Muskox
| Muskox | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Genus: | Ovibos Blainville, 1816 |
| Species: | O. moschatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann, 1780) |
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| Range map. Blue indicates areas where the muskox has been successfully introduced in the 20th century. Red indicates established range. | |
The muskox (Ovibos moschatus, musk ox) is a large Arctic mammal of the Bovidae family.
It is noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males, from which its name derives. This musky odor is used to attract females during mating season. Muskoxen travel in herds of females and their young led by one or two strong males. Male muskoxen fight over who will be leader by butting their thick heads and horns against each other. The musk oxen's long, curved horns keep away predators. When a herd smells nearby wolves, all the musk oxen form a circle and face out. They lower their heads to show off their horns.[2]
Muskoxen primarily live in Arctic North America and Greenland [3], with small introduced populations in Sweden, Siberia and Norway.
Muskoxen are herbivores that graze on grasses, leaves, and some Arctic flowers. They are ruminants; they swallow their food without chewing it. Later, they regurgitate the food (called a cud) and chew it. Muskoxen, like other ruminants, have a stomach made of four parts.
References[change]
- ↑ Gunn, A. & Forchhammer, M. (2008). Ovibos moschatus. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 31 March 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
- ↑ Cole, Joanna (2000). The Magic School Bus, Polar Bear Patrol. U.S.A.. ISBN 0-439-31433-X.
- ↑ http://www.greenland-guide.gl/animal_life.htm Animal Life in Greenland - an introduction by the tourist board
