Arctic fox - wikipedia Arctic fox For other uses, see Arctic fox ( disambiguation ). Arctic fox Conservation status Least Concern ( IUCN 3.1 ) Scientific classification Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Order : Carnivora Family : Canidae Genus : Vulpes Species : V. lagopus Binomial name Vulpes lagopus Linnaeus, 1758 Arctic fox range Synonyms Alopex lagopus Linnaeus, 1758 Canis lagopus Linnaeus, 1758 Canis fuliginosus Bechstein, 1799 Canis groenlandicus Bechstein, 1799 Vulpes arctica Oken, 1816 Vulpes hallensis Merriam, 1900 Vulpes pribilofensis Merriam, 1903 Vulpes beringensis Merriam, 1903 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. It is well adapted to living in cold environments, and is best known for its thick, warm fur that is also used as camouflage. On average, Arctic foxes only live 3 -- 4 years in the wild. Its body length ranges from 46 to 68 cm ( 18 to 27 in ), with a generally rounded body shape to minimize the escape of body heat. The Arctic fox preys on many small creatures such as lemmings, voles, ringed seal pups, fish, waterfowl, and seabirds. It also eats carrion, berries, seaweed, and insects and other small invertebrates. Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young. Natural predators of the Arctic fox are the red fox, golden eagles, wolverines, wolves, and grizzly bears. Contents 1 Behavior 1.1 Reproduction 1.2 Diet 2 Adaptations 2.1 Sensory modalities 2.2 Physiology 3 Size 4 Taxonomy 4.1 Origins 4.2 Subspecies 5 Distribution and habitat 5.1 Migrations and travel 6 Conservation status 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Behavior Arctic foxes must endure a temperature difference of up to 90 - 100 ° C between the external environment and their internal core temperature. To prevent heat loss, the Arctic fox curls up tightly tucking its legs and head under its body and behind its furry tail. This position gives the fox the smallest surface area to volume ratio and protects the least insulated areas. Arctic foxes also stay warm by getting out of the wind and residing in their dens. Although the Arctic fox is active year - round and do not hibernate, they attempt to preserve fat by reducing their locomotor activity. They build up their fat reserves in the autumn, sometimes increasing their body weight by more than 50 %. This provides greater insulation during the winter and a source of energy when food is scarce. Reproduction In the spring, the Arctic fox 's attention switches to reproduction and a home for their potential offspring. They live in large dens in frost - free, slightly raised ground. These are complex systems of tunnels covering as much as 1,000 m ( 1,200 sq yd ) and are often in eskers, long ridges of sedimentary material deposited in formerly glaciated regions. These dens may be in existence for many decades and are used by many generations of foxes. Pups of Arctic fox with summer morph Arctic foxes tend to select dens that are easily accessible with many entrances, and that are clear from snow and ice making it easier to burrow in. The Arctic fox builds and chooses dens that face southward towards the sun, which makes the den warmer. Arctic foxes prefer large, maze - like dens for predator evasion and a quick escape especially when red foxes are in the area. Natal dens are typically found in rugged terrain, which may provide more protection for the pups. But, the parents will also relocate litters to nearby dens to avoid predators. When red foxes are not in the region, Arctic foxes will use dens that the red fox previously occupied. Shelter quality is more important to the Arctic fox than the proximity of spring prey to a den. The main prey in the tundra is lemmings, which is why the white fox is often called the `` lemming fox. '' The white fox 's reproduction rates reflect the lemming population density, which cyclically fluctuates every 3 - 5years. When lemmings are abundant, the white fox can give birth to 18 pups, but they often do not reproduce when food is scarce. The `` coastal fox '' or blue fox lives in an environment where food availability is relatively consistent, and they will have up to 5 pups every year. Breeding usually takes place in April and May, and the gestation period is about 52 days. Litters may contain as many as 25 ( the largest litter size in the order Carnivora ). The young emerge from the den when 3 to 4 weeks old and are weaned by 9 weeks of age. Arctic foxes are primarily monogamous and both parents will care for the offspring. When predators and prey are abundant, Arctic foxes are more likely to be promiscuous ( exhibited in both males and females ) and display more complex social structures. Larger packs of foxes consisting of breeding or non-breeding males or females can