Reindeer
The Reindeer, known as Caribou in North America, is an Arctic-dwelling deer (Rangifer tarandus). Reindeer are primarily found in a domesticated state in northern Scandinavia and Russia and are found in the wild in North America, Greenland and Iceland. Subspecies include:
- Svalbard Reindeer (R. tarandus platyrhynchus) which are found on Svalbard is the smallest subspecies of reindeer.
- European Reindeer (R. tarandus tarandus)
- Finnish Forest Reindeer (R. tarandus fennicus)
- Woodland Caribou (R. tarandus caribou) which are found in North American woodlands as far south as Maine and Washington. Woodland Caribou have disappeared from most of their original range and are considered "threatened" where they remain.
- Peary Caribou (R. tarandus pearyi) which are found in the islands of the Canadian Arctic.
- Barren-ground Caribou (R. tarandus groenlandicus) which are found in northern Canada. This is the most numerous subspecies in North America.
- Grant's Caribou (R. tarandus granti) which are found in Alaska and northwestern Canada.
The weight of a female varies between 60 and 170 kg. In some subspecies of reindeer, the male is slightly larger; in others, the male can weigh up to 300 kg. Both sexes grow antlers, which (for the Scandinavian race) for old males fall off in December, for young males in the spring and for females during the summer. The antlers typically have two separate groups of points (see image), a lower and upper. 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.
An unusual feature of the reindeer is that it has front teeth only on its bottom jaw; there are molars on both the top and bottom.
In Sami, the male Caribou is called "sarves", a castrated bull (which in old time was performed by a bite) "hierke" and the female sex is called "vaia". The name "Caribou" is thought to come from a Mi'kmaq word that means "one that paws (the ground)".
Natural threats to caribou include avalanches and the predators wolves, wolverines, lynxes, bears, etc. In prehistoric times in Europe, humans hunted them, too. Wild caribou are still hunted in North America. In the traditional lifestyle of the Inuit people, the caribou is a source of food, clothing, shelter and tools.
In the wild, caribou migrate in large herds between their birthing habitat and their winter habitat. Their wide hooves help the animal move through snow and tundra; they also help propel the animal when it swims. About 1 million live in Alaska, and a comparable number live in northern Canada.
There are an estimated 5 million reindeer in Eurasia, mainly semi-domesticated. The reindeer has an important role for all circumpolar peoples, i.e. Sami, Nenets, Khants, Evenks, Yukaghirs, Tjuktjer and Korjaker in Eurasia. Siberian herders also use the reindeer to ride on. (Siberian reindeer are larger than their Scandinavian relatives.) The numbers of Russian herders have been drastically reduced since the fall of the Soviet Union. The meat is sold, which is an important source of income. Reindeer were introduced into Alaska near the end of the 19th century; they interbreed with native caribou subspecies there.
Popular Christmas myth has it that they are used by Santa Claus to move his sleigh around during his trip to distribute toys to children on the night before Christmas. Because of this, they are often associated with the holiday.
Fictional reindeer include:
