Top 4 strange animals that change color to white in winter

1. Mink

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Weasels live mainly in forests and grasslands throughout the Northern Hemisphere. There are three species of weasels that can change color: the lesser weasel (Mustela nivalis), the long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata), and the short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea).

In summer, the weasel's coat is reddish brown with a white belly. But when winter comes, their fur turns completely white, only the end of the tail remains black, helping them camouflage in the snow to hunt and hide from enemies.

2. Arctic fox

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Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) live in the Arctic tundra, where temperatures can drop very low and summers are short.

In summer, arctic foxes have thin, light gray fur. This coat will thicken and turn snow white when winter comes, helping them camouflage and keep their bodies warm from the harsh cold of the tundra.

3. Hare

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Only six rabbit species out of more than 40 known species have the ability to change color in winter, including the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), the arctic hare (Lepus arcticus), and the mountain hare (Lepus timidus).

Snowshoe rabbits live mainly in Canada and the northernmost regions of the United States. In spring and summer, their fur is dark gray and brown, allowing these rabbits to blend into the ground and rocks. When winter comes, white snow falls, their fur gradually turns white.

4. Peary the Reindeer

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Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) are found only in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

They have two layers of fur: a thick coat and a layer of longer, finer hair called guard hairs that trap warm air inside, insulating and protecting the thick coat underneath.

Their fur is stone gray and light brown in summer. But when winter comes, this fur turns completely white, helping reindeer to camouflage in the snow and keep their bodies warm.

Marvin Fry

Update 29 June 2024