Streamlined skull helps foxes take a nosedive
Streamlined skull helps foxes take a nosedive Some fox species leap up and pounce head first into snow to capture prey that they hear below the surface. An analysis of the forces involved reveals how the shape of the skull has evolved to minimize damage from this behaviour. Mary Abraham View author publications You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar Twitter Facebook Email ![]()
Credit: Danny Green/Nature Picture Library A snowy landscape offers few promises of food at first glance. However, red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus) can thrive in this harsh environment. These creatures can hear rodents moving beneath the surface of the snow, and use a predatory strategy of leaping into the air and diving head first (pictured) into snow to catch prey. Access options Access through your institution Change institution Buy or subscribe Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription 24,99 € / 30 days cancel any timeLearn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access 185,98 € per year only 3,65 € per issueLearn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Additional access options: Log in Learn about institutional subscriptions Read our FAQs Contact customer support Nature 629, 290 (2024) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01267-2 Reprints and permissions Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests. Related Articles Read the paper: Effect of skull morphology on fox snow diving ![]()
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Credit: Danny Green/Nature Picture Library A snowy landscape offers few promises of food at first glance. However, red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) and Arctic foxes ( Vulpes lagopus) can thrive in this harsh environment. These creatures can hear rodents moving beneath the surface of the snow, and use a predatory strategy of leaping into the air and diving head first (pictured) into snow to catch prey. Access options Access through your institution Change institution Buy or subscribe Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription 24,99 € / 30 days cancel any timeLearn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 51 print issues and online access 185,98 € per year only 3,65 € per issueLearn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Additional access options: Log in Learn about institutional subscriptions Read our FAQs Contact customer support Nature 629, 290 (2024) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01267-2 Reprints and permissions Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests. Related Articles Read the paper: Effect of skull morphology on fox snow diving 
Getting inside the oldest known vertebrate skull 
Evolutionary race as predators hunt prey See all News & Views Subjects Evolution Animal behaviour Latest on: Frequent disturbances enhanced the resilience of past human populations Article 01 MAY 24 
Resilience lessons from ancient societies are still relevant today News & Views 01 MAY 24 
This giant extinct salmon had tusks like a warthog Research Highlight 24 APR 24 Jobs Associate or Senior Editor (microbial genetics, evolution, and epidemiology) Nature Communications Job Title: Associate or Senior Editor (microbial genetics, evolution, and epidemiology), Nature Communications Locations: London, New York, Philade... New York (US) Springer Nature Ltd 
Postdoctoral Research Fellow Two postdoctoral positions offered at HMS to study the role hypothalamic leptin resistance in control of neuron activity Boston, Massachusetts (US) Boston Children's Hospital-Ozcan Lab 
Two Junior Research Group Leaders (f/d/m) for Photonics Friedrich Schiller University is a traditional University with a strong research profile based in the heart of Germany. As a University covering al... 07743, Jena (DE) Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena 
PhD Researcher Positions (f/m/d) Yeast Synthetic Biology Germany (DE) Humboldt Universität zu Berlin 
Reporter, Nature Reporter, Nature Location: London, UK - Hybrid office and remote working Closing date: 13th May 2024 Nature, the world's most authoritative scien... London (Greater) (GB) Springer Nature Ltd 
Access through your institution Change institution Buy or subscribe Related Articles Read the paper: Effect of skull morphology on fox snow diving Getting inside the oldest known vertebrate skull Evolutionary race as predators hunt prey See all News & Views Subjects Evolution Animal behaviour Sign up to Nature Briefing An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, delivered to your inbox every weekday. Email address Yes! Sign me up to receive the daily Nature Briefing email. I agree my information will be processed in accordance with the Nature and Springer Nature Limited Privacy Policy. Sign up 
