Vulpes cana the Blanford's fox

Vulpes cana the Blanford's fox

Figure 1: Blandford’s fox (Vulpes cana)

The Blandford’s fox (Vulpes cana) is a small desert fox that evolved 4 – 4.5 million years ago (Macdonald, 2009). It can be found in the mountainous regions of the Israeli and Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan and Pakistan with an isolated population in Eastern Egypt with an expected population throughout Saudi Arabia (Figure 2) (Macdonald, 2009; Kingdon, 1997).

This fox has developed catlike claws for a cliff-dwelling lifestyle (Macdonald, 2009), giving them an advantage in this type of habitat. V. cana also has developed a dense fur coat that suggests an adaptation to cold temperatures (temperatures can be a low as 6⁰C in Eastern Egypt). The volume of fur in the tail is almost equal to that on the body (Kingdon, 1997), which could act as a possible decoy against larger predators.

Individuals found in Israel are strictly nocturnal (Geffen, 1994). Geffen and Macdonald (1992) hypothesized that this activity pattern is an “anti-predator response to diurnal raptors”, such as hawks and eagles.

Blanford's foxes are mainly insectivorous and "frugivorous", meaning ‘fruit eater’ (Geffen et al., 1992). Their diet also includes small vertebrates (Kingdon, 1997), such as frogs and small lizards. All of which can be found in the mountainous regions, in which this fox inhabits. Suggesting that the Blanford’s fox has adapted its diet to best suit the opportunity for food in the surrounding environment. These are some simple adaptions that the Blandford’s fox has that give the individuals of this species the best possible chance of survival in its surrounding environmental conditions. 

Vulpes lagopus the Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus the Arctic Fox

Figure 1: Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)            

The Arctic fox (Vulpes (Alopex) lagopus) only recently evolved, roughly 0.5 million years ago (Macdonald, 2009). V. lagopus is found in all arctic tundra habitats, from seashore to sea ice and in most islands of Northern Eurasia, North America, Greenland and Iceland (Figure 2) (Macdonald, 2009; Nowak, 1999).

To adapt to its environment this fox has two dichromatic colour forms.  This includes a “white” fur coat, which is pure white to a grey brown in the summer. However, individuals in a less severe climate tend to remain fairly dark throughout the year. Individuals with the “blue” colouration are a pale blue grey in winter and a dark blue grey in the summer (Macdonald, 2009; Nowak, 1999). This “blue” colouration constitutes 1% of the arctic fox population of mainland Canada, less than 5% of that of Baffin Island, 50% of Greenland and most of the Icelandic population (Nowak, 1999). A reason for this distribution of the two fur colourations is suggested to be for the increased camouflage value it offered to individuals in coastal areas. Thus, giving this species an advantage in such a harsh climate.

As well as added camouflage, the coats of these foxes can increase up to 200% in depth in winter to keep them warm (Nowak, 1999). Arctic foxes also have an increased blood flow to a capillary rete on the skin of the pad, to keep their paws from freezing. It is also suggested that they may have a counter current vascular exchange mechanism to avoid heat loss when warm blood flows into the legs (Nowak, 1999).  These adaptations to the cold environment are ultimately what give this fox the ability to survive in such hard environment and climatic conditions.