science education resource

Adaptations of the Arctic Fox

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Vulpes lagopus
Adaptations of the Arctic Fox

Adaptation (Structure and Function)

Adaptation in a population of living things happens as a result of an adaptive trait. This is any inheritable trait that increases it’s survival rate so that it can live longer, reproduce longer, and have more offspring (that also have that trait). Adaptive traits can improve an animals' ability to find food, make a safer home, escape predators, survive cold or heat or lack of water.

The Arctic fox is well adapted for its northern habitat. All white, they blend into the frozen landscape. They have thick fur and a long, bushy tail that they use to wrap around their body at night for warmth. Even their feet are furry which helps keep them from slipping on the ice. They have small eyes, ears and nose for protection against the cold. They have short legs that keep them close to the ground, away from the bitter wind. These physical adaptations make it possible to survive in their harsh, northern climate.

Activity

For Discussion and Critical Thinking:

The Arctic fox has adaptive traits that helps it survive out on the frozen tundra.

1. Name two of the Arctic fox’s adaptive traits and how they help them survive:
 
2. If the Arctic warms with climate change and the brown tundra is exposed, how will this affect the Arctic fox?
 
3. Name two other animals that live on the tundra and describe an adaptive traits that helps them survive.

4. Do you have any physical traits that help you survive? Discuss one.

Adaptations of the Arctic Fox

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Use Teacher Login to show answer keys or other teacher-only items.

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Adaptations of the Arctic Fox" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Adaptations-of-the-Arctic-Fox >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.