guard a single territory more proficiently to increase pup survival. When resources are scarce, competition increases and the number of foxes in a territory decreases. On the coasts of Svalbard, the frequency of complex social structures is larger than inland foxes that remain monogamous due to food availability. In Scandinavia, there are more complex social structures compared to other populations due to the presence of the red fox. Also, conservationists are supplying the declining population with supplemental food. One unique case, however, is Iceland where monogamy is the most prevalent. The older offspring ( 1 - year - olds ) often remain within their parent 's territory even though predators are absent and there are fewer resources, which may indicate kin selection in the fox. Diet A Arctic fox ( Summer morph ) with fish Arctic foxes generally eat any small animal they can find, including lemmings, voles, other rodents, hares, birds, eggs, fish, and carrion. They scavenge on carcasses left by larger predators such as wolves and polar bears, and in times of scarcity even eat their feces. In areas where they are present, lemmings are their most common prey, and a family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. In some locations in northern Canada, a high seasonal abundance of migrating birds that breed in the area may provide an important food source. On the coast of Iceland and other islands, their diet consists predominantly of birds. During April and May, the Arctic fox also preys on ringed seal pups when the young animals are confined to a snow den and are relatively helpless. They also consume berries and seaweed, so they may be considered omnivores. This fox is a significant bird - egg predator, consuming eggs of all except the largest tundra bird species. When food is overabundant, the Arctic fox buries ( caches ) the surplus as a reserve. Arctic foxes survive harsh winters and food scarcity by either hoarding food or storing body fat. Fat is deposited subcutaneously and viscerally in Arctic foxes. At the beginning of winter, the foxes have approximately 14740kJ of energy storage from fat alone. Using the lowest BMR value measured in Arctic foxes, an average sized fox ( 3.5 kg ) would need 471kJ / day during the winter to survive. Arctic foxes can acquire goose eggs ( from greater snow geese in Canada ) at a rate of 2.7 - 7.3 eggs / h, and they store 80 - 97 % of them. Scats provide evidence that they eat the eggs during the winter after caching. Isotope analysis shows that eggs can still be eaten after a year, and the metabolizable energy of a stored goose egg only decreases by 11 % after 60 days ( a fresh egg has about 816kJ ). Researchers have also noted that some eggs stored in the summer are accessed later the following spring prior to reproduction. Adaptations Arctic fox sleeping with its tail wrapped around itself The Arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet, but they do not start to shiver until the temperature drops to − 70 ° C ( − 94 ° F ). Among its adaptations for survival in the cold is its dense, multilayered pelage, which provides excellent insulation. Additionally, the Arctic fox is the only canid whose foot pads are covered in fur. There are two genetically distinct coat color morphs : white and blue. In the winter the white morph is white in color and turns brown along the back with light grey around the abdomen in summer. The blue morph is often a dark blue, brown, or grey color year - round. Although the blue allele is dominant over the white allele, 99 % of the Arctic fox population is the white morph. The fur of the Arctic fox provides the best insulation of any mammal. The fox has a low surface area to volume ratio, as evidenced by its generally compact body shape, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. Since less of its surface area is exposed to the Arctic cold, less heat escapes from its body. Sensory modalities The Arctic fox has a functional hearing range between 125 Hz -- 16 kHz with a sensitivity that is ≤ 60 dB in air, and an average peak sensitivity of 24 dB at 4 kHz. Overall, the Arctic foxes hearing is less sensitive than the dog and the kit fox. The Arctic fox and the kit fox have a low upper - frequency limit compared to the domestic dog and other carnivores. The Arctic fox can easily hear lemmings burrowing under 4 - 5 inches of snow. When it has located its prey, it pounces and punches through the snow to catch its victim. The Arctic fox also has a keen sense of smell. They can smell carcasses that are often left by polar bears anywhere from 10 -- 40 km. It is possible that they use their sense of smell to also track down polar bears. Additionally, Arctic foxes can smell and find frozen lemmings under 