The arctic fox usually mates from early September to early May and their gestation period is 52 days. Litters tend to average 5-8 kits but may be as many as 25. When the male fox releases his sperm into the female fox, the sperm and eggs meet. This are called gamentes. When they meet, the egg is fertilized and makes a zygote (mother cell). This splits into 2, then into 4, then into 6, etc. These are the daughter cells. These cells then specialise into tissue e.g blood, skin, bone, muscle. Then into groups of tissue which are organs e.g lungs, heart. Then the organs make a system e.g respiratory. These systems then turn into a young pup.
When pups are born, they usually weigh around 57 grams. When food is scarce stronger pups in the litter may kill and eat their weaker siblings. The young reach maturity at around nine months of age and are capable of breeding when they are ten months to a year old. In the wild, Arctic foxes typically live to be five to seven years old, although in captivity they can live up to 16 years.
When pups are born, they usually weigh around 57 grams. When food is scarce stronger pups in the litter may kill and eat their weaker siblings. The young reach maturity at around nine months of age and are capable of breeding when they are ten months to a year old. In the wild, Arctic foxes typically live to be five to seven years old, although in captivity they can live up to 16 years.