Arctic Fox Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum Common Name: Arctic Fox Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Alopex Species: lagopus Museum Location: Description: In the summer, the arctic fox is dark gray to bluish brown. In the winter, it is white or creamy white. Its coat is very thick all year long. It ahs rounded ears and a shorter muzzle, which helps the fox conserve heat. The arctic fox has short stubby legs, and fur lining the soles of their feet. This fur prevents the fox from slipping on ice and helps insulate its paws from the polar climate. It has a long, bushy tail that protects the fox's nose from the cold while it sleeps. They weigh between 5.5 lbs and 20 lbs. Their length varies between 30 inches and 45 inches. Habitat and Range: The arctic fox can be found in the tundra latitudes, from Alaska to northern Quebec, Europe, Asia, Iceland, and Greenland. During the summer, it lives in the tundra at the edge of the forest. In the winter it lives on the ice and snow. Diet: Foxes are omnivores and scavengers, feeding on a variety of things like berries, birds, eggs, ground squirrels, and insects. The organism they depend on most as a source of food is the lemming. Arctic foxes will also eat the leftover kill from polar bears and wolves, and will rummage into Inuit stores of food as well. Behavior: These mammals are nomadic, moving from place to place in an attempt to find food. During the winter they live in solitude, but in the summer males and females pair up to mate and to care for the young. During September and October the arctic fox family unit separates so that each individual can live on its own for the winter. Communication:   Reproduction: Breeding season occurs between March and April, when males and females form monogamous relationships. Gestation is approximately 52 days; the average litter contains seven pups but can contain a maximum of fifteen pups. Offspring are fully weaned by 1.5 months of age and leave the den by 3 months. They will reach sexual maturity at 9-10 months. Species Status: The arctic fox is not endangered, although they are still hunted for their pelts. Interesting Facts: Alopex lagopus has more young per litter than any wild animal in the world.