Fox) yangempela incane futhi isilwane esincelisayo, sitholaka la eminingizimu Afrika. Lesilwane si siliva-ngwevu futhi sinamadlebe acijile. Zinombala onsundu la eduze komlomo. Isilwane esidala ubude baso ngama 350mm ukusuka emahlombeni, isisindo ngu 2.5 -3kg. Lesilwane siqaphile kakhulu, umsila waso uyasiziza ukuthi sibhalanse, masijigima futhi sifuna ukudida izitha zayo.

Ukudla

Impungushe idla izinambuzane, amagundane kunye nezinye izilwane ezincane. Ngezinye inkathi ziye zidle izithelo mangabe zikwindawo lapho ekulinywa khona.

Ukuzala

Impungushe inesikhathi esikhethekile sokuzala, izala makuqala ihlobo, izala ichwane elilodwa ukuyosho kwamahlanu. Ikhulelwa izinsuku ezingama 51-52.

Ukuziphatha

Impungushe ibamatasa ebusuku. Uhlelo layo aluqondakali kakhle, kodwa kubonakala ngathi iyafana nezinye izilwane ezincelisayo.

Zitholakala kuphi

Ikakhulukazi zihlala emthafeni aluhlaza, ndawo ezingathi ihlane, ukuyosho kwi ndawo ezine fynbos. Ungazithola nase duze kwamaphini wamanzi. Ziningi izimpungushe emningizimu Afrika, ungazibona kwizifundazwe ezinjenge Western and Northern Cape, ne Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, North-West nase Lesotho.

Izibalo ezibalulekile

Isisindo (Imazi): 2,5 kg
Isisindo (Inkunzi): 2,8 kg
Ubude (Imazi): 94cm
Ubude (Inkunzi): 94cm
Ukukhulelwa: Izinsuku ezingama 52
Inani lamatakane: 1-5
Ukuvuthwa: 11 - 14 izinyanga
Isisindo sokuzalwa: 4 kg
I-oda: Carnivore
Umndeni: Canidae
Amaphondo: 40 cm

Ukuzala

1 - 5 yamachwane azalwa ngo Okthoba, emuva kokukhulelwa izinyanga ezimbili. Imazi inesitho sangasese esidowa nama abdominal mammae amabili.

Ukubukeka kwe komzila

Inezinzwane ezinhlanu kwizinyawo zangaphambili, uzwane lokuqala nozipho lwalo alishiyi mzila. Izinyawo zangasemuva zine nzwane ezine. Izinyawo zalesilwane zicijile, futhi sigobile ubude bazo yi 15mm.

Amanothi asenkambini

Ngoba impungushe ayilali ebusuku, ngakho ke ivame ukushayiswa yizi moto emigaqweni ebusuku, abalimi abaningi bayayi zonda. Emningizimu Afrika kunenkolo yokuthi lesilwane sibulala izimvu, kodwa lokhu akuvamile.