Ice Age Elephants of the Channel Islands

Abstract

Of the small company of land mammals native to the Channel Islands of Southern California none reaches large size, and, if we exclude aboriginal man and his dog, the largest is the fox. This interesting creature, once more numerous than it now is, exists under a variety of conditions on the several islands and may be seen occasionally searching for food along the seashore or living in cactus patches, brushy ravines, and on the open slopes of hills to an elevation of more than 2,000 feet. It seems to lead at present a solitary life. The island species was long ago recognized by biologists as a distinctive type, related to the mainland gray fox rather than to the kit fox and red fox. Six races have now been identified, one for each of the principal islands comprising the Channel Island group.