Mammals · Carnivora · Canidae

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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A small canid whose thick coat is white in winter and brown in summer, able to survive temperatures as low as -50 °C.

Weight

3 kg – 8 kg

Size

45 cm – 70 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

Several hundred thousand animals across the Arctic as a whole. The exception is the mainland Scandinavian subpopulation, in a critical state: some 560 adults were estimated between 2021 and 2023 on the mountain tundra of Norway, Sweden and Finland, against fewer than 200 two decades earlier

TundraPolarOmnivore Variable activity In pairs Tundra Polar Mammal

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Fun facts

It is the only land mammal native to Iceland.
It changes colour with the seasons to stay camouflaged.
It can locate prey beneath the snow by hearing alone.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Arctic tundra and coastal country right around the circumpolar north
Birth weight: 57-150 grams at birth (usual reference ~70 g)
Size at birth: Tiny at birth, with a dark coat
Sexual maturity: 9-10 months
Gestation / incubation: 49-57 days (usual reference 52 days)
Litter / clutch size: 5 to 25 cubs per litter, the largest of any carnivore
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 16.3 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Britannica; Animal Diversity Web; A-Z Animals; Nature Table (WordPress); Arctic Portal; Animals We Like; Animalia.bio; IUCN Red List: Preocupación menor desde 2004, con una población global amplia; la abundancia fluctúa en ciclos de 3-4 años siguiendo a la de lemmings y topillos || IUCN Red List, evaluación de Vulpes lagopus; Wallén et al. 2023; WWF