Kalmar "Alopex lagopus" a haƙiƙa sunan kimiyya ne wanda ke nufin jinsin dabba. An fi sani da fox na Arctic ko fox na polar, kuma karama ce, farar fox 'yar asalin yankunan Arctic na Arewacin Hemisphere. Sunan "Alopex" ya fito ne daga kalmar Helenanci "alopex" ma'ana fox, kuma "lagopus" ya fito ne daga kalmomin Helenanci "lagos" ma'anar kurege da "pous" ma'ana ƙafa, yana nufin ƙafafu na fox da ke aiki kamar dusar ƙanƙara a cikin hunturu. .