Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Alopex
Species: lagopus
Just based on the name and how it looks, it is easy to tell that the Arctic fox, or polar fox, or snow fox, belongs in the snow. Its thick, white fur blends in perfectly with the white landscape of the Arctic regions. The fox is very well adapted for its difficult climate because it has very thick fur made up of several layers to trap heat; its small ears reduce the loss of heat. Even its paws are protected by thick fur on its soles. By trapping all of its body heat, it can easily survive in temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius.
Here are some interesting facts about the Arctic fox
The way that arctic foxes survive and hunt during the winter is incredible. During the winter, food is often scarce, and if animals are around, they are often underneath the thick snow and hard to locate. An Arctic fox has several different behaviors that help it survive this difficult season. First, much like a squirrel during the summer, it buries leftovers from its kills. The cold ground keeps the meat fresh, and later in the winter, the fox will come back and dig up the food. It also is known to follow polar bears and eat whatever the bear leaves behind. It can also use its incredible hearing to locate prey beneath the snow.
-They are very small, about the size of a regular house cat.
-They are omnivores. They usually hunt lemmings, voles, rabbits and other small animals, but also eat vegetables when they are available in the summer.
-They live in burrows or tunnel into the snow during storms.
-The Arctic fox has the warmest pelt of any animal in the Arctic.
-The Inukitut name for the fox is Tiriganiaq.
-They weigh around 12-15 pounds and are 2-3 feet long.
-They use their long, bushy tales to conserve heat and for balance on the slick ice.
-Usually they live 10 to 15 years.
-Arctic foxes are solitary animals for most of the year.
-Their fur has oil that repels moisture so that they stay dry and warm in all of the snow.