The arctic fox vulpes lagopus, also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small fox native to the arctic regions of the northern hemisphere and common throughout the arctic tundra biome. Fennec fox originally from africa, the fennec is the tiniest of all fox species, featuring a beautiful golden coat. And though the arctic fox tends to inhabit and, for lack of a better word, control, up to 9 square kilometres of territory, it will walk far, far beyond that in search of food. Range consists of the arctic tundra, alaska, canada, greenland, russia, norway, scandinavia, iceland. The arctic fox is the solitary land mammal seen in iceland, probably due to the migration during the ice age. Discusses meerkats, including their african habitat, the food. Due to the potential marinebased diet of some arctic fox populations, they may be exposed to organochloride contaminants or ocs, such as pcbs, ddts, and chls as a result of longrange transport of persistant pollutants in ocean water helgason et al. Awesome nf science books for our zoo unit science books, teaching.
Females are called vixens, and young cubs are known as kits. The adventures of apun the arctic fox popup book youtube. Arctic foxes surprisingly are omnivores and so they eat both a collection of plants and animals. Arctic foxes have several adaptations that allow them to survive. The life for one in the wild can be over in just a couple of years, but some have been known to survive for more than a decade. Winter is a perfect time for kids to study polar animals. If youre teaching about arctic animals, you need this book list. Arctic fox vulpes lagopus is the one suited to living in the frigid arctic habitat. Arctic fox pictures, diet, breeding, life cycle, facts. In winter, they will even forage onto the packice for food, scavenging polar bear kills. Their muzzle, ears, and legs are short, which also conserves heat. It is evident that the scientific observational study of the animal is very limited, partially due to the difficulty of studying these often nomadic animals.
The arctic wolf canis lupus arctos, also called polar wolf or white wolf, is a mammal of the canidae family and a subspecies of the grey wolf. Tacky the penguin by helen lester, pup and bear by kate banks, the way home for wolf by rachel bright, roly poly by mem. These thickfurred mammals have many adaptations that allow them to. If they can avoid these predators and find enough food, they may live 8 to 10 years. Interesting facts about arctic foxes just fun facts. Learn all about their natural cozy coats and the other awesome tricks they use to make it through the cold conditions. Instead, you should supplement your foxs food a few times a week with a. Arctic foxs struggle within the brutal frozen habitat north of the arctic circle. Over the course of time, this species has adapted to a diet which helps them survive in the summer and winter of the arctics. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals.
Give them a high quality medium sized dog food and consult a vet about other food options. They are hunters and scavengers and will eat anything they can find. Surprisingly fantastic facts about the arctic fox animal. Predation, human hunting and harsh survival conditions lead to a high mortality rate. The arctic fox has adaptive traits that helps it survive out on the frozen tundra. Population numbers fluxate, but authorities claim the total number to be around several hunderd thousand. The arctic for alopex lagopus was an important fur animal in fennoscandia until the 1920s when numbers crashed, and in spite of total protection for over half a century has not recovered and is now regarded as vulnerable in iceland, on the other hand, the species is well established and can withstand heavy exploitation by man, being regarded as vermin and hunted at all seasons.
Unlike the polar arctic, the blue arctic fox has the same dark brown or black fur all year. In the wild, a lot of a foxs day is spent foraging for grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, silkworms, beetles, and mealworms in addition to an occasional crustacean such as a crayfish. Making their homes in the cold arctic regions of the northern hemisphere, arctic foxes must survive in one of the harshest climates on the planet. Arctic fox pups are born in dens excavated by the adults in sandy, welldrained soils of low mounds and river cutbanks. Though in captivity foxes can live up to 15 years, this is not the case in the wild. This packet can be used along with books specific to the animals or it can be used on its own. Some methods are used in an effort to keep the arctic fox population at an even level.
Quick peek at arctic fox nature quick overview they like to feed and hunt on birds, fish, eggs, rodents, and carrion. Captive breeding and a control program are used to manage the population of arctic foxes. In the wild, a lot of a foxs day is spent foraging for grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, silkworms, beetles, and mealworms in addition to an occasional crustacean such as a. This guide is to clear your doubts about whether you can keep an arctic fox as a pet or not. Longlasting, free of harsh chemicals, conditions while you color and is always vegan and crueltyfree made with love in southern california, usa.
