Anomalies in the dentition of the Fox, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), from continental western Europe

While studying skulls of Foxes from western Europe for taxonomical purposes, the authors were struck by the high percentage of skulls not showing the normal tooth-formula. However, after a literature survey, it became clear this phenomenon is not rare in Canidae (Colyer, 1936; Hall, 1940; Reinwaldt, 1963, and Fleischer, 1967). But the occurrence of anomalies in the dentition may vary geographically and as such may have taxonomical significance (e.g., in Talpa europaea; see Stein, 1963). Thus it was thought useful to publish our data. Our notes concern samples from three different populations, viz., from the Netherlands, from western France (roughly the area between Rennes and Bordeaux) and from southern France (southeastern slopes of the Cevennes). For the loan and/or the acquisition of Fox skulls from the mentioned regions we are grateful to Prof. J. A. Rioux (Montpellier), Monsieur F. Chanudet (La Rochelle), Madame J. Baudouin-Bodin (Nantes), Dr. A. M. Husson (Leiden) and to the staff, in particular to Dr. J. L. van Haaften, of the Institute of Biological Field Research (ITBON) at Arnhem.