Russian scientist Dmitri Belyaev's silver-fox experiment, started in 1959, produced dog-like domesticated foxes in just 60 years — proving domestication can happen far faster than previously thought. This quiz covers Vulpes biology, fox species worldwide, and how foxes appear in human culture.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll cover the world's 23 fox species across Vulpes, Urocyon, Otocyon, and Nyctereutes; the red fox's invasive run through Australia; the fennec's huge desert ears; Belyaev's domestication experiment; and the place of foxes in folklore from Aesop to Reynard to Inari shrines.
The fennec fox of the Sahara — 1 to 2 kg, just 30 cm long, with comically huge ears that radiate heat in the desert and let it pinpoint prey moving underground.
Dmitri Belyaev started the Russian silver-fox domestication experiment in 1959 in Novosibirsk. By selecting only the tamest foxes each generation, his team produced dog-like foxes within 60 years — proof that domestication can happen rapidly.
About 23 living fox species in total — 12 in the genus Vulpes (the 'true foxes'), plus several in other genera like Urocyon (gray foxes), Otocyon (bat-eared fox), and Nyctereutes (raccoon dogs).
Last updated: May 2026