Home > Facts > Animal Facts > Arctic fox Facts

Arctic fox Facts

Arctic fox Facts
Arctic fox is the smallest member of canine family. There are 5 subspecies of arctic fox that inhabit tundra throughout the Arctic Circle. Arctic fox can be found in Iceland, Greenland, Northern Europe, Russia, Canada and Alaska. These animals are numerous everywhere, except in Scandinavia. They were overhunted in the past because of their beautiful pelt. Even though arctic foxes are protected by law today, their number still drops due to climate changes and because of the expansion of the range of red fox (it hunts the same prey like arctic fox).
Interesting Arctic fox Facts:
Arctic fox is small animal that can reach 26 inches in length and 6.5 to 17 pounds of weight. Bushy tail is usually 13.7 inches long.
Arctic fox is covered with thick white fur during the winter and grey-brownish fur during the summer. Seasonal variations in the color of the fur ensure camouflage (animal easily blends with its habitats).
Arctic fox has rounded body, short legs and small ears. These morphological features represent adaptation to the life in extremely cold environment (prevent loss of body heat). Arctic fox curls its bushy tail around the body to warm itself.
Paws of arctic fox are covered with thick fur which facilitates movement across the snow and ice.
Arctic fox can survive on the temperature of minus 50 degrees of Celsius.
Arctic fox lives in the underground burrows that have up to 100 entrances. These burrows are usually very old (hundreds of years) and used by numerous generations of arctic foxes.
Arctic foxes have excellent sense of hearing and sense of smell which are used for detection of the prey. They can detect and catch the prey located underneath the snow.
Diet of arctic fox consists of lemmings, voles, sea birds and their eggs, seal pups and fish. They also consume leftovers of polar bears.
Lemmings are main source of food. Number of arctic foxes in the wild depends on the number of lemmings. When lemmings are numerous in the wild - population of arctic foxes will be large, and vice versa.
Main predators of arctic foxes (besides humans) are red foxes and polar bears.
Arctic foxes live on a territory of around 9.6 square miles, but they search for food in much wider range.
Arctic foxes are monogamous animals (one couple mate for a lifetime). They gather in March or April when the mating season starts.
Pregnancy in females lasts 51 to 57 days and ends with 5 to 8 babies, called whelps. Litter can consist of up to 25 pups, which is rarely seen in carnivorous mammals.
Both parents take care of their babies. Young males stay within their family group, while females leave the group to form their own families.
Arctic fox can survive from 3 to 6 years in the wild.


Related Links:
Facts
Animal Facts
Animals Facts