In the wild, most individuals do not live past their first year. Leave out some dry dog food for the fox during the day. The fox eats small rodents such as lemmings, tundra voles, squirrels, and arctic hares which make up most of the foxs diet. Have you ever wondered how animals stay warm in the winter. Regardless of the source of the protein, the majority of your foxs diet should be protein. Name two of the arctic foxs adaptive traits and how they help them survive. They eat mainly small rodents, particularly lemmings, birds eggs and the. The arctic fox vulpes lagopus, also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small. Arctic fox species profile, alaska department of fish and game. The white fox or the arctic fox is found in the cold arctic region, and can camouflage themselves well into their surrounding. It catches its hidden prey by pouncing through the snow and landing on top of it. Arctic fox an uncommon species to find in the north american pet trade. The arctic wolf and the timber wolf are the only subspecies of the grey wolf that still can be found over the whole of its original range, largely because in their natural. Its fascinating to learn about the differences between the arctic foxs life in winter and summer.
Arctic wolves inhabit the canadian arctic and the northern parts of greenland. Secrets of survival it is hard to survive, or live, in the arctic. Adaptations chapter 4 life at 40 below chapter 5 on the barrens chapter 6 tyranny of the lemmings chapter 7 in the shadow of ursus maritimus chapter 8 when the geese come chapter 9 the problem. My all about arctic fox book arcticpolar animals this all about book will be a fun addition to your classroom and lessons on arctic foxes. Its fur is thicker in winter and lighter weight in the warmer months. The arctic fox is found in alaska, canada, greenland, scandinavia, and russia in the summer, the arctic fox lives in the tundra at the edge of forest. The arctic fox is basically an opportunistic predator which feeds small mammals like lemmings and ground squirrels, as well as insects and eggs. The idea for the arctic fox came to her when transforming her classroom book corner into the arctic complete with toy seals, polar bears and mary ellis grew up in switzerland and at the age of eleven came to school in england. Life at the top of the world is the only source of information i could find on the animal of arctic foxes beyond the children books that rehash measurements. Raw meats preferably not pork, highquality kibble with taurine, eggs, vegetables, fruits, small prey mice, chicks. In the april and may months, the arctic fox preys on seal pups, which are helpless and confined to snow dens. The arctic fox was once one of the most important natural resources in canadas arctic region. The arctic fox can stay warm in winter not just because of its thick coat but because of its generally rounded body shape with short legs, bushy tail, small rounded ears and short muzzle.
Its ears are small, and furry, the fur is also on the inside of the eat, protecting the ear drums from cold, also the size of the ears, means there is a smaller surface space to become cold. Their main enemies are wolves, polar bears and humans. The arctic fox is a small white fox native to the arctic regions of the northern hemisphere the arctic fox is also commonly known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox. The arctic fox is an opportunistic feeder, eating practically any animal, alive or dead. Therefore, the arctic foxs endangerment level is at no concern. Arctic fox likely evolved from a himalayan ancestor, study.
In the wild, they are primarily an insectivorous species with termites and dung beetles making up 80 percent of their natural diet. Small animals, carrion, fish, birds, berries, seaweed, insects, small invertebrates. Of course, the defining feature of the arctic fox is their deep, thick fur which allows them to maintain a consistent body temperature. Generally, its winter diet consists of marine mammals, invertebrates, sea birds, fish, and seals. Read on to know more facts about the arctic fox and its behavior. The arctic fox is also known as the white fox, polar fox and ice fox. The fox is a highly adaptable animal, so they have no trouble at all living in captivity. Since the arctic fox has impeccable hearing, it is able to pinpoint the exact location of prey that is under the snow. Arctic foxes polar animals by emily rose townsend arctic animals for kids.
