Physiology

Homeostasis

Foxes are endothermic mammals, meaning they are able to adapt to colder temperatures because they have insulation(fur). Foxes use the endocrine and central nervous system to assist is regulating homeostasis. As temperatures begin to drop, "the fox is able to maintain all exposed surfaces above the freezing point by vasodilation and increased blood flow into these surface areas. The important thermoregulatory surfaces include the area of the face, nose, dorsal head, pinna, lower legs, and paws in red and kit foxes..." (Klir, Heath, n.d.)

Excretory System/osmoregulation

Foxes, like other mammals use their kidneys to filter waste through their body. Everyday the kidney processes around 200 liters of blood using a specialized cell called nephrons. These nephrons are located in each of the renal pyramids located in the kidney. The process begins with blood entering a network of capillaries (glomerulus) located inside a cup-like sack known as the Bowmans Capsule. The excess fluid is filtered through the holes in the Bowmans capsule. The waste then travels though the swerving pipe of the nephron, while the clean blood travels back into the system through the network of capillaries in which it came. Once the urea reaches the end of the nephron it then travels out via the renal pelvis to the ureter to become urine.

Respiration

In the red fox respiratory system, air is inhaled through its nares through the nasal cavity, following the trachea which is like the windpipe; allowing gases to flow in and out through the fox. Then through the bronchi (the tubes leading into the lungs) to the bronchioles and lastly to the alveoli. "The red fox has a way of cooling itself down... Since dogs are unable to sweat, when the red fox overheats, it will begin to breathe harder, or pant." (The Red Fox Resource, n.d.)

Circulatory

"The fox’s circulatory system enables the transport of nutrients to various parts of the body. It transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and chemicals to tissue, and carries waste and carbon dioxide away from tissue. The circulatory system also helps to regulate body temperature, and to maintain osmolarity and ion balance of the blood and body." (Fox, n.d.)

Nervous System

Red foxes has a central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Their five sensory organs are the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin all having their own receptors. "The eyes have light receptors, the ears have ‘balance’ and sound receptors, the nose has taste and smell receptors, the tongue has taste receptors, and the skin has touch, pressure, and temperature receptors." (Fox, n.d.)

Musculoskeletal

The musculoskeletal system protects the fox's organs. "fox’s skeleton like the ribs or rib cage protect the heart and lungs... There are three types of muscles; skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. The skeletal muscles are attached to the bone by tendons, which allow them to pull on the bone, which acts like a lever. The smooth muscles are in the lungs, veins, and arteries. The cardiac muscles are found in the heart and they contract automatically to squeeze the walls of the heart inward." (Fox, n.d.)

Keywords: Nephron, endotherm, nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles

Works Cited:

Klir, J. J., & Heath, J. E. (n.d.). An infrared thermographic study of surface temperature in relation to external thermal stress in three species of foxes: The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Arctic fox (Alopex Lagopus), and Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis): Physiological zoology: Vol 65, no 5. Physiological Zoology. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/physzool.65.5.30158555

The respiratory System. The Red Fox Resource. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from http://redfoxofficial.weebly.com/the-respiratory-systen.html

Systems. Fox. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://arcticfoxfactz.weebly.com/systems.html#:~:text=The%20fox's%20circulatory%20system%20enables,carbon%20dioxide%20away%20from%20tissue.

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