The arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus or Alopex lagopus), also called polar fox, is a type of small fox that stands out for having a beautiful and voluminous completely white coat. But beyond their appearance, these canids stand out as one of the few species capable of hunting and surviving in the icy tundras of North America and Eurasia.
Origin of the arctic fox
The arctic fox is a small canid belonging to the genus Vulpes, which includes the so-called "true foxes" native to the Northern Hemisphere (like the red fox and the gray fox, for example). In particular, it is the only species of fox that is part of the fauna of the Arctic Tundra, expanding widely in the polar regions of Eurasia and North America, from Canada to Siberia. Its habitat also includes the so-called arctic islands, such as Greenland, Iceland and the Bering Islands
Despite their small size, polar foxes are very resistant animals, capable of withstanding the winters of these regions, which can register temperatures of up to - 50 ºCCurrently, four subspecies of the arctic fox are recognized, being:
- Greenland arctic fox (Alopex lagopus foragorapusis)
- Iceland arctic fox (Alopex lagopus fuliginosus)
- Bering Islands arctic fox (Alopex lagopus beringensis)
- Pribilof Islands arctic fox (Alopex lagopus pribilofensis)
Aspect and anatomy of the arctic fox
The organism of arctic foxes is prepared to allow their survival in an extreme environment such as the North Pole. Their compact body, thick skin, and dense, well-dense coat help them conserve heat and insulate themselves from the climatic adversities of the outside environment. As adults, polar foxes typically measure 35 to 55 centimeters, with an average body weight of 1.5 to 2.9 kg for females, and from 3.2 to 9.4 kg for males.
With the arrival of winter, the arctic fox adopts its spectacular winter coat, very voluminous, long and completely white. This fur allows the arctic fox to easily camouflage itself among the abundant snow that covers the landscapes of the arctic tundra during the coldest season of the year. But during the cooler seasons, the polar fox's coat tends to be less dense and shorter to withstand higher temperatures, and its hue is more greyish or slightly brownThis molting process is essential for this species to adapt to the extreme climate changes experienced by the polar areas.
The arctic fox's long, bulky tail is also an important aspect of its anatomy. In addition to helping them maintain their balance, they also help keep them warm during the winter, serving as a natural blanket on the coldest days.
Complementing the most outstanding physical characteristics of the arctic fox, we must also mention the elongated snout, which allows it to enjoy a very well-developed sense of smell, the pointed ears that are usually alert to easily detect any possible threat in their environment, and their dark eyes that are essential for the powerful vision that allows them to hunt even with the low availability of light on arctic winter nights.
Arctic Fox Behavior
Arctic foxes are energetic animals that are highly active throughout the year. Although their metabolism slows down a bit during the winter, in order to save energy and conserve heat, Arctic foxes do not hibernate and remain active even with the cold end of their habitat. We are also talking about nocturnal animals, since they usually go out to hunt during the calmest time that reigns at night in the arctic tundra, in which they can move with great ease thanks to their optimal night visionand powerful sense of smell.
Regarding its nutrition, the arctic fox is an opportunistic carnivorous animal, being able to feed both on the prey it hunts and on the carrion left behind by polar bears. If they detect food shortages in their environment, arctic foxes may migrate to other regions in search of food and shelter.
It is very common for polar foxes to follow polar bears, trying to prey on stranded whales or seals that were abandoned by these Arctic apex predators. Likewise, they are some intelligent and discreet hunters that can catch birds and mammals, their main prey being lemmings, as well as eventually consuming eggs to supplement their diet.
Arctic Fox Breeding
Despite being quite social, Arctic Foxes are solitary animals that often live and migrate alone in their natural habitat. Pairs only meet during the breeding season, which can occur throughout most of the year, except for the months of July and August. Likewise, the polar fox is a monogamous animal and faithful to its partner, always finding the same partner in each reproductive season, until one of the two dies. In some cases, it can take several years for an arctic fox to mate with another individual after the death of its usual mate.
Like most mammals, arctic foxes are viviparous beings, that is to say that fertilization and the development of the estuaries occur inside the mother's womb. After mating, females experience a period of gestation of 50 to 55 days, after which they usually give birth to abundant litters, due to the high rate of mortality of newborns associated with the climatic conditions of their environment.
At each birth, at least 6 to 12 pups are born, although litters of more than 20 pups can be produced. Its development is quite rapid, and the offspring can already begin to become independent from their parents from their eighth month of life. Most arctic foxes will reach their sexual maturity by their tenth month of life, although the exact date will vary from organism to individual.
Conservation status of the polar fox
The arctic fox is currently listed as a "Least Concern" species,on the United States Red List of Threatened Species. the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
Its state of conservation is largely due to its great ability to adapt to human habits. Arctic foxes have been inclusively adopted as "companion animals" by populations residing in the vicinity of arctic areas. Likewise, having a fox as a pet is not only not recommended, since it is a wild animal that can be easily affected by stress and transmit certain zoonoses to humans, but it is also prohibited in most countries.
It is also true that arctic foxes have few predators in their natural habitat, as polar bears generally tend to ignore them, being wolves and owls are their main "natural threats". In addition to this, it should be mentioned that the hunting of arctic foxes has decreased in recent years, as a result of changes in the lifestyle of the population, as well as awareness campaigns about their importance to ecosystems.
