Arctic Fox                                      

(Vulpes lagopus)                         

      Where Found                     

• The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) is most often found in the Arctic Tundra Biome which includes the countries...

          Canada, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of the United States.

           Adaptations

•  The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) changes it's coat with the seasons. In the summer it's coat is usually brown or another dark color. In the winter it's coat is either a soft white or a blue-gray color.                         

          Summer ------> Winter

     Description

• The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) is usually about 74.5 inches long from the tip of it's nose to the end of it's tail. They usually range from 25 to 30 inches in height from their feet to their shoulder blades. They usually weigh somewhere between 6-12 lbs.
• There body is covered in a thick coat of fur that changes throughout the seasons.
• Arctic Foxes are endothermic animals, which means they have to keep a steady core temperature to stay healthy.
• Arctic Foxes' young are called pups.
• A group of Arctic Foxes is called a shulk. 

          Related Species

• The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) is most closely related to the wolf and the coyote.

         Diet

• Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus) are omnivores which means the will eat a huge variety of things (meat, plants, and insects).
• Arctic Foxes mostly prey on small animals such as... lemmings, arctic hare, and assorted eggs.

• To catch it's food the Arctic Fox sneaks up on it's prey, pounces, kills it, and then eats it.

           Danger!!!

• The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) has many predators that eat it, including polar bears and wolves. Golden eagles will occasionally prey on pups by digging them up from the Arctic Fox's den.
• Some subspecies of Arctic Foxes are in extreme danger. One subspecies located on Medny Island, Russia was reduced in population by some 80-90%. This was a result of a mange tick, introduced by some dogs in the 1970's.
• Another problem for the Arctic Fox is the over population of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes). Usually the Grey Wolf (Canis lupes)keeps the Red Fox population down by hunting it as it's prey. Unfortunatly, many hunters have taken up hunting Grey Wolves. So, as the Grey Wolf population goes down, the Red Fox population goes up, which results in Red Foxes moving into the Arctic Foxes' territory. 
• When the Arctic Fox is in danger it hardly ever fights, especially when the enemy/predator is much larger than the fox itself. Luckily the Arctic Fox's fur blends in easily with it's surroundings, so it hardly ever finds itself in immediate danger.

      Communication

• To communicate with other Arctic Foxes the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) will usually bark, but it can also whine if it's in trouble, yelp if it's hurt, and growl if it's angry.

           Unusual Behaviors

• Sometimes when the Arctic Fox can't find any food, it will eat the droppings of Polar Bears.

           Extra

• The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)

         Kingdom: Anamalia

         Phlyum: Chordata

         Class: Mammalia

         Order: Carnivora

         Family: Canidae

         Genus: Vulpes

         Species: lagopus

• The Arctic Fox is sometimes known as the White Fox or Snow Fox.

     Sources

   Books:

• Arctic Animals, Encyclopedia Britanica, pages 43-49, 1997

      Websites:

• http://www.library.thinkquest.org/3500/Arctic_Fox.htm
• http://www.essortment.com/all/arcticfox_rgbj.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Fox