The Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) is found in the Arctic Tundra, Its body structure and body systems have adapted to this environment to benefit the animal living here. The Arctic Tundra is found nearly entirely in the Northern hemisphere, the arctic tundra only has two seasons winter and summer. During the summer the sun is present almost 24 hours a day, however this sun only warms the tundra up to a temperature of 3°-12°. These light conditions are opposite in the winter, the sun never rises some weeks causing the average temperature to drop to -28°, this can drop to -70° in some extremes.
The Arctic fox has furry soles, and fur between its pads, this keeps heat in the body and prevents it from leaving the body through the pads which otherwise would have direct contact with the ice, these act as an insulation. The Arctic fox also has very small short, thick ears, these are essential in the fox staying warm as the heat is lost from the ears, as these are smaller less heat is lost from the Arctic fox's body. This fox also has a short muzzle, this is also to conserve heat in the body. The arctic fox also has a long bushy tail that not only helps with balance but also keeps the fox warm when it wraps it around itself at night to keep it warm. The fox has also adapted to change colour to survive in this environment, the Arctic fox is white in the winter to camouflage in its environment and it is blue/grey/brown in the summer to blend into the environment that has less snow. The fur is very long and the fox is larger than its relative the fennec fox, this is because it needs to be bigger and have a larger body to keep it warmer.
The Arctic fox has a system of counter current heat exchange in the circulation of the paws to retain the core temperature, it also has a good supply of body fat to keep it insulated. It has a low surface area to volume ratio, this can be seen by its very round concise body shape causing less surface area to be exposed to the cold arctic. The Arctic fox has very keen hearing, this allows it to precisely find its prey under the snow and punch into its snow and catch its victim.
The Arctic fox has furry soles, and fur between its pads, this keeps heat in the body and prevents it from leaving the body through the pads which otherwise would have direct contact with the ice, these act as an insulation. The Arctic fox also has very small short, thick ears, these are essential in the fox staying warm as the heat is lost from the ears, as these are smaller less heat is lost from the Arctic fox's body. This fox also has a short muzzle, this is also to conserve heat in the body. The arctic fox also has a long bushy tail that not only helps with balance but also keeps the fox warm when it wraps it around itself at night to keep it warm. The fox has also adapted to change colour to survive in this environment, the Arctic fox is white in the winter to camouflage in its environment and it is blue/grey/brown in the summer to blend into the environment that has less snow. The fur is very long and the fox is larger than its relative the fennec fox, this is because it needs to be bigger and have a larger body to keep it warmer.
The Arctic fox has a system of counter current heat exchange in the circulation of the paws to retain the core temperature, it also has a good supply of body fat to keep it insulated. It has a low surface area to volume ratio, this can be seen by its very round concise body shape causing less surface area to be exposed to the cold arctic. The Arctic fox has very keen hearing, this allows it to precisely find its prey under the snow and punch into its snow and catch its victim.