The arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus, formerly known as Alopex lagopus ), also known as the white fox, polar fox or snow fox, is a small fox native to Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is common throughout the Arctic tundra biome.

Vulpes lagopus ( arctic fox ) sleeping with its tail wrapped as a blanket.

The arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet.

The arctic fox has such keen hearing that it can precisely locate the position of prey under the snow.

The arctic fox tends to be active from early September to early May.

The arctic fox will generally eat any small animal it can find: lemmings, voles, hares, owls, eggs, and carrion, etc.

During April and May the arctic fox also preys on ringed seal pups when the young animals are confined to a snow den and are relatively helpless.

If there is an overabundance of food hunted, the arctic fox will bury what the family cannot eat.

When its normal prey is scarce, the arctic fox scavenges the leftovers and even feces of larger predators, such as the polar bear, even though the bear's prey includes the arctic fox itself.

* Bering Islands arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus beringensis

* Pribilof Islands arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus pribilofensis

* Greenland arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus foragorapusis

The arctic fox has a circumpolar range, meaning that it is found throughout the entire Arctic, including the outer edges of Greenland, Russia, Canada, Alaska, and Svalbard, as well as in Subarctic and alpine areas, such as Iceland and mainland alpine Scandinavia.

The arctic fox is the only native land mammal to Iceland.

The Arctic Fox Center in Súðavík contains an exhibition on the arctic fox and conducts studies on the influence of tourism on the population.

The abundance of the arctic fox species tends to fluctuate in a cycle along with the population of lemmings and voles ( a 3-to-4-year cycle )..

Since less of its surface area is exposed to the arctic cold, less heat escapes the body.

The world population is thus not endangered, but two arctic fox subpopulations are.

The arctic fox is classed as a " prohibited new organism " under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 preventing it from being imported into the country.

The E 4 is the fastest road to go from Germany / Denmark to areas north of the arctic circle, including places in Norway like Tromsø.

The climate is arctic to subarctic with cool summers and cold winters.

Greenland is believed by some geologists to have some of the world ’ s largest remaining oil resources: in 2001, the U. S. Geological Survey found that the waters off north-eastern Greenland ( north and south of the arctic circle ) could contain up to of oil and, in 2010, the British petrochemical company Cairns Oil reported " the first firm indications " of commercially viable oil deposits.

The aim of this regulation is to ensure the preservation of a pristine arctic island and the marine life nearby, including the ocean floor.

Their research focus is Mars Analogue Research, e. g. the AustroMars mission with roughly 130 volunteers supporting a mission simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station ( MDRS ) and the ongoing PolAres multi-year research program which encompass the development of a Mars analogue rover system ans a novel spacesuit prototype dubbed " Aouda. X ", culminating in an arctic expedition in 2011.

Then there is a cold zone to ( treeline ), a subarctic or alpine zone to and fully arctic climate above that.

Pytheas is the first known scientific visitor and reporter of the arctic, polar ice, and the Germanic tribes.

The climate of the Svalbard archipeligo is arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current along the west and northern coasts.

The boreal forest is home to many types of berries ; some are confined to the southern and middle closed boreal forest ( such as raspberry ), others grow in most areas of the taiga ( such as cranberry and cloudberry ), and some can grow in both the taiga and the low arctic ( southern part of ) tundra ( such as bilberry and lingonberry ).

In the mid-latitudes and arctic, winter is associated with snow and ice.

It is a major diet component because of the wheat plant ’ s agronomic adaptability with the ability to grow from near arctic regions to equator, from sea level to plains of Tibet ( 4000 meters above sea level ).

North America is a large continent that extends from the tropics north into arctic areas, and has no major east-west mountain range to block air flow between these two areas.

It is currently associated in developed countries with expensive, designer clothing, although fur is still used by indigenous people in arctic zones and higher elevations for its warmth and protection.

This has been supported by some evidence in the arctic ground squirrel.

Dall sheep and wolves are active all year, while grizzly bears and arctic ground squirrels are frequently seen during summer but hibernate in winter.

Some willows ( particularly arctic and alpine species ) are low-growing or creeping shrubs ; for example, the dwarf willow ( Salix herbacea ) rarely exceeds in height, though it spreads widely across the ground.

In the North American arctic, tools made of ground slate were used by the Norton, Dorset, and Thule tool cultures.

Rubus chamaemorus ( Greek chamai " on the ground ", moros " mulberry ") is a rhizomatous herb native to alpine and arctic tundra and boreal forest, producing amber-colored edible fruit similar to the raspberry or blackberry.

The main proximate cause of mortality was predation by small mammals, including red squirrels ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) and arctic ground squirrels ( Spermophilus parryii ).

Smaller animals, such as hoary marmots, arctic ground squirrels, beavers, pikas, and snowshoe hares are seen in abundance.

The arctic hare survives with a thick coat of fur and usually digs holes under the ground or snow to keep warm and sleep.

When eating plants, the arctic hare likes to stand where there is less snow to easily locate twigs or plants that fall off or lie on the ground for it to chew on / feed on.

Many Pineapple Express events follow or occur simultaneously with major arctic troughs in the Northwestern United States, often leading to major snow-melt flooding with warm, tropical rains falling on frozen, snow laden ground.

Used in arctic coastal regions during " rasputitsa " or great spring thaw, when ice hinders boats and cannot support ground vehicles, it is a low cost alternate to air-cushion vehicles and helicopters and capable of rescue operations in weather conditions well beyond their safety limits.

* Characteristics of arctic ground squirrel alarm calls Oecologia Volume 7, Number 2 / June, 1971

Other indigenous wildlife include arctic fox, arctic ground squirrels, grizzly bears, polar bears, musk oxen, and arctic hares.