Definition
The term *prairie fox* usually refers to the *kit fox* (*Vulpes macrotis*) or sometimes the swift fox (*Vulpes velox*), both small fox species found in the grasslands of North America. They are adapted to life on the prairies, with their slender bodies and swift movements. The term *prairie fox* is a more general term based on habitat, rather than a specific scientific classification. Think of it like calling any bird in a forest a 'forest bird'. It emphasizes location over species. It's a descriptive, but less precise, term.