Arctic fox

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This article is about the animal itself. For the computer game, see Arctic Fox (computer game).

{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Arctic Fox | status = Conservation status: Lower risk | image = arcticfox.jpg | image_width = 200px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Carnivora | familia = Canidae | genus = Alopex | genus_authority = Kaup, 1829 | species = A. lagopus | binomial = Alopex lagopus | binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) }}

The Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus or Vulpes lagopus) is a small fox native to cold Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is common to see an arctic fox in all three tundra biomes. Although some authorities have suggested placing them in the genus Vulpes, they have long been considered the sole member of the genus Alopex. Smaller, more rounded ears than red fox; braincase more rounded and muzzle slightly shorter and broader than Vulpes vulpes (Clutton-Brock et al. 1976). Occurs in two distinct colour morphs, "blue" and "white". Each colour phase also changes seasonally "blue" moults from chocolate brown in summer to lighter brown tinged with blue sheen in winter. In winter, "white" is almost pure white, while in summer it is grey to brownish-grey dorsally, and light grey to white below. Colour morphs are determined genetically at a single locus, white being recessive. The "blue" morph comprises less than 1% of the population through most of its continental range, but this proportion increases westwards in Alaska, and on islands. Head-and-body length: 55 cm (male); 53 cm (female). Tail length: 31 cm (male); 3O cm (female). Shoulder height: 25-30 cm. Weight: 3.8 kg (male); 3.1 kg (female)

Habits

Image:Arcticfox-3.jpg Arctic Foxes eat a wide variety of things, including lemmings, Arctic Hare, birds and their eggs and carrion. The most important of these foods is lemming. A family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. During April and May, Arctic Foxes also prey on Ringed Seal pups when the young animals are confined to a snow den and are relatively helpless. Sometimes they follow polar bears and eat the left over prey. When their normal prey is scarce, Arctic Foxes scavenge the leftovers of larger predators, such as Polar Bears, even though Polar Bears' prey includes the Arctic Fox itself.

The foxes tend to form monogamous pairs in the breeding season. Litters of about half a dozen to a dozen whelps are born in the early summer, a very large litter size for mammals. The parents raise the young in a large den.

Arctic foxes habitats are tundra and coastal areas. The white morph is generally associated with true tundra habitat, the blue more with coastal habitat.

Population and distribution

Image:Distribution arctic fox.jpg Image:Arctic fox.jpg Arctic Foxes have a circumpolar range, meaning that they are found throughout the entire Arctic, including Russia, Canada, Nunavut, Alaska, Greenland and Svalbard, as well as in sub-Arctic and alpine areas, such as Iceland and mainland alpine Scandinavia. The conservation status of the species is good, except for the Scandinavian mainland population. It is acutely endangered, despite decades of legal protection from hunting and persecution. The total population estimate in Norway, Sweden and Finland is a mere 120 adult individuals.

The abundance of Arctic Foxes tends to fluctuate in a cycle along with the population of lemmings. Because the foxes reproduce very quickly and often die young, population levels are not seriously impacted by trapping. They have, nonetheless, been eradicated from many areas where humans are settled.

The Arctic Fox is losing ground to the larger Red Fox. Historically, the Gray Wolf has kept the number of Red Foxes down, but as wolves have been hunted to near extinction, the Red Fox population has grown larger, taking over the niche of top predator. In areas of northern Europe there are programs to hunt Red Foxes in the Arctic Fox's previous range.

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