Gray fox

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/gray-fox

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Urocyon cinereoargenteus
2. What is the diet?Omnivorous: primarily small mammals, birds, insects, fruits, and nuts
3. What does a gray fox look like?A gray fox has a mix of gray, white, and reddish‑brown fur that looks a bit like ash and silver. It also has semi‑retractable claws that help it climb trees.
4. How does a gray fox climb trees?Its feet are specially shaped and its claws can pull back a little, so it can walk up trunks and branches just like a primate.

Arboreal Locomotion: The ability to move through trees, facilitated by specialized claws and body structure.
Ecological Plasticity: The capacity of a species to adapt to a range of environmental conditions and habitats.
Phylogenetic Divergence: The evolutionary splitting of a lineage into two or more distinct species or groups.