Vulpini is a taxonomic rank which represents the fox-like tribe of the subfamily Caninae (the canines), and is sister to the dog-like tribe Canini.

[2] The taxonomy of Carnivora in general and Canidae in particular correlates with various diagnostic features of the dentition and basicranium.

Regarding Vulpini, Tedford has remarked: These small canids are distinguished from all other Caninae in possessing a wide paroccipital process that is broadly sutured to the posterior surface of the bulla with a short and laterally turned free tip that barely extends below the body of the process.

The presence of a metaconule and postprotocrista on M2 of vulpines represents the culmination of a reversal that began with late Leptocyon species to resume the form of the primitive canine M2.The cladogram below is based on the phylogeny of Lindblad-Toh (2005)[3] modified to incorporate recent findings on Vulpes.

[4] Otocyon megalotis (bat-eared fox) Nyctereutes (raccoon dogs) Vulpes zerda (fennec fox) Vulpes cana (Blanford's fox) Vulpes chama (Cape fox) Vulpes vulpes (red fox) Vulpes rueppellii (Ruppell's fox) Vulpes corsac (corsac fox) Vulpes ferrilata (Tibetan sand fox) Vulpes macrotis (kit fox) Vulpes lagopus (Arctic fox)