National Geographic Travelさんのインスタグラム写真 - (National Geographic TravelInstagram)「Photo by @daisygilardini | One of my favorite locations to photograph arctic foxes is Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic. These tiny creatures are well adapted to survive the extreme conditions of their habitat. Depending on the season, arctic foxes can change the color of their fur. During the spring and summer, they have gray-brown fur to match the brown dirt on the ground. During the winter, they shed into a pure white fur to match the snow. There are six other species in the Arctic that also match their fur or feathers to the color of the season: arctic hares, weasels, Peary caribou, collared lemmings, ptarmigan, and Siberian hamsters. Scientists believe this phenomenon is not necessarily due to the evolutionary factor of camouflage, as other northern animals, such polar bears or snowy owls, do not change color with the seasons. One theory is that the lack of melatonin—the cause of the pale coat—leaves more space in the hair shaft, which allows for better insulating properties. Follow me @DaisyGilardini for more images and stories behind the scenes. #svalbard #norway #arcticfox #arctic」6月12日 5時05分