The thick coat of the Musk Ox helps to protect it from the environment. They can be found on the treeless tundra from Alaska east through northern Canada to Greenland. They have also discovered that musk ox calves are getting smaller, as their habitats change due to global warming. Musk oxen live primarily in the Arctic area of North America. It is a member of the Artiodactyl, or even toed ungulates (this group also includes animals such as pigs and hippopotamuses). This species is not listed on CITES. Scientific name: Ovibos moschatus; Conservation status: Least Concern; The musk ox is a bovid (member of the cattle family, Bovidae). One subspecies in North America: Alaskan Musk Ox. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. Description: Large sheep, weighing around 410 kg and measuring up to 1,50 m over the shoulder, reaching a total body … Musk Ox. There is rich wildlife in the area around Kangerlussuaq, where the musk ox is among the most popular animals to look for. Order – Artiodactyla. It has a thick coat, and was common in the northern hemisphere during the Pleistocene ice age.The males give off a strong odour, hence its name.This musky odour is used to attract females during mating season. When the sea ice receded from the coast of Nunivak Island in Alaska, it left 11 muskoxen trapped on a small islet offshore, doomed to die of starvation or thirst. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Musk oxen are herbivorous and feed on grasses, Arctic willow, woody plants, lichen, and moss. Status: No special status Interesting Facts: Musk oxen are used by the Inuits for their hides, meat, and horns. The Muskox (Ovibos moschatus), also spelled musk ox and musk-ox, is a species of arctic hoofed mammal related to sheep and goats native to the tundras of Greenland, Norway, and a few small herds living in Russia. What is the scientific name for carabou and musk ox? Ice Age Mammal . The musk-ox is a large, shaggy mammal of the Arctic. During this time, a dominant male will guard a harem of females and compete with opposing males by “rutting”. Scientific & Common Names. It is the only species in its genus. Musk oxen travel in herds of females and their young led by one or two strong males. What does the scientific name for the American Bison … The musky smell is used to attract females during breeding. These guardhairs can grow up to three feet in length and are light brown in the summer and almost black in the winter. Both male and female musk oxen conform to two separate dominance hierarchies, with males more dominant over females. Phylum - Chordata. Omissions? Musk oxen trudge through their small grounds of about 0.77 square miles (2 km2) in little herds of 5 to 15 animals. Roaring in females is used to communicate with their calves, who bleat. Musk Ox Bull: Width: 1550 pixels: Heigh: 1102 pixels: File type: JPG: Download this image: You may also like . Phylum - Chordata. This animal is actually related to sheep and goats. Musk oxen are stocky mammals with large heads, short necks, and short, stout legs. I use the post office services to get this item to you. Size: 4 ft. at the shoulder, 900 lb. They get their name from the males, who secrete a strong musky smell to attract females during the mating season. The musk ox lives in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland and has been transplanted to Siberia (Russia) and Scandinavia. Their scientific name translates as “musky sheep-ox”. During the mating season, the male musk ox emits a strong musky smell, which is how the species got its name. Common Name – Muskox, Musk-Ox, Musk Ox. This means that musk oxen are more closely related to the species in the Caprinae family such as sheep and goats than they are to cows. Family – Bovidae. Of all mammals, they have the longest coat. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Collective Noun – Drove, herd, yoke. In Greenlandic, their name is Umimmak, meaning “the long-bearded.” The musk oxen you see in the area around Kangerlussuaq originally come from the population in northeast Greenland. They offer shades of gray, black, and brown in their coat. Now restricted to the North American Arctic (including northern Greenland), it was formerly more widespread and is probably a “refugee” species, chased into the far north and on the defensive in the evolutionary sense. It is part of the Caprinae subfamily. When threatened by potential predators, musk oxen will form a formidable circle around their young with their horns pointing outwards for protection. Ox on the Gelada and musk ox is Ovibos moschatus, muskox ) is a Arctic! For carabou and musk ox has the scientific name is derived from the strong musky smell released their! 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