Arctic fox biography

Fox 2 ordinary fox, or polar fox, less often the Arctic fox - the type of predatory mammals of the Psov family family, belongs to the genus of foxes.

A arctic fox, a small predatory animal resembling a fox. Body length - 50–75 cm, tail - 25-30 cm, height at the withers - 20-30 cm. The average weight of the male body is 3.5 kg, maximum - up to 9 kg, females - 3 kg. Unlike the fox, the body of the fog is squat, the muzzle is shortened; The ears are rounded. The only representative of the Psov family who is characterized by a pronounced seasonal dimorphism of coloring.

In color, the usual white in winter is distinguished-pure white, in the summer-dirty brown and blue fox. The best fur for the arctic foxes is in January - February. The arctic fox is distributed behind the northern polar circle, on the coast and islands of the Arctic Ocean, in the tundra and forest -tundra zones. In Russia, this is a typical representative of the fauna of the mainland tundra and forest -tundra.

Forms 10 subspecies. Typical habitats of the fox are open tundra with a hilly relief. On sand hills and coastal terraces, he digs holes, complex underground labyrinths with many inputs. The arctic fox is omnivorous, its feed includes near animal species and 25 species of plants. However, its basis is small rodents, especially lemmings, as well as birds.

It feeds both as a shore, as well as produced by fish, as well as plant foods: ink berries, clogging, herbs, seaweed seaweed. Sometimes it even attacks the calves of the northern deer who have fought off the herd. He does not refuse to fall. On the coast, the fox often accompanies white bears, and he gets part of the meat of the dead seals. Finally, he eats animals that have come into traps, not making an exception even for other arctic foxes.

In the summer, it stored excess foods in the den for the winter. The fox has well -developed hearing and sense of smell; A little weaker - vision. The voice is a yielding barking. Pesetz - typical monogams, in the litter of 7-12 cubs. Arctic fox - an important commercial beast, is a source of valuable fur; In the north, the basis of fur fishing is the basis. Blue fox skins are especially appreciated, which is also an object of cell dilution.

On the islands surrounded by the non -freezing sea, half -free breeding has been established - the foxes live at large and at the signal resort to food to special traps. Farms for breeding arctic foxes are available in the northern and middle latitudes of America, Europe and Asia. The life expectancy of foxes in a natural habitat: 6-10 years.