Rafael Chacon
Full-length photograph of an adult male Cozumel fox
In the ruins of Mayan temples on the island of Cozumel, scientists have found the remains of mysteriously small foxes. For years it was believed that this animal had disappeared and was considered extinct.
Its last known sighting was reported in 2001, and until the recent rediscovery, the fox’s main physical evidence consisted of semi-fossilized remains found at archaeological sites. Its closest relative is gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), present in much of North and Central America.
For the first time, a team of archaeologists managed to photograph the fox-of-Cozumel (Urocyon sp.) one of the rarest canids in the world. However, despite this discovery, its history and future remain shrouded in mystery.
According to , the animal was sighted in the early hours of September 14, 2023, after local residents reported the presence of a disoriented fox next to a road.
Investigators managed to photograph and capture the small canine. After several days of observation, the animal was safely released in a carefully selected location, away from roads and in a habitat that matched its presumed ecological preferences.
“One of the main conclusions of this research is that species can disappear without the world even noticing their absence. We often think that extinction is something dramatic, but in reality, it can occur gradually, especially in the case of rare species that live in poorly studied habitats”, said the first author of the study, Travis Bayer.
It is still unclear why this island is home to such unique fauna. However, researchers believe that the rediscovery of the fox reinforces the need to protect endangered species before it is too late.
Ultimately, the team hopes this investigation will help transform the Cozumel fox from a little-known and uncertain presence on the island into a fundamental and better understood part of local ecosystems.
The results were published last month in Neotropical Biology and Conservation.
