Arctic Fox
Arctic tundra:
Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus)
The arctic tundra is one of the harshest places on the planet to
live. Temperatures in the tundra can plummet to below -50. Surviving in such low
temperatures requires bodily adaptations both inside and out.
The external adaptations of the arctic fox are extensive, they
have a very low surface area to volume ratio, which means there is as little
surface area on show as possible compared to the fox’s size, this is why they
are generally a rounded shape. This also means that extensions such as the
fox’s ears, snout, nose and legs are shorter, contributing to the low amount of
surface area. A smaller amount of surface area means less heat can escape from
the fox’s body, therefore keeping them warmer in the harsh weather conditions.
The fox’s body is also covered in thick fur which is able to change colour. In
the summer months the fur is a brownish blonde colour, which enables it to
blend into the summer tundra better. In the winter the coat changes to a
blue/white colour and becomes a lot thicker. The winter coat consists of a
dense undercoat to block out the cold winds and to insulate the skin and the
top coat which is made of longer hairs is to trap a layer of warm air in order
to keep the fox warmer. The soles of the fox’s feet are also covered in dense
fur in order to insulate the pads and keep them from freezing as they come into
contact with the ice itself, the extra fur on the feet also provides traction
on the ice to prevent the fox from slipping, this is helpful when trying to
catch prey as the fox will not be slipping and lose valuable time. The fox also
has adapted an extra thick bushy tail, which it can use to wrap around itself
at night when the temperatures drop for extra insulation. The fox will bury its
head into the tail in order to keep his valuable sense organs warm such as the
ears and eyes. The sense organs themselves have adapted to the harsh weather
too, the eyes have become progressively smaller in order to protect from the
cold and the wind, a sensitive area like the eyeball is particularly
susceptible to frostbite and other injuries if it is unnecessarily large. The
ears have also become thicker in order to insulate the sound waves and direct as
many as possible into the fox’s ear. This has increased the fox’s hearing
ability which is why they mostly rely on hearing rather than any other sense.
The internal adaptations of the fox are also extremely important,
for example the fox uses counter current heat exchange in order to
thermoregulate. This means that the blood from the core of the fox’s body being
transported by the arteries, heats up the blood in the fox’s peripheral veins
by transferring the heat across, meaning a steady supply of heat with minimal
energy loss. The reproductive system of the fox has also adapted to be very
speedy, with a gestation period of only 52 days. This means that the pups can
be born in the summer months where there may be a higher abundance of food and
therefore an increased chance of survival.
Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus)
The arctic tundra is one of the harshest places on the planet to
live. Temperatures in the tundra can plummet to below -50. Surviving in such low
temperatures requires bodily adaptations both inside and out.
The external adaptations of the arctic fox are extensive, they
have a very low surface area to volume ratio, which means there is as little
surface area on show as possible compared to the fox’s size, this is why they
are generally a rounded shape. This also means that extensions such as the
fox’s ears, snout, nose and legs are shorter, contributing to the low amount of
surface area. A smaller amount of surface area means less heat can escape from
the fox’s body, therefore keeping them warmer in the harsh weather conditions.
The fox’s body is also covered in thick fur which is able to change colour. In
the summer months the fur is a brownish blonde colour, which enables it to
blend into the summer tundra better. In the winter the coat changes to a
blue/white colour and becomes a lot thicker. The winter coat consists of a
dense undercoat to block out the cold winds and to insulate the skin and the
top coat which is made of longer hairs is to trap a layer of warm air in order
to keep the fox warmer. The soles of the fox’s feet are also covered in dense
fur in order to insulate the pads and keep them from freezing as they come into
contact with the ice itself, the extra fur on the feet also provides traction
on the ice to prevent the fox from slipping, this is helpful when trying to
catch prey as the fox will not be slipping and lose valuable time. The fox also
has adapted an extra thick bushy tail, which it can use to wrap around itself
at night when the temperatures drop for extra insulation. The fox will bury its
head into the tail in order to keep his valuable sense organs warm such as the
ears and eyes. The sense organs themselves have adapted to the harsh weather
too, the eyes have become progressively smaller in order to protect from the
cold and the wind, a sensitive area like the eyeball is particularly
susceptible to frostbite and other injuries if it is unnecessarily large. The
ears have also become thicker in order to insulate the sound waves and direct as
many as possible into the fox’s ear. This has increased the fox’s hearing
ability which is why they mostly rely on hearing rather than any other sense.
