How many different types of foxes are there?

Although there are 37 species that are called foxes, only 12 are true foxes belonging to the genus Vulpes. The best known true foxes are the red fox, gray fox, fennec fox, swift fox, kit fox and arctic fox. Foxes can be found worldwide, except on the continent of Antarctica.

Because they are found almost everywhere in the world and have developed a reputation for being cunning, foxes have become prominent in folklore and popular culture. They can also produce a distinctive scream, one of a variety of calls that can be unsettling if heard for the first time at night. The most commonly found species is the red fox, with a characteristic auburn pelt and white markings on its tail.