Subspecies A adaptations
Larger Eyes: Having larger eyes makes it easier for the foxes to see in the dark. The adaption arose from a need to see better in the dark. The foxes started spending more time underground and awake at night.
Longer claws and larger paws: With longer claws and larger paws, digging for food and shelter would be much easier. Larger claws were needed to make digging easier as well as capturing prey. Larger paws also made digging easier because more dirt could be removed with less effort. The foxes began to live more of their lives underground, using tunnels to hide from predators and raise birth their young.
Subspecies B adaptations
Larger body: Being larger would scare off predators or competitors for food. These foxes moved into areas where there were larger predators and prey. Because of their large size, they could compete with other carnivores for prey.
More powerful jaws: Larger prey could be killed with less effort. In order to survive, the foxes had to start preying on large animals such as oxen or antelope. The large prey could provide food for more foxes, and would be easier to locate. The more powerful jaws would also be used to fight off competition or predators.
Social: Many foxes would live together for most of their lives. This would provide protection for younger foxes and they would hunt as a pack, making it easier to take down large prey. Being in a pack would also provide warmth at night and would ensure that more of the species is alive to reproduce.
Larger Eyes: Having larger eyes makes it easier for the foxes to see in the dark. The adaption arose from a need to see better in the dark. The foxes started spending more time underground and awake at night.
Longer claws and larger paws: With longer claws and larger paws, digging for food and shelter would be much easier. Larger claws were needed to make digging easier as well as capturing prey. Larger paws also made digging easier because more dirt could be removed with less effort. The foxes began to live more of their lives underground, using tunnels to hide from predators and raise birth their young.
Subspecies B adaptations
Larger body: Being larger would scare off predators or competitors for food. These foxes moved into areas where there were larger predators and prey. Because of their large size, they could compete with other carnivores for prey.
More powerful jaws: Larger prey could be killed with less effort. In order to survive, the foxes had to start preying on large animals such as oxen or antelope. The large prey could provide food for more foxes, and would be easier to locate. The more powerful jaws would also be used to fight off competition or predators.
Social: Many foxes would live together for most of their lives. This would provide protection for younger foxes and they would hunt as a pack, making it easier to take down large prey. Being in a pack would also provide warmth at night and would ensure that more of the species is alive to reproduce.
Directional Selection in subspecies B
Summary
For 2 million years, the fennec fox population was very numerous. At around 7 million years, the population greatly decreased due to an asteroid impact. The impact sent tons of sand into the air, causing frequent large sandstorms. At around 6.5 million years, two different species came about. At 3 million years, subspecies A (Vulpes Cavator) went extinct, while subspecies B (Vulpes Belua) continued to thrive.
Speciation Event
At around 7 million years, an asteroid impacted the desert, sending sand and rock into the air. For years after the impact, sandstorms frequently raged on in the desert. In order to survive, the remaining foxes moved into the northern desert or into the savanna to the east. The two groups could no longer reunite due to the large crater left by the asteroid and the uninhabitable region around it. Vulpes Cavator became well adapted to life at night or underground. Vulpes Belua became well adapted to the already existing predators and prey in the savanna.
Subspecies A- Vulpes Cavator
After the asteroid hit, a large group of foxes migrated to the northern parts of the desert. There were many rocks in which the foxes could live in, as well as caves. The foxes became smaller so that they could fit in more crevices and escape any predators easier, as well as follow prey. They also developed larger claws to expand their homes much quicker. Larger foxes were much more likely to die before mating season because they couldn’t capture their prey and hide from predators. The species went extinct due to an extreme drought in the desert that lasted for decades. The foxes could no longer find food or water.
Subspecies B- Vulpes Belua
Instead of going north, the other group of foxes went east into a savanna. To compete with other carnivores, the foxes had to become larger and more powerful. Large prey was plentiful but a single fox could not take it down. A pack of ten foxes would hunt large prey, and a single fox would hunt smaller prey. Living in a group provided each individual a greater chance of survival if they were attacked. Their larger size would make the foxes more intimidating to other predators, and had few predators of their own. This subspecies continues to survive because of the large amount of food that was available, pups were better cared for and more likely to survive, and they lived together for protection and hunting.
For 2 million years, the fennec fox population was very numerous. At around 7 million years, the population greatly decreased due to an asteroid impact. The impact sent tons of sand into the air, causing frequent large sandstorms. At around 6.5 million years, two different species came about. At 3 million years, subspecies A (Vulpes Cavator) went extinct, while subspecies B (Vulpes Belua) continued to thrive.
Speciation Event
At around 7 million years, an asteroid impacted the desert, sending sand and rock into the air. For years after the impact, sandstorms frequently raged on in the desert. In order to survive, the remaining foxes moved into the northern desert or into the savanna to the east. The two groups could no longer reunite due to the large crater left by the asteroid and the uninhabitable region around it. Vulpes Cavator became well adapted to life at night or underground. Vulpes Belua became well adapted to the already existing predators and prey in the savanna.
Subspecies A- Vulpes Cavator
After the asteroid hit, a large group of foxes migrated to the northern parts of the desert. There were many rocks in which the foxes could live in, as well as caves. The foxes became smaller so that they could fit in more crevices and escape any predators easier, as well as follow prey. They also developed larger claws to expand their homes much quicker. Larger foxes were much more likely to die before mating season because they couldn’t capture their prey and hide from predators. The species went extinct due to an extreme drought in the desert that lasted for decades. The foxes could no longer find food or water.
Subspecies B- Vulpes Belua
Instead of going north, the other group of foxes went east into a savanna. To compete with other carnivores, the foxes had to become larger and more powerful. Large prey was plentiful but a single fox could not take it down. A pack of ten foxes would hunt large prey, and a single fox would hunt smaller prey. Living in a group provided each individual a greater chance of survival if they were attacked. Their larger size would make the foxes more intimidating to other predators, and had few predators of their own. This subspecies continues to survive because of the large amount of food that was available, pups were better cared for and more likely to survive, and they lived together for protection and hunting.