Ungava Bay (Fort Chimo) Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus ungavaĪrctic foxes have been listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List since they were first assessed in 1996.Pribilof Islands Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus pribilofensis.Bering Island/Sea Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus beringensis.Hall Island Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus hallensis.Spitsbergen Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus spitzbergenensis.Greenland Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus groenlandicus.Iceland Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus fulignosus.Mainland Arctic fox: Vulpes lagopus lagopus.There are also eight subspecies of Arctic fox with the following names: The species grows dense fur on its feet during the winter, earning it the name lagopus, which means rabbit-footed. The Arctic fox’s scientific name is Vulpes lagopus. What is the Arctic fox’s scientific name? They achieve this by digging dens and giving the soil direct access to the nutrients in their excrement and leftovers of their prey. They also play a vital role in distributing valuable nutrients across their Arctic environment, where much of the soil lacks the nutrients required for plant life. The average litter is around 11, but litters of up to 19 pups have been recorded.Īrctic foxes play an important part in regulating the numbers of their primary food source, a small rodent called a lemming. The mothers usually give birth around May or June to a litter of multiple pups. Not only is the shorter coat better suited for warmer weather, but it’s also perfect summertime camouflage when the snow melts and is replaced by grasses and shrubs.Īrctic foxes pair up for breeding towards the end of winter and stay together throughout the 51- to 57-day pregnancy and the raising of the pups. The fox actually sheds its coat during the summer, and it becomes much shorter and darker, ranging from greys and browns to bluish hues. An Arctic fox can also use its fluffy tail as a blanket while it sleeps to maximise warmth and comfort.Īlthough the Arctic fox’s winter coat is famous, it’s not permanent. Their feet are also covered in a dense layer of fur that acts as a natural snow boot, allowing foxes to sneak around silently on the snow while keeping their feet safe from the chill. Their snowy white colouring helps them blend in with their icy surroundings and hide from predators. Even though temperatures can descend to minus 50 degrees Celsius, the Arctic fox’s luxurious winter coat keeps its body temperature at a cosy 40 degrees Celsius. Its compact body features a number of adaptations that allow it to live in the icy Arctic regions. The Arctic fox looks similar to the common red fox but smaller, furrier, and pure white in colour.

Arctic fox predators