The Arctic Fox belongs in the canid family that includes wolves, dogs and other foxes. Today, scientists only recognize three subspecies of the Arctic Fox, two of which are native to the solitary Commander Islands. Arctic Foxes inhabit areas of the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. They usually roam from place to place in the tundra, usually near the coast always seeking food.
Alopex lagopus the Latin scientific name of The Arctic Fox translates as "hare-footed fox." This name refers to the thick fur on its feet that is like the fur on the foot of a hare. This extra fur helps insulate the animal against the cold. Because of its short legs, ears and nose, and a thick, winter coat the Arctic Fox adapts to the freezing cold of the Arctic. The Arctic Foxes do not hibernate and can survive temperatures as low as a minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Arctic fox is a small animal, generally weighs between three and twelve pounds. The male Arctic Fox is about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet long and the length of its tail is about one to two feet long. The female, or vixen, is not as big as the male fox and neither the male nor female lives for more than 10 years.
In the snow covered months from September to June Arctic Foxes are pure white. The Arctic Fox is the only member of the canid family that changes the color of its coat in the summer. In the summer months their back, tail, legs and head are brown, and the sides and belly are ivory. Their summer coat is not as long as their winter coat. During the warmer months of July and August when no snow covers the ground the fox's coat turns to a greyish brown or grey. The shades of brown may be a light brown, chocolate, or black with a bluish hue and enables the fox to blend into the summer environment. In the months of autumn just before winter the fox can put on more than 50% of their body weight as fat for insulation and as energy reserves for the long winter months.
There are two winter color phases of the Arctic Fox. The color phases are white and blue. The blue coat varies from grey to dark blue-black. The different colors may happen in the same litter and each color phase may be different in each geographic area. In the Northwest Territories, the white phase is more common. The blue phase presents itself to a small population of the Arctic Foxes born inland. About five percent of the foxes on coastal areas and the Arctic islands show the blue phase.
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