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Arctic fox vision: the science and the numbers

Vulpes lagopus · order Carnivora · Mammals: all the numbers

The Arctic fox has 2 colour receptor classes (438 and 555 nm): mainly blues and yellows; reds and greens look alike.[1] Its activity pattern is cathemeral.[12][13][1][14][15][16]

See it on your photoBack to How does the Arctic fox see?
  • 2colour receptor classesMeasured

The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is a mammal in the order Carnivora. Its eyes belong to the vision type Day dichromat mammal: two cone types (blue and yellow, so reds and greens merge), moderate sharpness and a horizontal band of sharp vision. Measured in this species: colour, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What the Arctic fox sees: colour receptors

Arctic fox colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmArctic fox: 2 receptor peaks at 438, 555 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Arctic fox: 438, 555 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has two colour receptor classes (a dichromat): reds and greens fall on one axis, as in red-green colour blindness in people.
  • Activity pattern: cathemeral.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
2 receptor classes: 438 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 555 nm (LWS (long))
measured in this species
Measured[1]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3][4]
SharpnessAcuity
14.57 cycles per degree
median of 1 relatives in family Canidae: Canis lupus
Estimated[5]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[6][5]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
97°
median of 1 relatives in family Canidae: Canis lupus
Estimated[7]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[7][8]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[9]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[9]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[7][8]
Total field of view
250°
median species-v1 total field of family Canidae: Canis familiaris
Estimated[10]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
0
fovea_present / area_centralis_type (retinal topography; count 1 = fovea present, 0 = none)
Measured[11]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[11]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[11]
Fovea type
area centralis, horizontal streak		Measured[11]
Night visionActivity pattern
cathemeral
mode of 5 rows (of 6 rows): cathemeral; cathemeral (polyphasic); diurnal; mixed (nocturnal/crepuscular, cathemeral, crepuscular or diurnal/crepuscular)
Measured (not re-verified)[12][13][1][14][15][16]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[17][18][13][1][14][15][19][16]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[12][20]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[21]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[17][18][13][1][14][15][19][16]
Rods vs cones
mixed
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[12][13][1][14][15][16]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
80.75 Hz
median of 2 relatives in family Canidae: Canis lupus, Canis familiaris
Estimated[22][23][24]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[23][24]

All mammals side by side: Mammals: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. Kirwan
  3. Müller et al. 2009
  4. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  5. Veilleux et al. 2014
  6. Kirk et al. 2004
  7. Heesy 2004
  8. Heffner et al. 1992
  9. Campbell & Green 1965
  10. Miller & Murphy 1995
  11. Kopania et al. 2025
  12. Banks et al. 2015
  13. Wilman et al. 2014
  14. Maor et al. 2017
  15. Jones et al. 2009
  16. Moura et al. 2024
  17. Anderson et al. 2017
  18. Borges et al. 2018
  19. Schmitz et al. 2011
  20. Cervino et al. 2021
  21. Guareschi et al. 2025
  22. Haarlem et al. 2026
  23. Healy et al. 2013
  24. Inger et al. 2014

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.