The internal adaptations of the fox are also extremely important,
for example the fox uses counter current heat exchange in order to
thermoregulate. This means that the blood from the core of the fox’s body being
transported by the arteries, heats up the blood in the fox’s peripheral veins
by transferring the heat across, meaning a steady supply of heat with minimal
energy loss. The reproductive system of the fox has also adapted to be very
speedy, with a gestation period of only 52 days. This means that the pups can
be born in the summer months where there may be a higher abundance of food and
therefore an increased chance of survival.
Fennec Fox
Sahara Desert
Fennec Fox (Vulpes Zerda)
The fennec fox is native to the Sahara desert, where there are
extreme temperatures, dry terrain and a distinct lack of water. The complete
opposite to the arctic fox, because of the differences in the environment, the
fennec fox has completely different adaptations, starting with the Physical
structure of the fox. The large ears of the fox would be the first thing you
notice if you were to see it. They are usually 6 inches long and provide
increased surface area on the fox’s body, therefore aiding in heat dispersion,
especially on a hot day. The large ears also provide excellent hearing as the
large extremity guides the sound waves into the inner ear, providing a better
chance at catching prey. Although
during the day temperatures can soar to over 80 degrees, on a night the sahara
is generally a lot cooler and sometimes moderately cold. This is why the fennec
fox has thick fur, to insulate its body from the cold night air when hunting,
as it is nocturnal. The colour of the fur also provides excellent camouflage
and heat reflection during the day for the occasions where they are ambushed by
predators and need to evacuate their burrows. The bottom of the fox’s paws are
covered in fur which helps insulate against the extreme temperatures and also
provides traction on loose sand. The fox’s eyes are also slightly
slanted, this could be to protect against the sand entering the fox’s eye and
impairing their vision.
Because of the lack of water, the fox’s body had adapted
internally to deal with this. The kidneys restrict water loss and prevent
excess water from leaving the body via the excretory system. The kidneys
prevent water loss by capillary action which reabsorbs the waste back into the
fox’s body while it is being processed in the kidneys, therefore making the
urine more concentrated. The respiratory system of the fox has adapted to cope
with the amount of oxygen the fox needs, especially on a hot day when the fox
is panting. The fennec fox can withstand temperatures of 35 degrees before
needing to pant, the respiratory and circulatory systems have had to adapt to
be enable the fox to do this so it does not lose valuable energy. When the
fennec fox does pant, it can take up to 690 breaths a minute which requires
very strong and fast respiratory
and circulatory systems in order to provide the heat and gas exchange of oxygen
quick enough to keep up with as many breaths the fox is taking.
Fennec Fox (Vulpes Zerda)
The fennec fox is native to the Sahara desert, where there are
extreme temperatures, dry terrain and a distinct lack of water. The complete
opposite to the arctic fox, because of the differences in the environment, the
fennec fox has completely different adaptations, starting with the Physical
structure of the fox. The large ears of the fox would be the first thing you
notice if you were to see it. They are usually 6 inches long and provide
increased surface area on the fox’s body, therefore aiding in heat dispersion,
especially on a hot day. The large ears also provide excellent hearing as the
large extremity guides the sound waves into the inner ear, providing a better
chance at catching prey. Although
during the day temperatures can soar to over 80 degrees, on a night the sahara
is generally a lot cooler and sometimes moderately cold. This is why the fennec
fox has thick fur, to insulate its body from the cold night air when hunting,
as it is nocturnal. The colour of the fur also provides excellent camouflage
and heat reflection during the day for the occasions where they are ambushed by
predators and need to evacuate their burrows. The bottom of the fox’s paws are
covered in fur which helps insulate against the extreme temperatures and also
provides traction on loose sand. The fox’s eyes are also slightly
slanted, this could be to protect against the sand entering the fox’s eye and
impairing their vision.
Because of the lack of water, the fox’s body had adapted
internally to deal with this. The kidneys restrict water loss and prevent
excess water from leaving the body via the excretory system. The kidneys
prevent water loss by capillary action which reabsorbs the waste back into the
fox’s body while it is being processed in the kidneys, therefore making the
urine more concentrated. The respiratory system of the fox has adapted to cope
with the amount of oxygen the fox needs, especially on a hot day when the fox
is panting. The fennec fox can withstand temperatures of 35 degrees before
needing to pant, the respiratory and circulatory systems have had to adapt to
be enable the fox to do this so it does not lose valuable energy. When the
fennec fox does pant, it can take up to 690 breaths a minute which requires
very strong and fast respiratory
and circulatory systems in order to provide the heat and gas exchange of oxygen
quick enough to keep up with as many breaths the fox is taking.