An arctic fox photographed at great bend brit spaugh zoo in kansas. The arctic fox is very much an opportunistic feeder and will resort to chowing down on berries or even faeces in times of deprivation. In the wild, they would be omnivores, eating mice, plants, insects, and fruits and veggies if possible, so their diet must reflect this in captivity. In the winter, it is found on ice floes where its white coat serves. A small species, the bateared fox otocyon megalotis is an uncommon species to find and to keep. Adaptations chapter 4 life at 40 below chapter 5 on the barrens chapter 6 tyranny of the lemmings chapter 7 in the shadow of ursus maritimus chapter 8 when the geese come chapter 9 the problem with permafrost. The arctic foxs journey letsreadandfindout science 1 9780062490827. The arctic fox is a small fox well adapted to living in cold environments of arctic regions. Slowly increasing as an exotic pet in the states in which it is legal. It has a deep thick fur which is white in winter and brown in summer. White geese are also a main part of an arctic foxs diet. Their breeding range in north america is mostly on the coastal plain and coastal regions of continental canada and high arctic islands.
If the arctic warms with climate change and the brown tundra is exposed, how will this affect the arctic fox. A family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. Its the true story of an orphaned polar bear who is taken to a zoo, where he. When i saw this book about the arctic fox, i ordered it right away. My daughter is interested in arctic animals, and she seems to have a special affinity for the arctic fox.
We saw a number of books about kali, but this was the one best suited to a young audience. Although it prefers small mammals, it will eat insects, berries, carrion, and even the stool of animals or human beings. Since they generally live in colder climates, their diet would consist mostly of meat the majority of the year when they eat mice and small rodents. The red fox is the most widely distributed and populous canid in the world, having colonised large parts of europe, america, asia and africa. Arctic fox is the lush and nourishing semipermanent dye here to answer.
Fox diets can include meats and vegetables to supplement basic dog food. Arctic foxes are found mainly in arctic and alpine tundra, usually in coastal areas. The food for arctic fox is generally the small animals like hares, owls, voles, lemmings, carrion and eggs. Although the arctic fox has a small native population in northern scandinavia, while the corsac foxs range extends into european russia, the red fox is the only fox native to western europe, and so is simply called the fox in colloquial british english the word fox comes from old english, which derived from protogermanic fuhsaz. It is well adapted to living in cold environments, and is best known for its thick, warm fur that is also used as camouflage. Learn all about the arctic fox such as its scientific name and classification, evolution, features, species, appearance, size. Origins chapter 1 rise of the catlike dogs chapter 2 into the cold chapter 3 alopex lagopus the arctic fox.
The red fox vulpes vulpes is a member of the canidae family and is a part of the order carnivora within the class of mammals members of the family are called canids and include dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes, jackals and african wild dogs. This is a picture showing the structure of the arctic fox and showing how its body, helps it survive the harsh arctic winters. A fox in captivity though is able to live for approximately 20 years. The arctic foxs journey letsreadandfindout science 1 9780062490834. Diet the arctic fox will generally eat any small animal it can find. This makes for a bit of a challenge as arctic fox toys and books are much harder to find then, lets say, polar bear toys and books. Children will learn about the arctic foxs winter and summer coats, where it lives, what it eats, and more. Depending upon available food sources, anywhere in the hundredthousandths. When its normal prey is scarce, the arctic fox scavenges the leftovers of larger predators, such as the polar bear, even though the bears prey includes.
Their round, compact bodies minimize surface area that is exposed to the cold air. Its legs are also small and short, the small surface area prevents. She is the author of the letsreadandfindout science book sounds all around as well as the gooney war and popcorn park zoo. Both lemmings and white geese make up most of the diet of arctic foxes and are considered important to their survival. The arctic fox alopex lagopus is a true animal of survival.
Fox arctic exploring nature educational resource 20052020. Nebraska exotic carnivore diets central nebraska packing, inc. Humans also keep arctic foxes in captivity in fur farms. Arctic foxes generally eat any small animal they can find, including lemmings. Foxes are omnivores, so they can eat a large variety of foods. Dozens of lemmings can be consumed by a family of foxes in a day. The fossilized fox has dental features that are highly hypercarnivorous, suitable for the mostly meat diet that is common for arctic predators, including arctic foxes, said the study, led by. They eat rodents especially lemmings, birds, insects, eggs, berries and dead animals carrion. The arctic habitat, by molly aloian and bobbie kalman. White in winter, brown brownwhite spotted in summer. The polar regions include both the arctic and antarctica.