When it comes to animals with white fur, there are a few key contenders that stand out. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common and well-known animals that have predominantly or entirely white fur coats. Understanding what animals have white fur can give us insight into adaptation, camouflage, and even symbolic meaning in certain cultures.
Arctic Fox
One of the most iconic animals with a brilliant white coat is the Arctic fox. The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) lives in the northernmost parts of the Arctic region, including Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, Norway, Iceland, and Svalbard. It has a thick, lush white fur coat that allows it to stay camouflaged in the snow and ice. The white fur provides insulation and warmth, with denser underfur and longer guard hairs protecting it from frigid Arctic temperatures.
In the summer months, the Arctic fox sheds its white coat and reveals a shorter brown or gray coat underneath. Their color-changing ability based on seasonal camouflage needs is unique among canids. When winter returns, the white fur grows back in. Their furry paws have fur on the soles for additional insulation and gripping ability on ice. Arctic foxes also have round, compact bodies to preserve heat.
Ermine
The ermine, also called the stoat or short-tailed weasel, develops an all-white coat in the winter in northern regions. Its scientific name is Mustela erminea. In warmer months, the ermine has a brown fur coat with a black-tipped tail. But as winter approaches, the ermine’s coat turns entirely white except for the black tip of its tail.
This seasonal change provides camouflage in winter against the snow. Like the Arctic fox, the ermine’s white winter fur is dense and helps it maintain a consistent body temperature. Ermines are found throughout northern North America, Europe, and Asia in cold climates. They inhabit tundra, forests, and wetlands, hunting small rodents like voles and mice.
Polar Bear
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest terrestrial carnivore and has a distinctly white fur coat. The only bear considered to be a marine mammal, polar bears spend much of their time on Arctic sea ice hunting seals. Their white coat provides camouflage while stalking prey on the ice.
A polar bear’s fur is made up of a dense underfur and an outer layer of guard hairs up to 15 cm long. The hairs reflect visible light, obscuring the bear’s dark skin and allowing it to take on the white appearance of the snow and ice. A polar bear’s fur is water-repellent, insulating, and keeps the animal dry as it swims between ice floes. Loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change poses the biggest threat to polar bear survival.
Beluga Whale
The white coating of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is another example of an arctic animal that uses its pale coloration as camouflage. These small, toothed whales inhabit Arctic and sub-Arctic waters off Alaska, Russia, Canada, and Greenland. They migrate seasonally to follow openings in sea ice to access food.
The beluga’s all-white coloration provides concealment when hunting prey like fish, shrimp, and squid in the ocean depths. Their color also allows them to blend in with ice floes. Females and young belugas are a lighter gray color than adult males and become whiter as they mature. Belugas shed their skin continuously, which may help eliminate algae or other discolorations.
White-Tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer, named for the bright white underside of its tail, sports a reddish-brown coat in summer that grays in winter. While not all white, the white-tailed deer’s winter pelage is still relevant to mention. It sheds its summer coat and grows a much thicker, whitish-gray winter coat as cold weather approaches.
Its winter fur is composed of hollow hairs that provide excellent insulation to reduce heat loss. Guard hairs on the outside protect the downy underfur. This warmer coat helps the white-tailed deer survive freezing temperatures and snow in northern parts of its range. The coat reverts to its reddish-brown summer coloration in spring.
Rabbit
There are several breeds of domestic rabbit that have pure white coats, such as the White English Angora Rabbit, the Florida White Rabbit, and the White Himalayan Rabbit. But wild rabbits also turn white in the winter.
The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus), found in northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland, is a species that stays white year-round. Most other rabbit species, like the Eastern cottontail rabbit and European rabbit, grow white winter coats to provide camouflage in the snow. Their fur reverts to brownish or grayish tones in the summer.
Weasel
Like the ermine, the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) undergoes a dramatic seasonal molt. In summer, its fur is brown with white underparts. But in northern regions in winter, the least weasel becomes entirely white except for the black tip of its tail.
This snowy white coat matches the color of the landscape and hides the tiny hunter from prey like mice and voles. The least weasel has a Holarctic range including North America, Europe, and Asia. Its smaller relative, the stoat, turns white in winter just like the ermine.
Hamster
Several breeds of domestic hamster have coat colors described as white or cream. These include:
- Djungarian hamster
- White Syrian hamster
- White Chinese hamster
- Campbell’s dwarf hamster
These pets originated from wild hamster species that inhabited parts of northern Asia and Russia. Their white coloring may have naturally evolved to provide winter camouflage in snowy habitats.
Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) sports a greyish-brown coat during summer, but grows a thick white winter coat. Both male and female ibex have these seasonal changes in pelage color. The ibex is a species of wild goat inhabiting the mountainous regions of the European Alps.
