Arctic fox

The Arctic fox is a small fox native to Arctic regions. Its dense insulating fur and seasonal coat changes help it survive extreme cold and blend into changing surroundings.

Insulation: The slowing of heat transfer between an organism and its surroundings. Dense fur traps air and reduces heat loss in the Arctic fox.
Lemming: A small rodent of Arctic and subarctic environments, often living beneath snow. Lemmings are a major prey source, and their population cycles affect fox breeding success.
Trophic cascade: An ecological chain in which changes to one trophic level affect other levels. Fox predation can influence prey populations and the animals that depend on them.
Red fox: A widespread fox species with a reddish coat, found across much of the Northern Hemisphere. It overlaps with Arctic foxes in some regions and can compete with them as climates warm.
Countercurrent exchange: A heat-transfer arrangement in which nearby fluids flow in opposite directions, conserving heat. Blood flow in its lower legs helps limit heat lost to snow and ice.
Food caching: The storage of food for consumption at a later time. Arctic foxes bury surplus prey, creating reserves when hunting becomes difficult.
Arctic tundra: A treeless biome of cold regions, marked by permafrost, low vegetation, and a short growing season. This is the principal land ecosystem occupied by Arctic foxes.
Kit fox: A small fox species adapted to arid regions of western North America. Its desert adaptations contrast with the Arctic fox's cold-weather specializations.
Bergmann's rule: An ecological pattern in which related warm-blooded animals tend to have larger bodies in colder climates. The fox's compact body helps reduce heat loss in its cold habitat.
Scavenging: Obtaining food from dead animals rather than killing them. Carcasses left by larger predators can sustain foxes through lean periods.

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