Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Chordata | Class: Mammalia | Order: Carnivora | Family: Canidae
Genus: Alopex | Species: Lagopus
Genus: Alopex | Species: Lagopus
The Arctic fox is an endotherm and one of many animals that have adapted to their environments extreme weather conditions. The main adaption is its thick fur coat; this is made up of layers which prevent the snow from soaking in due to the water proof covering and guard hairs that extend from the dense layers. Their coat is how they are able to maintain their internal temperature at 104 Fahrenheit. Underneath this coat, the Arctic fox has dark skin similar to that of the Polar bear allowing the warmth from the sun to be absorbed. To decrease the amount of heat loss gained, the Arctic fox has small ears, legs and padded paws – the lagopus part of its Latin name refers to its well padded paws, translating to ‘hare-footed’. The padding prevents the fox from gaining frostbite which is crucial to their ability to hunt. Their tail being half the size of their own body is unusually large compared to the other features which are small. However, the tail is incredibly thick and is used for balance within the rocky environment as well as curling around the body to compact the heat when the fox isn't moving. The last of their main adaptations to their body structure is the eyes – they are a golden/orange colour and pigmented much more than the average eye which helps to decrease the reflection of light off the snow. This prevents damage to their eyes and gives them an advantage whilst hunting.
During summer months their thick, white coat sheds for two reasons; to keep cooler and to blend in with the rocks. When their coat sheds they begin to show patches of blue-grey and brown colours which are how they are able to blend within the rocks during hunting and sleeping. Their tail usually remains thick and bushy to maintain their balance on the rocky surfaces and to keep warm during the night when temperatures drop. Because of their coat and their surface area being quite small they are unable to reduce their internal temperature dramatically enough during the day. This is why they pant, allowing the heat to escape and slightly increasing the surface area.
As well as body structure the internal systems within an Arctic fox have adapted to their environment. The Arctic fox is able to slow down its metabolic rate during colder seasons due to the lack of food available, meaning that it is able to digest food slower and store sugars and fats easier. To reduce the loss of heat from their core temperature the body is equipped with a counter-current exchange system. This works with the arteries and veins lying close to each other and allowing heat to be transferred; a warm blood flow pass through the arteries towards the paws which is where heat is released. To prevent the heat reaching the paws, it transfers to the veins which carries a blood flow further into the body system. Mating is another adaptation. Mating season occurs between February and May, due to a vixens (female) gestation period usually lasting 52 day the offspring will be born between April and July. This works to their advantage as they are born in the warmer months of the year although some vixens will give birth later on in the year to a second litter.