What is the scientific name of the red fox?

The story behind the answer

Biologists use binomial nomenclature: genus + species in Latin. The red fox’s scientific name is Vulpes vulpes—Vulpes is the fox genus, and vulpes (Latin for “fox”) identifies the species. The other choices are incorrect: “Vulpes vulpie” and “Vulpes redus” aren’t valid Latin names, and “Red Fox” is a common name, not a scientific one.

Red foxes are members of the dog family (Canidae) and are the most widely distributed wild carnivores, found across the Northern Hemisphere and in Australia due to their adaptability. Memory tip: think “V for Vulpes, V for vulpes”—a double V for a very versatile fox. The repeated name often marks the type species of a genus.