Reindeer

Reindeer, or caribou in North America, are a species of deer native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Reindeer, known as caribou in North America, are a species of deer native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are the only deer species in which both males and females typically grow antlers, and some populations have been domesticated, especially in parts of northern Europe and Asia.

Taxonomy and naming

Reindeer are deer in the family Cervidae and genus Rangifer, with the species name Rangifer tarandus. In North America, wild populations are usually called caribou, while domesticated or semi-domesticated animals are more often called reindeer.

Distribution and habitat

The species has a circumpolar range across Arctic and subarctic regions, including Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska, and Canada. It occurs in tundra and boreal forest habitats, with some ecotypes adapted to woodland environments.

Behaviour and diet

Reindeer are herbivores that feed on grasses, sedges, shrubs, mosses, and lichens, depending on season and location. They live in herds and many populations undertake long-distance seasonal movements between summer and winter ranges.

Physical characteristics

Reindeer have thick coats, short legs, and broad hooves adapted for snow and soft ground. Unusually for deer, both sexes can grow antlers, and females are the only female deer known to do so.

Domestication and human use

Reindeer have been domesticated in parts of Europe and Asia and have long been important to Arctic peoples for transport, meat, milk, hides, and other resources. They are also strongly associated with winter folklore and Christmas imagery.