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When most people think of a fox, they probably imagine a long, mid-sized, sleek, dog-like creature with red fur. This is definitely a fox, but it's not the only type of fox. If this is what you imagined, then you're picturing a red fox, which is the most common and widespread fox species. But arctic foxes are arguably one of the most beautiful fox species. Even though the red fox is an adorable critter, the arctic fox can definitely give it a run for its money.

So, what are the differences between these two fox species? How can you tell them apart? We're going to answer both of those questions before the end of this article.

Visual Differences

A Quick Overview

Red Fox Overview

Red foxes are the most common and largest of all fox species. They're what most people think of when you say fox. For instance, the fox from the movie The Fox and the Hound was a red fox.

As you might guess from the name, red foxes are red. Their fur is red over most of their body, though there might be some gray or black patches on the body or ears. The underside can also be white.

Of all foxes, red foxes are the largest. They're still only about as large as a medium-sized dog, topping out at a height of 20 inches at the shoulders. That would be a huge specimen though; most are closer to 16 inches or so.

Red foxes also have a bit of heft to them. Some of the smaller ones might only weigh 10 pounds, but larger specimens can reach weights of up to 30 pounds; twice as heavy as a large arctic fox.

Some fox species are monogamous, but not red foxes. While a male might mate with the same partner for life, he also might take several partners. It's not just males though, females have also been observed surrounded by males during mating season.

The red fox is about as diverse and adaptable of an animal as there is. They can survive and even thrive in deserts, grasslands, plains, and even deserts. This is part of why they're the most common and far-spread fox species. You can find red foxes in most environments on earth.

Arctic Fox Overview

All foxes are pretty cute, but arctic foxes possess an elegance that few creatures in the animal kingdom can match. They're not quite as big or common as red foxes, and they tend to stick mainly to the northernmost regions, so you probably won't encounter one unless you live in an arctic area.

Arctic foxes are instantly recognizable and easy to distinguish from red foxes. They have an elegant, all-white coat that covers their entire head and body with no other colors present. This allows them to blend in perfectly with the snow in the arctic environments where they live.

Foxes are all relatively small creatures, but arctic foxes are considerably smaller than red foxes. With an average height of just 10-12 inches at the shoulders, some red foxes are twice as tall as their arctic cousins. Similarly, large red foxes can weigh twice as much as even the largest arctic foxes.

While red foxes have been known to be promiscuous, arctic foxes tend to be monogamous. They pick one partner and mate for life. This could be partially due to the lower numbers of mating options available and the fact that they're spread out over incredible distances. Either way, arctic foxes aren't as free-loving as red foxes.

Arctic foxes live only in cold places that see a lot of snowfall. They're perfectly suited for a snowy environment, so that's where you'll find them. For the most part, they inhabit the areas that are too cold and harsh for other fox species.

In recent years, red foxes have been forcing their way farther north, encroaching on the habitat of arctic foxes. When they meet, the smaller arctic foxes generally lose the confrontation, which is beginning to have a negative effect on arctic fox populations.

Are arctic foxes endangered?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a list of threatened and endangered species called the Red List. It's considered to be the most comprehensive source of information on the extinction risk that different animal species are facing. According to the Red List, arctic foxes are in the "least concern" category.

Are red foxes an invasive species?

In countries where the red fox population is native, they're not an invasive species. However, red foxes have been introduced into several places artificially, including the United States and Australia.

In Australia, the foxes took just 100 years to spread across most of the continent, reducing the populations of native animal species along the way, including various marsupials, reptiles, rodents, small mammals, and more. Red foxes are considered an invasive species here, as well as other areas where they've been artificially, often illegally, introduced.

Are red foxes and arctic foxes monogamous?

For a long time, it was believed that all foxes are monogamous. But red foxes have been documented engaging in non-monogamous behavior. Arctic foxes, on the other hand, seem to be monogamous, in opposition to their red-furred cousins.

Conclusion

Red foxes and arctic foxes are part of the same family and even the same genus, but they're not the same species. Many differences separate these two fox species, from the color of their fur to their overall size and stature. Both are true displays of nature's majesty, though red foxes can certainly become a nuisance when introduced into territories they're not native to.

Related Fox Reads:

Feature Image Credit: Pixabay

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Red Fox vs Arctic Fox: What are the Differences? | Pet Keen

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When most people think of a fox, they probably imagine a long, mid-sized, sleek, dog-like creature with red fur. This is definitely a fox, but it's not the only type of fox. If this is what you imagined, then you're picturing a red fox, which is the most common and widespread fox species.

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common octopus or Octopus vulgaris

seven spotted ladybird or Coccinella septempunctata

Sea walnut or Mnemiopsis leidyi

cauliflower coral or Pocillopora damicornis

branching tube sponge or  Aiolochroia crassa

Hypsibius Dujardini no common name

caenorhabsitis elegans no common name

Everything in the animallia kingdom all have to find their foods through their life all because that cant produce their own. All these species have to find their food through hunting the prey, or finding a really nice bush

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Black-headed bunting or Emberiza melanocephala

golden arrow poison frog or Atelopus Zeteki

urn ascidan or Didemnum molle

sea lamprey or petromyzon marinus

blacktip reefshark or carcharhinus melanopterus

common lancelet or branchiostoma lanceolatum

All these soecies have the same thing in common all have had a tail or still currently have tails

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Animals based in the same classification 

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Animals based in the same classification 

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Aferican elephant or loxodanta africana

Tent-making bat or Uroderma Bilobatum

Amur hedghog or Erinaceus amurensis

Granada hare or Lepus granatensis

Short beaked echidna or Tachyglossus aculeatus

relation: |  the relation to the arctic gox is they all have some sort of hair on their bodies, they each have a set of lungs, and give birth to live younglings.

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Coyote or Canis Latrans

Island fox or Urocyon Littorlis

Bat-eared fox or Otocyon Megalotis

Relation: | based around structure of body and the most similar attributes of the animals.

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Japanese Marten or Marten Melampus

Dhole or cuon alpinus

Spotted hyaena or crocuta crocuta

Sea Otter or Enhydra lutris

These spesies are related based on the foods they eaat based in the carnivora order

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Vulpes velox or Swift Fox | realation can be seen through the structure of the head shape

Vulpes macrotis or Kit Fox or Desert Fox | relation can be seen through the diet of the animal

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Common Name:

Arctic foxes

Scientific Name:

Vulpes lagopus

Average Life Span In The Wild:

3 to 6 years

Size:

Head and body: 18 to 26.75 inches; tail: up to 13.75 inches

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

The arctic fox is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive frigid Arctic temperatures as low as -58°F in the treeless lands where it makes its home. It has furry soles, short ears, and a short muzzle-all-important adaptations to the chilly clime. Arctic foxes live in burrows, and in a blizzard they may tunnel into the snow to create shelter.

Arctic Adaptations

Arctic foxes have beautiful white (sometimes blue-gray) coats that act as very effective winter camouflage. The natural hues allow the animal to blend into the tundra's ubiquitous snow and ice. When the seasons change, the fox's coat turns as well, adopting a brown or gray appearance that provides cover among the summer tundra's rocks and plants.

These colorings help foxes to effectively hunt rodents, birds, and even fish. But in winter prey can be scarce on the ground. At such times, arctic foxes will follow the region's premier predator-a polar bear-to eat the leftover scraps from its kills. Foxes will also eat vegetables when they are available.

Like a cat's, this fox's thick tail aids its balance. But for an arctic fox the tail (or "brush") is especially useful as warm cover in cold weather.

Female arctic foxes give birth each spring to a large litter of up to 14 pups.

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Read how this hearty mammal changes its appearance to outfox its predators and sneak up on its prey during the Arctic winter and summer.

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Kingdom: | Animalia
Phylum: | Chordate
Class: | Mammalia
Order: | Carnivora
Family: | Canidae
Genus: | Vulpes
Species: | Vulpes lagopus