Interesting Facts about REINDEER ***

Facts about Reindeer

Facts About

Description of Reindeer
The Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is described as a large Deer in the order of Artioldactyl and classified as a ruminant mammal of the family Cervidae. Ruminant animals are even-toed, cud-chewing, hoofed, usually horned mammals which have a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments. Examples of ruminant mammals are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes. Their hooves are large and sharp enabling them to travel across large distances and areas consisting of snow and ice. Reindeer are characterised by having deciduous antlers which are borne by both male and female reindeer. Reindeer are also characterised by making long migrations, travelling further North during the summer months for fresh grazing and returning to the more temperate climates of the South in the winter for shelter.

The Reindeer family also includes the elk, moose, caribou, and deer. The Reindeer differs from other deer in that both sexes carry antlers.

The origins of the word 'deer' comes from the Middle English word 'der' meaning beast and from the Old English word 'dor'. The origins of 'rein' comes from the Old Norse word 'hreinn'

Species of Reindeer
There is only one species of Reindeer but there are about 20 sub-species. One of these sub-species is the American which is collectively referred to as the Caribou, a wild reindeer. Reindeer are semi-domesticated caribou. Reindeer tend to be lighter than the caribou of North America.

Facts about where Reindeer live and what they eat!
Reindeer are native to Northern climates - North America and Northern Europe
The cold climate, common habitat is the tundra (A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and stunted shrubs)
The diet of Reindeer consist of grass, moss and lichen

Basic Facts about Reindeer
The name of a male is referred to as a buck
The name of a female is referred to as a doe
The name or offspring, or a baby Reindeer, is a fawn
The average size of a litter is one or two
The collective name for a group of Reindeer is a herd
The sound made by a Reindeer is referred to as a bellow

Facts about the Size of Male Reindeer
Fully grown they reach the height of 46 inches
An adult can weigh up to 300 pounds

Cool and Fun Facts about the life, behavior and personality of Reindeer

Females tend to stay in herds whereas males are more solitary
Males join the herds for the rutting season in September
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers
Antlers are shed during the winter
Their broad hooves act like snowshoes!