2/27/2024 0 Comments Arctic fox predatorsDuring the autumn months, the Arctic Fox will pack on fat reserves, often increasing its body mass by 50%. The pads on these paws are also covered with a layer of fur. ![]() Other adaptations see the Arctic Fox’s coat comprised of multiple fur layers (excellent for heat insulation) as well as a high percentage of body fat and a countercurrent heat exchange in the paws, helping to maintain core body temperature. In this sense, the Arctic Fox trumps the mighty, and far more infamous Polar Bear as the Arctic Circle's best-suited predator. This dense, furry protection provides the fox with an enormous advantage against the cold, with temperatures having to drop as low as -50☌ (−94☏) before the animal begins to show visible signs of discomfort. The remaining two thirds will turn brown and grey during the winter, blending in with the country's platinum-coloured hillsides. The colour of the foxes' coat changes to reflect the passing seasons this is particularly true of those living in Iceland, where only a third will sport a white winter coat. The Arctic Fox-otherwise referred to as a snow fox, polar fox or white fox-is a 3 to 5 kg (7 to 11 lbs) carnivorous mammal, notable for its thick white, blue or brown coat. No other mammal has such an authentic connection to the island, nor do they possess the physical characteristics that deem them masters of their environment.Īnd so, with my clumsy human fingers, I will attempt to gracefully detail the lives of these creatures, and perhaps draw out from their existence certain lessons that we can apply to our own lives living in a landscape characterised by ice and fire. I talk, of course, of the Arctic Fox ( Vulpes Lagopus), a verified local whose knowledge of Iceland surpasses even that of the experts here at Guide to Iceland. See also: The Icelandic Horse | A Comprehensive Guide. ![]() All the while, its fur and meat have provided warmth and sustenance in times of overbearing difficulty. See also: Weather in Iceland and Best Time to VisitĪs Iceland’s only native mammal, this creature has been both a blessing and a curse on the local population, often pinching chickens, young lambs and even burrowing its way into human parlours.In fact, one could argue that, for human beings at least, Iceland’s most dangerous predator is often the weather, a force quite capable of snuffing out lives within a matter of windswept seconds.Īnd yet, out there in that bleak, beautiful, threatening wild, there is a small, furry meat-eater who has prospered for ten thousand years, battling the elements and the rough terrain to become one of history’s toughest natural survivors. Now, that’s not to suggest Iceland is famed for its exotic safaris, nor as a habitat that suits large predators-this is despite the prolific merchandising of polar bears, an animal that only periodically arrives in Iceland, by accident.
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