46 -- 77 cm of snow, and can detect a subnivean seal lair under 150 cm of snow. Physiology The Arctic fox contains advantageous genes to overcome extreme cold and starvation periods. Transcriptome sequencing has identified two genes that are under positive selection : Glycolipid transfer protein domain containing 1 ( GLTPD1 ) and V - akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2 ( AKT2 ). GLTPD1 is involved in the fatty acid metabolism, while AKT2 pertains to the glucose metabolism and insulin signaling. The average mass specific BMR and total BMR are 37 % and 27 % lower in the winter than the summer. The Arctic fox decreases its BMR via metabolic depression in the winter to conserve fat storage and minimize energy requirements. According to the most recent data, the lower critical temperature of the Arctic fox is at - 7 ° C in the winter and 5 ° C in the summer. It was commonly believed that the Arctic fox had a lower critical temperature below - 40 ° C. However, some scientists have concluded that this stat is not accurate since it was never tested using the proper equipment. About 22 % of the total body surface area of the Arctic fox dissipates heat readily compared to red foxes at 33 %. The regions that have the greatest heat loss are the nose, ears, legs, and feet, which is useful in the summer for thermal heat regulation. Also, the Arctic fox has a beneficial mechanism in their nose for evaporative cooling like dogs, which keeps the brain cool during the summer and exercise. The thermal conductivity of Arctic fox fur in the summer and winter is the same ; however, the thermal conductance of the Arctic fox in the winter is lower than the summer since fur thickness increases by 140 %. In the summer, the thermal conductance of the Arctic foxes body is 114 % higher than the winter, but their body core temperature is constant year - round. One way that Arctic foxes regulate their body temperature is by utilizing a countercurrent heat exchange in the blood of their legs. Arctic foxes can constantly keep their feet above the tissue freezing point ( - 1 ° C ) when standing on cold substrates without losing mobility or feeling pain. They do this by increasing vasodilation and blood flow to a capillary rete in the pad surface, which is in direct contact with the snow rather than the entire foot. They selectively vasoconstrict blood vessels in the center of the foot pad, which conserves energy and minimizes heat loss. Arctic foxes maintain the temperature in their paws independently from the core temperature. If the core temperature drops, the pad of the foot will remain constantly above the tissue freezing point. Size The average head - and - body length of the male is 55 cm ( 22 in ), with a range of 46 to 68 cm ( 18 to 27 in ), while the female averages 52 cm ( 20 in ) with a range of 41 to 55 cm ( 16 to 22 in ). In some regions, no difference in size is seen between males and females. The tail is about 30 cm ( 12 in ) long in both sexes. The height at the shoulder is 25 to 30 cm ( 9.8 to 11.8 in ). On average males weigh 3.5 kg ( 7.7 lb ), with a range of 3.2 to 9.4 kg ( 7.1 to 20.7 lb ), while females average 2.9 kg ( 6.4 lb ), with a range of 1.4 to 3.2 kg ( 3.1 to 7.1 lb ). Taxonomy Vulpes lagopus is a ' true fox ' belonging to the genus Vulpes of the fox tribe Vulpini, which consists of 12 extant species. It is classified under the subfamily Caninae of the canid family Canidae. Although it has previously been assigned to its own monotypic genus Alopex, recent genetic evidence now places it in the genus Vulpes along with the majority of other foxes. Arctic fox Kit fox Swift fox Corsac fox Rüppell 's fox Red fox Cape fox Blanford 's fox Fennec fox Raccoon dog Bat - eared fox It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758 as Canis lagopus. The type specimen was recovered from Lapland, Sweden. The generic name vulpes is Latin for `` fox ''. The specific name lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek λαγώς ( lagōs, `` hare '' ) and πούς ( pous, `` foot '' ), referring to the hair on its feet similar to those found in cold - climate species of hares. Looking at the most recent phylogeny, the Arctic fox diverged from the domesticated dog ( Canis lupus familiaris ) at approximately 12MYA. The Arctic fox and the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) diverged approximately 3.17 MYA. Additionally, the Arctic fox diverged from its sister group, the kit fox ( Vulpes macrotis ), at about 0.9 MYA. Origins The origins of the Arctic fox have been described by the `` out of Tibet '' hypothesis. On the Tibetan Plateau, fossils of the extinct ancestral Arctic fox ( Vulpes giuzhudingi ) from the early Pliocene ( 5.08 - 3.6 MYA ) were found along with many