During the winter months, red and Arctic foxes exhibit impressive hunting skills by diving headfirst at speeds of 2–4 meters per second. A recent study from Cornell University reveals that their sharp noses play a crucial role in reducing the impact force when they hit the snow, protecting them from injuries.
Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this study sheds light on the unique behavior of these foxes. While previous research has focused on animals diving into water, the interaction between animals and the air-snow interface is a relatively unexplored area.
Snow behaves like a fluid when it’s light and fluffy, but takes on solid-like properties when compacted. “The fox’s sharp snout effortlessly penetrates the snow without much resistance,” explained Sunghwan Jung, the lead author of the study and a professor of biological and environmental engineering. The study’s first author, Jisoo Yuk, is a doctoral student in Jung’s lab.
Belonging to the dog (Canidae) family, foxes have evolved long snouts for efficient pack hunting. “Each member of the pack contributes to hunting by using their long snouts to inflict damage on their prey, ultimately leading to a successful kill,” Jung elaborated. Additionally, the long snout aids in their hunting of mice.
2024-04-29 20:00:03
Source from phys.org