reindeer

The reindeer ranges over the tundra of Northern Europe and Asia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. It is a social animal, living in large herds containing thousands of individuals. Some herds migrate hundreds of kilometres from their breeding grounds on the tundra to their winter feeding grounds farther south.

Male reindeer Rangifer tarandus with a full set of antlers. The animals use their antlers to uncover edible vegetation buried by snow. Their large hooves are adapted to spread for balance when they walk on snow or soft ground.

Reindeer Rangifer tarandus migrate in herds over vast distances between their summer and winter feeding grounds. They are adapted to both tundra and woodland environments.

Deer Rangifer tarandus of Arctic and subarctic regions, common to North America and Eurasia. About 1.2 m/4 ft at the shoulder, it has a thick, brownish coat and broad hooves well adapted to travel over snow. It is the only deer in which both sexes have antlers; these can grow to 1.5 m/5 ft long, and are shed in winter.

The Old World reindeer have been domesticated by the Lapps of Scandinavia for centuries. There are two types of North American caribou: the large woodland caribou of the more southerly regions, and the barren-ground caribou of the far north. Reindeer migrate south in winter, moving in large herds. They eat grass, small plants, and lichens.