other precursors of modern mammals that evolved during the Pliocene ( 5.3 - 2.6 MYA ). It is believed that this ancient fox is the ancestor of the modern Arctic fox. Globally, the Pliocene was about 2 - 3 ° C warmer than today, and the Arctic during the summer in the mid-Pliocene was 8 ° C warmer. By using stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of fossils, researchers claim that the Tibetan Plateau experienced tundra - like conditions during the Pliocene and harbored cold - adapted mammals that later spread to North America and Eurasia during the Pleistocene Epoch ( 2.6 million - 11,700 years ago ). Subspecies Besides the nominate subspecies, V. l. lagopus, four other subspecies of this fox are described : Bering Islands Arctic fox, V. l. beringensis Iceland Arctic fox, V. l. fuliginosus Pribilof Islands Arctic fox, V. l. pribilofensis Greenland Arctic fox, V. l. foragorapusis Distribution and habitat The Arctic fox 's seasonal furs, summer ( top ), `` blue '' ( middle ), and winter ( bottom ) The Arctic fox has a circumpolar distribution and occurs in Arctic tundra habitats in northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America. Its range includes Greenland, Iceland, Fennoscandia, Svalbard, Jan Mayen ( where it was hunted to extinction ) and other islands in the Barents Sea, northern Russia, islands in the Bering Sea, Alaska, and Canada as far south as Hudson Bay. In the late 19th century, it was introduced into the Aleutian Islands southwest of Alaska. However, the population on the Aleutian Islands is currently being eradicated in conservation efforts to preserve the local bird population. It mostly inhabits tundra and pack ice, but is also present in boreal forests in Canada and the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. They are found at elevations up to 3,000 m ( 9,800 ft ) above sea level and have been seen on sea ice close to the North Pole. The Arctic fox is the only land mammal native to Iceland. It came to the isolated North Atlantic island at the end of the last ice age, walking over the frozen sea. The Arctic Fox Center in Súðavík contains an exhibition on the Arctic fox and conducts studies on the influence of tourism on the population. Its range during the last ice age was much more extensive than it is now, and fossil remains of the Arctic fox have been found over much of northern Europe and Siberia. The color of the fox 's coat also determines where they are most likely to be found. The white morph mainly lives inland and blends in with the snowy tundra, while the blue morph occupies the coasts because its dark color blends in with the cliffs and rocks. Arctic fox in winter pelage, Iceland Arctic fox Migrations and travel During the winter, 95.5 % of Arctic foxes utilize commuting trips, which remain within the fox 's home range. Commuting trips in Arctic foxes last less than 3 days and occur between 0 - 2.9 times a month. Nomadism is found in 3.4 % of the foxes, and loop migrations ( where the fox travels to a new range, then returns to its home range ) are the least common at 1.1 %. Arctic foxes in Canada that undergo nomadism and migrations voyage from the Canadian archipelago to Greenland and northwestern Canada. The duration and distance traveled between males and females is not significantly different. Arctic foxes closer to goose colonies ( located at the coasts ) are less likely to migrate. Meanwhile, foxes experiencing low - density lemming populations are more likely to make sea ice trips. Residency is common in the Arctic fox population so that they can maintain their territories. Migratory foxes have a mortality rate > 3 times higher than resident foxes. Nomadic behavior becomes more common as the foxes age. Conservation status Skull The conservation status of the species is in general good and several hundred thousand individuals are estimated to remain in total. The IUCN has assessed it as being of `` least concern ''. However, the Scandinavian mainland population is acutely endangered, despite being legally protected from hunting and persecution for several decades. The estimate of the adult population in all of Norway, Sweden, and Finland is fewer than 200 individuals. As a result, the populations of arctic fox have been carefully studied and inventoried in places such as the Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve ( Sweden ), which has the arctic fox as its symbol. The abundance of the Arctic fox tends to fluctuate in a cycle along with the population of lemmings and voles ( a 3 - to 4 - year cycle ). The populations are especially vulnerable during the years when the prey population crashes, and uncontrolled trapping has almost eradicated two subpopulations. The pelts of Arctic foxes with a slate - blue