How many layers of fur does an Arctic fox have?

An Arctic fox has two layers of fur: a dense underfur layer and a longer guard-hair layer.

The underfur traps warm air close to the skin, while the guard hairs help protect the insulating layer from wind, snow, and moisture. This double coat is especially important during the Arctic winter, when temperatures can fall far below freezing.

Arctic fox fur also changes seasonally. Its winter coat is usually white or blue-gray, providing camouflage against snow and ice, while its summer coat is shorter and commonly brownish or gray. The change is controlled by seasonal daylight rather than simply by temperature.

The two-layer coat is not the same as the fur-covered footpads that help Arctic foxes travel over ice and snow. Those footpads are another cold-weather adaptation, reducing heat loss and improving traction.