Fox or polar fox (lat. Vulpes lagopus) a predator related to the family. Some scientists distinguish the clan of Porsitsov, but usually mammals are attributed to foxes.
There are several subspecies of Porsutov: Mednovsky, Brown and Icelandic, white fox. Mednovsky subspecies can be distinguished by blue fur. Brown foxer larger than its counterparts and has a brownish fur.
Where it lives
On the Commander Islands, next to the Berengov Sea, the only group of Mednovsky foxes lives. The habitat of the subspecies 187 km2. At the moment, about a hundred subspecies are left. Brown fox inhabits about. Bering. Icelandic subspecies lives only in Iceland. The white subspecies is most often found, it inhabit the entire North Pole. The White Sad can be found in the tundra, on the territory of Scandinavia, Siberia and in northern Europe.
Appearance
In winter, the animal’s coat is thick, painted in white. The hairline of some animals has a blue tint, such foxes are more often attacked by poachers. In the summer, the color of the arctic fox changes to brown or dirty orange. The length of the predator torso varies from 50 to 75 cm, and the tail length is about 30-31 cm. Typically, adults weigh 3.5 kg, but after excellent wintering this indicator can reach 10 kg. The hearing of the fox is good, like the sense of smell. However, the vision of animals is developed worse.
How the arctic fox differs from the fox?
The fox is often confused with the fox due to external similarity, but there are differences between views. So, the torso of the predator is squat, the ears are short, like the muzzle. The color of the fur changes in the summer.
Lifestyle
In summer, the animal shows activity throughout the day due to the fact that it gets dark late. During this period, the arctic fox is constantly hunting to provide the family with food. At other times of the year, the animal hunts mainly at night. In the summer, the family of Porsitsov consists of a male, several nursing females. During this season, the predator should gain weight: this will help him survive the winter. In winter, the mammal creates a place of recreation from a snowdrift. If the weather is bad, there it hides for several days.
What is the arctic fox
Arctic fox a predator that can both go hunting and eat carpet. Sometimes these animals eat the remnants of the food of white bears. Often the prey of these mammals are lemmings, barracks and white geese, partridges. Foxes also feeds on sea hedgehogs, representatives of crustaceans. These animals can eat and berries with algae. Predators can steal an egg of polar owls. Males can often calmly enjoy other people’s offspring, but females do not accept this and even raise the cubs of other animals.
Enemies of the foxes
The arctic foxes have many enemies. Among them there are wolves and wolverines, foxes and white bears. Cubs often become the prey of eagles with hawks, Filin.
White Bear Enemy of Porsitsov
Reproduction
Foxes are monogamous, they create strong pairs. Sexually mature become in the period from 9 to 11 months. The wedding season begins in the spring, the female can only be fertilized during this period. Pregnancy lasts about two months. During the period of gestation of the cubs, future parents arrange a hole. “Houses” are on hills, because on the plains they are often flooded with meltwater. The burrows are digging among a bunch of stones, which is needed for defense. If the mink is successful, it can be transmitted from generation to generation. However, this often does not happen, but a new hole connected to the house of the parents is created nearby. Usually 6-11 foxes are born.
Even after birth, the mother takes care of her offspring when the male gets food. Poxes develop rapidly, and after a few months the mother teaches children to hunt and survive in conditions of lack of food and fierce frost. However, many foxes die during nomads in winter.
Cubs of ordinary arctic fox
Red Book
Pesets is listed in the Red Book of Eurasia and the International Union of Nature Protection. The population changes depending on the number of lemmings, it is impossible to determine it. Now the most numerous groups of animals are in the Yamal, Priest and Prienisei tundra. At the moment, animals are actively fed in winter, bred in captivity. Such work is carried out in Norway and Finland. The polar fox is guarded in the commander reserve, in Eurasia.
Interesting Facts
- The eyes of the animals are covered with a special layer that protects against bright light so that the fox do not blind the crystal white snowdrifts.
- If hungry times have come, polar foxes can run 100 km per day to find a place with an abundance of food.
- The area of the site occupies the family is 2-30 m2.
- The arctic fox does not freeze, even if the temperature drops to60 ° C. There is a wool on the pillows of the paws of the polar fox.
- Only foxes from their family are fed in the fall.
- Mother feeds offspring with milk 10 weeks.
- The competitors of the foxes are ermine and affection they also feed on lemmings. But the number of populations of these species is small, so there is no particular threat.
- Foxes are sick with scabies and plague, helminthiasis and arctic encephalitis.
- In the marriage period, males arrange battles for the female. So they win her attention. Male individuals are also flirting, running in front of a female with a stick or bone in the mouth.
- The female gives birth either in the hole or in the bushes.