coloration were especially valuable. They were transported to various previously fox - free Aleutian Islands during the 1920s. The program was successful in terms of increasing the population of blue foxes, but their predation of Aleutian Canada geese conflicted with the goal of preserving that species. The Arctic fox is losing ground to the larger red fox. This has been attributed to climate change -- the camouflage value of its lighter coat decreases with less snow cover. Red foxes dominate where their ranges begin to overlap by killing Arctic foxes and their kits. An alternate explanation of the red fox 's gains involves the gray wolf. Historically, it has kept red fox numbers down, but as the wolf has been hunted to near extinction in much of its former range, the red fox population has grown larger, and it has taken over the niche of top predator. In areas of northern Europe, programs are in place that allow the hunting of red foxes in the Arctic fox 's previous range. As with many other game species, the best sources of historical and large - scale population data are hunting bag records and questionnaires. Several potential sources of error occur in such data collections. In addition, numbers vary widely between years due to the large population fluctuations. However, the total population of the Arctic fox must be in the order of several hundred thousand animals. The world population of Arctic foxes is thus not endangered, but two Arctic fox subpopulations are. One is on Medny Island ( Commander Islands, Russia ), which was reduced by some 85 -- 90 %, to around 90 animals, as a result of mange caused by an ear tick introduced by dogs in the 1970s. The population is currently under treatment with antiparasitic drugs, but the result is still uncertain. The other threatened population is the one in Fennoscandia ( Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Kola Peninsula ). This population decreased drastically around the start of the 20th century as a result of extreme fur prices, which caused severe hunting also during population lows. The population has remained at a low density for more than 90 years, with additional reductions during the last decade. The total population estimate for 1997 is around 60 adults in Sweden, 11 adults in Finland, and 50 in Norway. From Kola, there are indications of a similar situation, suggesting a population of around 20 adults. The Fennoscandian population thus numbers around 140 breeding adults. Even after local lemming peaks, the Arctic fox population tends to collapse back to levels dangerously close to nonviability. The Arctic fox is classed as a `` prohibited new organism '' under New Zealand 's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing it from being imported into the country. See also Arctic rabies virus References ^ Jump up to : Angerbjörn, A. ; Tannerfeldt, M. ( 2014 ). `` Vulpes lagopus ''. 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Mammalian Species. 714 ( 714 ) : 1 -- 5. doi : 10.1644 / 1545 - 1410 ( 2002 ) 714 < 0001 : VZ > 2.0.CO ; 2. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on 23 December 2011. Jump up ^ Kumar, Vikas ; et al. ( 2015 ). `` Genetic signatures of adaptation revealed from transcriptome sequencing of Arctic and red foxes ''. BMC Genomics. 16 ( 585 ) : 1 -- 12. doi : 10.1186 / s12864 - 015 - 1724 - 9. CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. ( link ) Jump up ^ Wang, Xiaoming ; et al. ( 2015 ). `` Cenozoic vertebrate evolution and paleoenvironment in Tibetan Plateau : Progress and prospects ''. Gondwana Research. 27 ( 4 ) : 1335 -- 1354. Bibcode : 2015GondR... 27.1335 W. doi : 10.1016 / j. gr. 2014.10. 014. CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. ( link ) Jump up ^ The isolated beauty of Jan Mayen Hurtigruten US Jump up ^ Angerbjörn, A ; Tannerfeldt, M. `` Vulpes lagopus ''. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014 : e. T899A57549321. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Jump up ^ George A. Feldhamer ; Bruce C. Thompson ; Joseph A. Chapman ( 2003 ). Wild Mammals of North America : Biology, Management, and Conservation. JHU Press. pp. 511 -- 540. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8018 - 7416 - 1. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Wildlife ''. Iceland Worldwide. iww.is. 2000. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Arctic Fox Center ''. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011. Jump up ^ Bolen, Eric G. ( 1998 ). Ecology of North America. John Wiley and Sons. p. 42. ISBN 978 - 0 - 471 - 13156 - 4. Jump up ^ Hannah, Lee ( 2010 ). Climate Change Biology. Academic Press. p. 63. ISBN 978 - 0 - 12 - 374182 - 0. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Jump up ^ Macdonald, David Whyte ; Sillero - Zubiri, Claudio ( 2004 ). The biology and conservation of wild canids. Oxford University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978 - 0 - 19 - 851556 - 2. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Jump up ^ Garrott, R.A. ; Eberhardt, L.E. ( 1987 ). `` Arctic fox ''. In Novak, M. ; et al. Wild furbearer management and conservation in North America. pp. 395 -- 406. ISBN 0774393653. ^ Jump up to : Tannerfeldt, M. ( 1997 ). Population fluctuations and life history consequences in the Arctic fox. Stockholm, Sweden : Dissertation, Stockholm University. Jump up ^ Goltsman, M. ; Kruchenkova, E.P. ; MacDonald, D.W. ( 1996 ). `` The Mednyi Arctic foxes : treating a population imperilled by disease ''. Oryx. 30 ( 4 ) : 251 -- 258. doi : 10.1017 / S0030605300021748. Jump up ^ Lönnberg, E. ( 1927 ). Fjällrävsstammen i Sverige 1926. Uppsala, Sweden : Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Jump up ^ Angerbjörn, A. ; et al. ( 1995 ). `` Dynamics of the Arctic fox population in Sweden ''. Annales Zoologici Fennici. 32 : 55 -- 68. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 2003 -- Schedule 2 Prohibited new organisms ''. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012. Further reading Nowak, Ronald M. ( 2005 ). Walker 's Carnivores of the World. Baltimore : Johns Hopkins Press. ISBN 0 - 8018 - 8032 - 7. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alopex lagopus. Wikispecies has information related to Vulpes lagopus State of the Environment Norway : Arctic fox Smithsonian Institution -- North American Mammals : Vulpes lagopus Photo Gallery by islandsmyndir.is Extant Carnivora species Kingdom : Animalia Phylum : Chordata Class : Mammalia Infraclass : Eutheria Superorder : Laurasiatheria Suborder Feliformia Nandiniidae Nandinia African palm civet ( N. binotata ) Herpestidae ( Mongooses ) Atilax Marsh mongoose ( A. paludinosus ) Bdeogale Bushy - tailed mongoose ( B. crassicauda ) Jackson 's mongoose ( B. jacksoni ) Black - footed mongoose ( B. nigripes ) Crossarchus Alexander 's kusimanse ( C. alexandri ) Angolan kusimanse ( C. ansorgei ) Common kusimanse ( C. obscurus ) Flat - headed kusimanse ( C. platycephalus ) Cynictis Yellow mongoose ( C. penicillata ) Dologale Pousargues 's mongoose ( D. dybowskii ) Galerella Angolan slender mongoose ( G. flavescens ) Black mongoose ( G. nigrata ) Somalian slender mongoose ( G. ochracea ) Cape gray mongoose ( G. pulverulenta ) Slender mongoose ( G. sanguinea ) Helogale Ethiopian dwarf mongoose ( H. hirtula ) Common dwarf mongoose ( H. parvula ) Herpestes Short - tailed mongoose ( H. brachyurus ) Indian gray mongoose ( H. edwardsii ) Indian brown mongoose ( H. fuscus ) Egyptian mongoose ( H. ichneumon ) Small Asian mongoose ( H. javanicus ) Long - nosed mongoose ( H. naso ) Collared mongoose ( H. semitorquatus ) Ruddy mongoose ( H. smithii ) Crab - eating mongoose ( H. urva ) Stripe - necked mongoose ( H. vitticollis ) Ichneumia White - tailed mongoose ( I. albicauda ) Liberiictus Liberian mongoose ( L. kuhni ) Mungos Gambian mongoose ( M. gambianus ) Banded mongoose ( M. mungo ) Paracynictis Selous ' mongoose ( P. selousi ) Rhynchogale Meller 's mongoose ( R. melleri ) Suricata Meerkat ( S. suricatta ) Hyaenidae ( Hyenas ) Crocuta Spotted hyena ( C. crocuta ) Hyaena Brown hyena ( H. brunnea ) Striped hyena ( H. hyaena ) Proteles Aardwolf ( P. cristatus ) Felidae Large family listed below Viverridae Large family listed below Eupleridae Small family listed below Family Felidae Felinae Acinonyx Cheetah ( A. jubatus ) Caracal Caracal ( C. caracal ) African golden cat ( C. aurata ) Catopuma Bay cat ( C. badia ) Asian golden cat ( C. temminckii ) Felis European wildcat ( F. silvestris ) African wildcat ( F. lybica ) Jungle cat ( F. chaus ) Black - footed cat ( F. nigripes ) Sand cat ( F. margarita ) Chinese mountain cat ( F. bieti ) Domestic cat ( F. catus ) Leopardus Ocelot ( L. pardalis ) Margay ( L. wiedii ) Pampas cat ( L. colocola ) Geoffroy 's cat ( L. geoffroyi ) Kodkod ( L. guigna ) Andean mountain cat ( L. jacobita ) Oncilla ( L. tigrinus ) Southern tigrina ( L. guttulus ) Leptailurus Serval ( L. serval ) Lynx Canadian lynx ( L. canadensis ) Eurasian lynx ( L. lynx ) Iberian lynx ( L. pardinus ) Bobcat ( L. rufus ) Otocolobus Pallas 's cat ( O. manul ) Pardofelis Marbled cat ( P. marmorata ) Prionailurus Fishing cat ( P. viverrinus ) Leopard cat ( P. bengalensis ) Sundaland leopard cat ( P. javanensis ) Flat - headed cat ( P. planiceps ) Rusty - spotted cat ( P. rubiginosus ) Puma Cougar ( P. concolor ) Herpailurus Jaguarundi ( H. yagouaroundi ) Pantherinae Panthera Lion ( P. leo ) Jaguar ( P. onca ) Leopard ( P. pardus ) Tiger ( P. tigris ) Snow leopard ( P. uncia ) Neofelis Clouded