Its winter fur consists of two layers – dense underfur for insulation topped by longer guard hairs for protection from the elements. The horns of male Alpine ibexes are substantially larger than those of females. Ibex are well-adapted to climbing steep mountain slopes.
Ptarmigan
Ptarmigans are medium-sized birds in the grouse family known for color changes between seasons. In winter, ptarmigans have feathering that is completely white except for dark eyes, beak, and claws.
For example, the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) inhabits Arctic and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It has feathered feet for walking over snow and dense plumage to withstand extreme cold. Other ptarmigan species include the willow ptarmigan and white-tailed ptarmigan.
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large bird of prey that nests in the tundra and open grasslands of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Russia. True to its name, the snowy owl’s feathers are almost entirely white, except for subtle dark barring on its wings and tail.
Females have more barring overall and are up to 20% larger than males. The snowy owl’s white coloration camouflages it against the open snowy landscapes it hunts rodents, hares, and other prey over. Snowy owls are diurnal, actively hunting during the day unlike most other owl species.
Reindeer
Reindeer, also known as caribou in North America, grow thicker, paler coats in winter. While not purely white, their fur takes on a whitish-gray appearance in cold months. Both male and female reindeer develop this seasonal adaptation.
Their winter coat insulates them from freezing Arctic temperatures and provides camouflage when foraging for food under snow. In summer, their coats shed to a darker brown color. Wild reindeer inhabit tundra, mountains, and boreal forest regions of northern Europe, Asia, and North America.
Hare
In addition to the Arctic hare, other hare species develop white winter coats. The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), widespread in North America, undergoes seasonal molting. Its feet are large and furry, helping it move atop snow.
In summer, snowshoe hares have brown fur with white underparts, tails, and feet. But in winter, they become almost entirely white except for black-tipped ears. The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) similarly turns white in winter in Scotland, Scandinavia, Russia, and northern China.
Ermine Moth
The ermine moth (Yponomeuta padella) is a species of small moth native to Europe. Both its caterpillar and adult form have predominantly white coloration. The larvae are hairy with black spots. Adult moths have white wings with small black dots.
This appearance provides camouflage against lichen and birch trees, which the larvae feed on. Outbreaks where caterpillars completely defoliate trees can occur. The adult moth’s wingspan is 18–28 mm. Despite the common name, ermine moths are not related to ermine weasels.
Vole
Several vole species develop white winter coats. Voles are small, stocky rodents resembling mice but with shorter tails and small eyes and ears. The water vole (Arvicola amphibius) of Europe has brown fur in summer but molts to a winter coat that is black on top and white on its underside.
This provides camouflage against snow and ice. Similar winter coat changes happen in the woodland vole and meadow vole. The prairie vole and pine vole also may develop more white guard hairs in winter. Voles’ winter adaptation helps conceal them from predators.
Other Winter Stoats
In addition to the ermine and least weasel, other stoat species develop white winter coats:
- Mountain weasel (Mustela altaica)
- Steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii)
- European mink (Mustela lutreola)
- Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica)
These related mustelids inhabit northern latitudes and high elevations where snow cover is likely. Their winter white pelage provides vital camouflage while hunting small prey like rodents and birds.
Varying Hare
Also known as the snowshoe rabbit, the varying hare (Lepus americanus) turns white in the winter just like other hares. Its molt to a mostly white coat provides camouflage in the snowy forests of Canada, Alaska, and the northernmost United States.
In summer, the varying hare sports a rusty brown coat with lighter underparts. Varying hares have very large hind feet adapted for moving through deep snow. Their large ears help dissipate body heat in summer.
Collared Lemming
The collared lemming (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) and other lemming species inhabiting tundra environments turn white in winter. The collared lemming is common in Arctic regions of North America from Alaska to Greenland. Its winter fur is all white except for a black collar around the neck.
Collared lemmings dig burrows under the snow to survive harsh winters. Their winter camouflage helps conceal them from predators like foxes, weasels, owls, and falcons. Collared lemmings are smaller than true lemmings and have shorter tails.
Long-Tailed Weasel
While the ermine is also known as the short-tailed weasel, the long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) also develops white winter fur. Long-tailed weasels inhabit North America and are larger than ermines. Their tails can reach half their body length.
In summer, long-tailed weasels have brown upperparts and white underparts. But in northern regions, their coats turn completely white in winter except for the black tip of the tail. This provides camouflage in snow when hunting rodents.
Conclusion
In summary, many animals living in Arctic regions or cold winter climates have evolved white or partially white coats as an adaptation. Winter fur provides insulation and camouflage essential to their survival. White coats help prey animals hide from predators and allow predators to stalk prey undetected.
The white coats result from seasonal molting, with brown or gray summer coats being shed for thicker, lighter-colored winter coats. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, ermines, and ptarmigans are just a few examples of wildlife with striking white winter fur and feathers.
