Santa Claus: “From what I see now that nose will cut
through the murkiest storm they can dish up.
What I'm trying to say is, Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you
guide my sleigh tonight?”
Rudolph: “It would be an honor sir.” - Taken from the movie, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
This one will sleigh you!” - Unknown
When we hear the word “reindeer,” most of us have one
thought that comes to mind: Christmas eve and mythical flying reindeer in the
sky pulling Santa's sleigh to deliver toys to girls and boys
around the world. While this is a wonderful childhood tale, it
greatly misrepresents these very real, serene, and majestic creatures that are far
from being able to fly, named Rudolph, red-nosed, or pulling sleighs for
a living. My goal with this website
is to educate you about the animals reindeer really are;
hopefully you learn new and interesting things never before thought about if
Christmas was the only association that came to mind. Thanks for visiting and
enjoy!
The reindeer, or caribou, as it is known in North America, is a member of the Cervidae, or deer family. It can be characterized by shaggy brown fur, along with a white chest, underbelly, and rump. They have long snouts, short tails, and long legs ending in large even-toed hooves. The reindeer also has a dewlap on its throat covered in white hair. It is the only species of deer in which both males and females possess antlers. The males' are large and branching while the females' tend to be smaller and straighter. Reindeer also possess two layers of fur, with an outer straight coat called the “guard," and then a thick woolly undercoat for survival in cold, Arctic habitats. They are 4-7 feet in height, and males can range from 275-660 pounds, with females weighing between 50 and 300 pounds.5
Check out closely related species to reindeer and what makes up their classification next!
Also make sure to check out other interesting and amazing organisms besides the reindeer at MultipleOrganisms.net!