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MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



ARCTIC FOX 

 Alopex lagopus innuitus (Mcrriam) 



Other Names. — Blue Fox, White Fox. 



General Description. — A small Fox with thick, 

 bushy tail, pelage changing to white in winter. Form 

 of body in all essential details as in Red Fox. Hair 

 long and fine. 



Dental Formula. — Same as given for Red Fox. 



Pelage. — .\dults : Siimiiicr. Head and upper parts, 

 flanks and outside of legs slate brown, under parts 

 and inside of legs dingy white; tail brownish above, 

 white below, tip white. Winter. All pure white. 



Measurements. — Sexes practically equal. Length, 

 30 inches; tail. 10 inches; heel to end of claw, 4^^ 

 inches. 



Range. — Alaska, from Point Barrow southward. An 

 inhabitant of Arctic regions. 



Food. — Principally lemmings, meadow mice, .\rctic 

 hares and ptarmigan. 



Remarks.— Although for a long time considered as 

 a member of the same genus as the Red Fox, J'ulj'i-s. 

 the Arctic Fox is now generally considered as being 

 sufficiently distinctive to be a genus by himself. All 



the members of this genus are very much alike, the 

 main differences being in cranial characters and in size. 

 As all turn white in winter there is no opportunity for 

 any variation in the winter pelage. The Blue Fox is 

 a color phase of the Arctic Fox. and is analogous to 

 the silver phase of the Red Fox. 



Related Species 



Alaska Arctic Fox. — Alcpcx lagopus iuiadttis (Mer- 

 riam). The typical North American form, the animal 

 of the above description. Point Barrow. -Maska, south- 

 ward and eastward in Arctic America. 



Ungava Arctic Fox. — Alopex lagopus ungava (Mer- 

 riam). Slightly larger; cranial differences. Ungava, 

 Canada. 



Pribilof Arctic Fox. — Alopex prihilofensis (Mer- 

 riam). Largest of the .\rctic Foxes. St. George Island 

 and St. Paul Island. Bering Sea. 



Hall Island Arctic Fox. — Alopex hallensis (Mer- 

 riam). Skull shorter and broader. Hall Island, Bering 

 Sea. 



" The Fox with a good reputation " would 

 he a good designation for this member of the 

 Fox family. All the naturalists and many others 

 who have come in contact with it have a good 

 word to sav for the Arctic Fox. Mr. W'itmer 



Stone says : " The Arctic Fox is in many ways 

 the most attractive of its race, being wholly free 

 frotn the rank odor characteristic of the other 

 Foxes. ... In its family hfe it is certainly 

 the equal, if not indeed the superior, of many of 



By permission of the New Yurk Zuulugical Society 



ARCTIC FOX 



This photograph gives a good idea of the extremely soft and rich coat of the Arctic Fox, during the 



winter months 



