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Arctic Fox


Arctic Fox
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-08-04
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D90, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.3, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-08-24 6:35
Viewed: 3532
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of the four little foxes, who suddenly came out of the ground and started to play for a very long time. See my previous photo. This was one of them. We didn’t see the parents.
They were very close. For this photo I only need 220 mm on my 400 mm lens.

Additional information:
Size
The average length is 85.3 cm , with a range of 80 to 110 cm, in the male and 82.1 cm, with a range of 71.3 to 85 cm, in the female. The tail is 31 cm long in the male and 30 cm long in the female. It is 25–30 cm high at the shoulder. On average males weigh 3.5 kg, with a range of 3.2 to 9.4 kg, while females average 2.9 kg, with a range of 1.4 to 3.2 kg.

Subspecies
Besides the nominate subspecies, Vulpes lagopus lagopus, there are four other subspecies of this fox:
• Bering Islands arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus beringensis
• Iceland Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus fuliginosus
• Pribilof Islands arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus pribilofensis
• Greenland arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus foragorapusis

Reproduction
The arctic fox tends to be active from early September to early May. The gestation period is 52 days. Litters tend to average 5–8 kits but may be as many as 25 (the largest in the order Carnivora). Both the mother and the father help to raise their young. The females leave the family and form their own groups and the males stay with the family.

Foxes tend to form monogamous pairs in the breeding season. Litters are born in the early summer and the parents raise the young in a large den. Dens can be complex underground networks, housing many generations of foxes. Young from a previous year's litter may stay with the parents to help rear younger siblings. The kits are initially brownish; as they become older they turn white. Their coat of fur also changes color when summer arrives, but in winter it is white.

Diet
The arctic fox will generally eat any small animal it can find: lemmings, voles, hares, owls, eggs, and carrion, etc. Lemmings are the most common prey. A family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. 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. Fish beneath the ice are also part of its diet. They also consume berries and seaweed and may thus be considered omnivores. It is a significant bird egg predator, excepting those of the largest tundra bird species. 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.

Source: Wikipedia
Hotelcalifornia, ramthakur, Alex99, kinglove, marius-secan, CeltickRanger, cobra112, anel has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
Foxtree 1 08-24 18:26
To Alex99: lightPeterZ 1 08-24 11:45
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Critiques [Translate]

A solo picture of an Arctic Fox was looked forward to and you have furnished it this time, Peter.
This is an amazing full size portrait of the cute little fellow looking back at you intently.
Framing, sharpness and natural colours couldn't be better.
Thanks for this fab shot!
Ram

Hello Mr.Peter,
Those who are not such fortunate to cherish the beauty of this specie physically infront of it,your picture has given us a chance to watch this beauty.

Very good sharpness with natural colour(although I haven't seen this specie).Like its eyes which is full of curiosity.Well captured.
Thanks for sharing,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

Hello Peter,
Amazing details,clarity and the soft effect is remarkable.
Regards,
Joy

adorable fox, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2013-08-24 8:43]

Hello Peter.
That is a superb looking fox, and your photo does great justice to its beauty. I like the focus on the eyes, as well as the composition and colors. Very well done. Regards Siggi

Hallo peter
SUPER!plaatje met mooi oogkontakt en haar scherp
de kleuren zijn prachtig
je za wel trots zijn op de foto
groet lou

  • Great 
  • Cobo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 1 N: 535] (5799)
  • [2013-08-24 9:54]

Just great Picture of this beauty fox. I like it a lot. Congratulation. Saludos.

Hello Peter,
Excellent photograph of Artic Fox, excellent sharpness and details, excellent composition, excellent background and lighting.
Thanks for sharing,
Daystar-7

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2013-08-24 11:30]
  • [+]

Hi Peter.
I am amazed with your portrait picture. It looks like a great studio work. Simply stunning DOF, sharpness of the charming animal, fantastic eye-contact and pose at whole, lovely soft lights and colours. Bravo. Excellent job.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-08-24 12:51]

Hi Peter,how is nice this very Young fox,a beautiful and tender capture whit fine details and colors despite the cloudy day,i like it!Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

Hello Peter,

Very nice shot of this beautiful Arctic fox! Nice DOF and natural colours, congrats and tfs.

Regards,

Peter

Ciao Peter, great capture of cute creature, fine details, splendid sharpness and wonderul natural colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Hi Peter. Absolutely beautiful animal. Your DOF captured the wildflowers behind him beautifully. Perfect focus on the eyes. Colours are soft but rich. Nice to see this. TFS Trevor

Hello Peter,
照的清晰 非常漂亮的狐
神情自然
光線柔合卻使狐的毛有層次感的美
很可愛的相片
構圖美麗 謝謝分享
STONE

  • Great 
  • tree Silver Star Critiquer [C: 28 W: 0 N: 14] (8)
  • [2013-08-24 18:24]

Hi Peter,
Very good photo. TFS.
Gary

Great photo Peter! Interesting subject, beautiful pose, very good composition, wonderful colours and impressive sharpness.
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hello Peter,
Once again a wonderful photo taken from a very good angle and POV. Exceptional quality....Excellent details. Outstanding colors and perfect focus.
You managed perfect this composition. Great luck to catch such a gorgeous little fellow in the wild!
Thanks for sharing!
Marius.

Hello Peter

Beautiful photo of this Arctic Fox puppy with
fine POV at its level obtaining its lovely
glance and eye-contact, beautiful soft light,
excellent focus, sharpness, details, TFS

Asbed

Hello Peter,
what a beautiful fox it is.I think you are happy to capture this one.
Amazing close up of this fox.Excellent natural color and sharpness.
Nice composition and timing.Great point of view.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,

Arindam

Hello, Peter
I really like this shot, and appreciate the patience and preparation that went into making it. Nice muted lighting, precise focus and excellent timing have resulted in a very appealing portrait of this fox cub. Nice notes, too ;-)
Best wishes, Nigel.

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2013-08-26 10:56]

Hi Peter,
Lovely shot with a very good composition and sharpness details.
Regards Jiri.

Ciao Peter. The best details as possibile for the pleasant one! Perfect DOF.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-08-29 4:37]

Hello Peter,
Another picture from an arctic fox, nice to have him so close..this one didn't fear you and was curious..
Lovely natural shot wirh perfect focus on his eyes and a very fine-coloured surrounding.
Well done
Anne

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-08-29 19:14]

Hello Peter,
An outstanding image of this neat little Artic Fox. You could not ask for finer detail as each hair is in super sharp focus and it's cute facial features are easily seen. I really like the DOF which isolates the subject from the semi blurred BG. Well done!!
Ron

Hello Peter
Lovely shot of this adorable cute little Arctic Fox.
Great details and colour.
best wishes,
samiran

  • Great 
  • IronM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 3 N: 345] (2608)
  • [2013-09-03 6:14]

Hi Peter,
this is a great capture of this cute fox cub,
excellent lighting , sharpness, amazing details !
Thanks !
Best regards !

  • Great 
  • Chiza Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 474] (5351)
  • [2013-09-05 20:15]

Hola Peter, que belleza de foto de este cachorro de Zorro, me encanta el entorno natural, la composisión de la foto, la nitidez y la luz...saludos.

  • Great 
  • kabel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 61 W: 0 N: 95] (552)
  • [2013-12-29 8:05]

Hello, here you have presented an image of the arctic fox who is so different from his cousins with his different shape face and the color of his fur. You have captured his little soul through his eyes and his posture towards the came. Excellent,
Karen

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