Reindeer

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), also known as caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations.

Biology and Behaviour

Reindeer have several adaptations to survive in cold environments. They have large noses that warm the air they breathe before it gets to their lungs and their fur is dense and traps air to insulate them from the cold. They also have a unique adaptation in their hooves. In the summer, when the ground is soft, their foot pads become sponge-like and provide extra traction. In the winter, the pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof, which cuts into the ice and snow to prevent slipping.

Reindeer are ruminants, having a four-chambered stomach. They mainly eat lichens in winter, especially reindeer moss. However, they also eat the leaves of willows and birches, as well as sedges and grasses.

Human Interaction

Reindeer have been herded for centuries by several Arctic and Subarctic peoples, including the Sami and the Nenets. They are raised for their meat, hides, antlers and, to a lesser extent, for milk and transportation. Reindeer are not considered fully domesticated, as they generally roam free on pasture grounds. In traditional nomadic herding, reindeer herders migrate with their herds between coastal and inland areas according to an annual migration route, and herds are keenly tended.

Conservation

While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and at least one has already become extinct. The endangered woodland caribou is threatened in southern ranges due to habitat loss and predation.

See Also

• Arctic
• Sami people
• Nenets people
• Woodland caribou

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