The Bengal fox (Vulpes bengalensis), also known as the Indian fox, is a fox endemic to the Indian subcontinent from the Himalayan foothills and Terai of Nepal through southern India, and from southern and eastern Pakistan to eastern India and southeastern Bangladesh.

The Bengal fox is a relatively small fox with an elongated muzzle, long, pointed ears, and a long, bushy tail. The pelage ranges in color from buff to silver-gray with an overall grizzled effect; it is mostly grayish dorsally and paler ventrally. The legs tend to be brownish or rufous, and the underparts light, a pale sand or ginger shade. Extensive variation in coat colour exists across populations and seasonally within populations, but generally the coat is reddish grey above with paler sides ands rufous limbs. It has a bushy, black-tipped tail, which is around 50–60% of the length of the head and body. The backs of the ears are dark brown with a black margin; the ears are white inside. The ears have the same colour as the nape or maybe darker. Its rhinarium is naked, and its lips are black. The muzzle is pointy, and there may be a dark smudged marking along the upper part of muzzle in front of eyes. The head and body length for males is 50 cm (20 in), with a 29 cm (11 in) long tail. The head and body length for females is 47 cm (19 in), with a 28 cm (11 in) long tail. Males weigh 2.7 to 3.6 kg (6.0 to 7.9 lb) and females weigh under 1.8 kg (4.0 lb).

Members of the genus Vulpes have a flat forehead between the postorbital processes, not inflated by air cells. The processes themselves are slightly concave with a raised anterior edge. The canine teeth are longer than in other canid species.

The Bengal Fox is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, ranging from the Himalayan foothills and Terai of Nepal through Southern India, and from southern and eastern Pakistan to eastern India and southeastern Bangladesh. Its range is bounded by the Himalayas and the Indus River valley. It favors semiarid, flat to undulating land, bush and short grassland habitats. It avoids dense forests, steep terrain, tall grasslands and true deserts.

Historical records indicate that the Bengal fox was spotted in the southeastern regions of Cumilla and Chattogram during the 1980s; however, over time, no further sightings have been reported in these areas, suggesting its possible local extinction. It is relatively widespread in low rainfall areas where the vegetation is usually scrub, thorn or dry deciduous forests, or short grasslands. In the Indian peninsula, the species is confined to plains and open scrub forests. It was considered to be a habitat generalist, but it shows a strong preference for semiarid, short grassland habitats at multiple scales.

Bengal foxes are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal; while individuals may sometimes become active during cool periods of daytime, they typically spend warmer daylight hours under vegetation or in subterranean dens. They use three distinct types of den: basic, compact dens with two openings used for short rest periods, complex dens with multiple openings, and dens under rocks or rock crevices. The basic social unit of the Bengal Fox is the breeding pair, formed by a pair of bonds that can last for many years. Larger aggregations may occur while grown pups linger longer than average in the natal community. Other findings indicate that Bengal foxes can sometimes be more social. Female Bengal foxes were reported to share dens during lactation and four adult foxes were seen emerging from the same den.

Bengal foxes are not especially suspicious of humans and can be found near human habitation. They are easy to tame.

Bengal foxes are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, feeding primarily on insects, small mammals, reptiles, small birds, and fruits. Its diet consists mainly of orthopterans, termites, ants, beetles, spiders, soft-furred rat (Millardia meltada), little Indian field mouse (Mus booduga), Indian gerbil (Tatera indica), Indian mynah (Acridotheres tristis), grey partridge (Francolinus ponticerianus) and ashy-crowned finch lark (Eremopterix griseus). Less common prey items include ground lizards, oriental rat snake (Ptyas mucosa), Madras hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris) and Indian hare (Lepus nigricollis). They feed on fruits of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), neem (Azadirachta indica), mango (Mangifera indica), jambu (Syzygium cumini) and banyan (Ficus benghalensis). The Bengal fox is also considered to be a predator of eggs and possibly bustard chicks. Scats of young pups indicated that they primarily feed on rodents.