leopard ( N. nebulosa ) Sunda clouded leopard ( N. diardi ) Family Viverridae ( includes Civets ) Paradoxurinae Arctictis Binturong ( A. binturong ) Arctogalidia Small - toothed palm civet ( A. trivirgata ) Macrogalidia Sulawesi palm civet ( M. musschenbroekii ) Paguma Masked palm civet ( P. larvata ) Paradoxurus Golden wet - zone palm civet ( P. aureus ) Asian palm civet ( P. hermaphroditus ) Jerdon 's palm civet ( P. jerdoni ) Golden palm civet ( P. zeylonensis ) Hemigalinae Chrotogale Owston 's palm civet ( C. owstoni ) Cynogale Otter civet ( C. bennettii ) Diplogale Hose 's palm civet ( D. hosei ) Hemigalus Banded palm civet ( H. derbyanus ) Prionodontinae ( Asiatic linsangs ) Prionodon Banded linsang ( P. linsang ) Spotted linsang ( P. pardicolor ) Viverrinae Civettictis African civet ( C. civetta ) Genetta ( Genets ) Abyssinian genet ( G. abyssinica ) Angolan genet ( G. angolensis ) Bourlon 's genet ( G. bourloni ) Crested servaline genet ( G. cristata ) Common genet ( G. genetta ) Johnston 's genet ( G. johnstoni ) Rusty - spotted genet ( G. maculata ) Pardine genet ( G. pardina ) Aquatic genet ( G. piscivora ) King genet ( G. poensis ) Servaline genet ( G. servalina ) Haussa genet ( G. thierryi ) Cape genet ( G. tigrina ) Giant forest genet ( G. victoriae ) Poiana African linsang ( P. richardsonii ) Leighton 's linsang ( P. leightoni ) Viverra Malabar large - spotted civet ( V. civettina ) Large - spotted civet ( V. megaspila ) Malayan civet ( V. tangalunga ) Large Indian civet ( V. zibetha ) Viverricula Small Indian civet ( V. indica ) Family Eupleridae Euplerinae Cryptoprocta Fossa ( C. ferox ) Eupleres Eastern falanouc ( E. goudotii ) Western falanouc ( E. major ) Fossa Malagasy civet ( F. fossana ) Galidiinae Galidia Ring - tailed mongoose ( G. elegans ) Galidictis Broad - striped Malagasy mongoose ( G. fasciata ) Grandidier 's mongoose ( G. grandidieri ) Mungotictis Narrow - striped mongoose ( M. decemlineata ) Salanoia Brown - tailed mongoose ( S. concolor ) Durrell 's vontsira ( S. durrelli ) Suborder Caniformia ( cont. below ) Ursidae ( Bears ) Ailuropoda Giant panda ( A. melanoleuca ) Helarctos Sun bear ( H. malayanus ) Melursus Sloth bear ( M. ursinus ) Tremarctos Spectacled bear ( T. ornatus ) Ursus American black bear ( U. americanus ) Brown bear ( U. arctos ) Polar bear ( U. maritimus ) Asian black bear ( U. thibetanus ) Mephitidae Conepatus ( Hog - nosed skunks ) Molina 's hog - nosed skunk ( C. chinga ) Humboldt 's hog - nosed skunk ( C. humboldtii ) American hog - nosed skunk ( C. leuconotus ) Striped hog - nosed skunk ( C. semistriatus ) Mephitis Hooded skunk ( M. macroura ) Striped skunk ( M. mephitis ) Mydaus Sunda stink badger ( M. javanensis ) Palawan stink badger ( M. marchei ) Spilogale ( Spotted skunks ) Southern spotted skunk ( S. angustifrons ) Western spotted skunk ( S. gracilis ) Eastern spotted skunk ( S. putorius ) Pygmy spotted skunk ( S. pygmaea ) Procyonidae Bassaricyon ( Olingos ) Eastern lowland olingo ( B. alleni ) Northern olingo ( B. gabbii ) Western lowland olingo ( B. medius ) Olinguito ( B. neblina ) Bassariscus Ring - tailed cat ( B. astutus ) Cacomistle ( B. sumichrasti ) Nasua ( Coatis inclusive ) White - nosed coati ( N. narica ) South American coati ( N. nasua ) Nasuella ( Coatis inclusive ) Western mountain coati ( N. olivacea ) Eastern mountain coati ( N. meridensis ) Potos Kinkajou ( P. flavus ) Procyon Crab - eating raccoon ( P. cancrivorus ) Raccoon ( P. lotor ) Cozumel raccoon ( P. pygmaeus ) Ailuridae Ailurus Red panda ( A. fulgens ) Suborder Caniformia ( cont. above ) Otariidae ( Eared seals ) ( includes fur seals and sea lions ) ( Pinniped inclusive ) Arctocephalus South American fur seal ( A. australis ) Australasian fur seal ( A. forsteri ) Galápagos fur seal ( A. galapagoensis ) Antarctic fur seal ( A. gazella ) Juan Fernández fur seal ( A. philippii ) Brown fur seal ( A. pusillus ) Guadalupe fur seal ( A. townsendi ) Subantarctic fur seal ( A. tropicalis ) Callorhinus Northern fur seal ( C. ursinus ) Eumetopias Steller sea lion ( E. jubatus ) Neophoca Australian sea lion ( N. cinerea ) Otaria South American sea lion ( O. flavescens ) Phocarctos New Zealand sea lion ( P. hookeri ) Zalophus California sea lion ( Z. californianus ) Galápagos sea lion ( Z. wollebaeki ) Odobenidae ( Pinniped inclusive ) Odobenus Walrus ( O. rosmarus ) Phocidae ( Earless seals ) ( Pinniped inclusive ) Cystophora Hooded seal ( C. cristata ) Erignathus Bearded seal ( E. barbatus ) Halichoerus Gray seal ( H. grypus ) Histriophoca Ribbon seal ( H. fasciata ) Hydrurga Leopard seal ( H. leptonyx ) Leptonychotes Weddell seal ( L. weddellii ) Lobodon Crabeater seal ( L. carcinophagus ) Mirounga ( Elephant seals ) Northern elephant seal ( M. angustirostris ) Southern elephant seal ( M. leonina ) Monachus Mediterranean monk seal ( M. monachus ) Hawaiian monk seal ( M. schauinslandi ) Ommatophoca Ross seal ( O. rossi ) Pagophilus Harp seal ( P. groenlandicus ) Phoca Spotted seal ( P. largha ) Harbor seal ( P. vitulina ) Pusa Caspian seal ( P. caspica ) Ringed seal ( P. hispida ) Baikal seal ( P. sibirica ) Canidae Large family listed below Mustelidae Large family listed below hide Family Canidae ( includes dogs ) Atelocynus Short - eared dog ( A. microtis ) Canis Side - striped jackal ( C. adustus ) African golden wolf ( C. anthus ) Golden jackal ( C. aureus ) Coyote ( C. latrans ) Gray wolf ( C. lupus ) Black - backed jackal ( C. mesomelas ) Red wolf ( C. rufus ) Ethiopian wolf ( C. simensis ) Cerdocyon Crab - eating fox ( C. thous ) Chrysocyon Maned wolf ( C. brachyurus ) Cuon Dhole ( C. alpinus ) Lycalopex Culpeo ( L. culpaeus ) Darwin 's fox ( L. fulvipes ) South American gray fox ( L. griseus ) Pampas fox ( L. gymnocercus ) Sechuran fox ( L. sechurae ) Hoary fox ( L. vetulus ) Lycaon African wild dog ( L. pictus ) Nyctereutes Raccoon dog ( N. procyonoides ) Otocyon Bat - eared fox ( O. megalotis ) Speothos Bush dog ( S. venaticus ) Urocyon Gray fox ( U. cinereoargenteus ) Island fox ( U. littoralis ) Vulpes ( Foxes ) Bengal fox ( V. bengalensis ) Blanford 's fox ( V. cana ) Cape fox ( V. chama ) Corsac fox ( V. corsac ) Tibetan sand fox ( V. ferrilata ) Arctic fox ( V. lagopus ) Kit fox ( V. macrotis ) Pale fox ( V. pallida ) Rüppell 's fox ( V. rueppelli ) Swift fox ( V. velox ) Red fox ( V. vulpes ) Fennec fox ( V. zerda ) Family Mustelidae Lutrinae ( Otters ) Aonyx African clawless otter ( A. capensis ) Oriental small - clawed otter ( A. cinerea ) Enhydra Sea otter ( E. lutris ) Hydrictis Spotted - necked otter ( H. maculicollis ) Lontra North American river otter ( L. canadensis ) Marine otter ( L. felina ) Neotropical otter ( L. longicaudis ) Southern river otter ( L. provocax ) Lutra Eurasian otter ( L. lutra ) Hairy - nosed otter ( L. sumatrana ) Lutrogale Smooth - coated otter ( L. perspicillata ) Pteronura Giant otter ( P. brasiliensis ) Mustelinae ( including badgers ) Arctonyx Hog badger ( A. collaris ) Eira Tayra ( E. barbara ) Galictis Lesser grison ( G. cuja ) Greater grison ( G. vittata ) Gulo Wolverine ( G. gulo ) Ictonyx Saharan striped polecat ( I. libyca ) Striped polecat ( I. striatus ) Lyncodon Patagonian weasel ( L. patagonicus ) Martes ( Martens ) American marten ( M. americana ) Yellow - throated marten ( M. flavigula ) Beech marten ( M. foina ) Nilgiri marten ( M. gwatkinsii ) European pine marten ( M. martes ) Japanese marten ( M. melampus ) Sable ( M. zibellina ) Pekania Fisher ( P. pennanti ) Meles Japanese badger ( M. anakuma ) Asian badger ( M. leucurus ) European badger ( M. meles ) Mellivora Honey badger ( M. capensis ) Melogale ( Ferret - badgers ) Bornean ferret - badger ( M. everetti ) Chinese ferret - badger ( M. moschata ) Javan ferret - badger ( M. orientalis ) Burmese ferret - badger ( M. personata ) Mustela ( Weasels and Ferrets ) Amazon weasel ( M. africana ) Mountain weasel ( M. altaica ) Stoat ( M. erminea ) Steppe polecat ( M. eversmannii ) Colombian weasel ( M. felipei ) Long - tailed weasel ( M. frenata ) Japanese weasel ( M. itatsi ) Yellow - bellied weasel ( M. kathiah ) European mink ( M. lutreola ) Indonesian mountain weasel ( M. lutreolina ) Black - footed ferret ( M. nigripes ) Least weasel ( M. nivalis ) Malayan weasel ( M. nudipes ) European polecat ( M. putorius ) Siberian weasel ( M. sibirica ) Back - striped weasel ( M. strigidorsa ) Egyptian weasel ( M. subpalmata ) Neovison ( Minks ) American mink ( N. vison ) Poecilogale African striped weasel ( P. albinucha ) Taxidea American badger ( T. taxus ) Vormela Marbled polecat ( V. peregusna ) Taxon identifiers Wikidata : Q82738 ADW : Vulpes_lagopus ARKive : vulpes - lagopus EoL : 1053894 GBIF : 5219303 iNaturalist : 233598 IRMNG : 11028758 ITIS : 622025 IUCN : 899 MSW : 14000873 NCBI : 494514 uBio : 1455913 WoRMS : 404130 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arctic_fox&oldid=846306968 '' Categories : IUCN Red List least concern species Arctic land animals Holarctic fauna Mammals described in 1758 Mammals of Europe Mammals of Greenland Mammals of Iceland Mammals of North America Mammals of Russia Mammals of the Arctic Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Vulpes Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter CS1 Latin - language sources ( la ) CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. 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Question: what type of habitat does the arctic fox live in
Answer: Arctic tundra habitats in northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America