Cape fox vs Smooth hound

Vulpes chama compared with Triakis maculata

Key Differences

• Cape fox is Least Concern while Smooth hound is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cape fox	Smooth hound
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Triakidae
Genus	Vulpes (Foxes)	Triakis
Species	Vulpes chama	Triakis maculata

Evolutionary Relationship

Cape fox and Smooth hound share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Cape fox

LC — Least Concern

Smooth hound

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cape fox	Smooth hound
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cape fox

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Smooth hound

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate grasslands and steppes, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Found in Chile. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cape fox

The Cape fox (Vulpes chama) is a species in the genus Vulpes. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.