Caribou(Rangifer tarandus) also known as Reindeer; however Reindeer is also sometimes used for domestic individuals. Reindeer is also commonly used for Eurasian populations, and Caribou is more commonly used for North American populations. Caribou live in herds that can sometimes reach 500,000 individuals. Caribou are classified in the mammalian order Artiodactyla, and family Cervidae.
Physical Characteristics
Female Caribou are the only female deer that grow antlers. Caribou have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species and a male Caribou’s antlers are typically larger than a female’s. Caribou range from dark brown to white. A Caribou’s coat is usually a bit darker in summer and lighter in winter. A Caribou’s nose helps to warm incoming cold air before it enters the lungs. The body weight is 164 kilograms(362 lbs.) on average and the average shoulder height of a Caribou is 1.2 meters(3 feet, 11 inches).
| Genus | Rangifer |
| Species | R. tarandus |
| Binomial Name | Rangifer tarandus |
| Shoulder Height | 70cm-1.5m(2’4”-4’11”) |
| Weight | 55-318kg(121-701 lbs.) |
| IUCN Status | Vulnerable |
Range And Habitat
Caribou live in: Canada, Falkland Islands, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Mongolia, Norway, Russian Federation, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the United States. Caribou inhabit tundra and forests.
Breeding
The Caribou mother gives birth to typically 1 calf however on rare occasions she may give birth to up to 4 calves. The gestation period is 7.5 months. The newborn calf weighs 2.5 to 9 kilograms(5 to 20 pounds). Females reach sexual maturity at 4 years old, and males at 6 years old.
Diet
Caribou eat mosses, herbs, ferns, grasses, shoots, leaves, and lichen.
Predators
Animals that prey on Caribou include: Gray Wolf(Canis lupus), Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos), Brown Bear(Ursus arctos), Cougar(Puma concolor), Coyote(Canis latrans), and Arctic Fox(Vulpes lagopus).
Fun Facts
- Adult Caribou can swim up to 10 kilometers per hour (6 miles per hour).
- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph are the 9 Reindeer that pull Santa Claus’s sleigh.
- Female Caribou are sometimes called cows and males are sometimes called bulls.
- Caribou can live for up to 18 years.
