Belyaev foxmail
You're referring to the Belyaev foxes!
The Belyaev foxes are a group of domesticated silver foxes that were bred in the 1950s and 1960s by Soviet scientist Dimitry Belyaev. The goal of the experiment was to domesticate the silver fox, which is a wild species of fox found in the Arctic tundra.
Belyaev's team selected fox kits with the most docile temperaments and bred them over several generations to create a domesticated population. The foxes were kept in enclosures and fed a diet of meat and grains. Over time, the foxes began to exhibit changes in their behavior, physiology, and anatomy that are characteristic of domesticated animals.
Some of the key changes observed in the Belyaev foxes include:
- Tameness: The foxes became much more docile and friendly, allowing humans to handle them easily.
- Body shape: The foxes developed a more compact body shape, with shorter legs and a thicker coat.
- Coat color: The foxes' coats changed from the typical silver-gray color of wild silver foxes to a more varied range of colors, including red, orange, and yellow.
- Behavior: The foxes began to exhibit behaviors typical of domesticated animals, such as playing with toys and interacting with humans.
- Physiology: The foxes' physiology changed, with a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in oxytocin, a hormone associated with social bonding.
The Belyaev foxes have been the subject of numerous scientific studies, and their domestication has provided valuable insights into the evolution of domestication and the genetic basis of behavioral changes.
Interestingly, the Belyaev foxes have also been used in the development of new breeds of domesticated foxes, such as the "foxmail" breed, which is a cross between a Belyaev fox and a domesticated red fox. Foxmails are known for their striking appearance and friendly temperament.