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Did you know?
Variable length of gestation...
Unlike humans, some animal species can adjust their gestation length in order to ensure that it takes place in the best conditions. It’s the case of the reindeer that can lengthen gestation up to two months according to weather conditions and food availability, in order to increase the likelihood of the survival of its young.
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A long history between deer and us
The reindeer’s antlers were very frequently used to make numerous tools during prehistoric times. Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man spent time with it and drew it!
In Lapland, today, humans train reindeer to pull sleds (like Santa Claus)! Man still uses reindeer for its milk, its coat or as food.
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Scientific name :
Rangifer tarandus
The reindeer is called “reindeer” in Scandinavia and Northern Asia, while it’s called “caribou” in North America. It lives in northern forests, forest tundra and arctic tundra. It has hooves in “snowshoe” shape which keep it from sinking into the snow. It organism is adapted to withstanding winter temperatures, and allows efficient reheating of its body. It’s the only cervidae where males and females both have antlers! Like all cervidae, it loses its antlers in fall
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Where does it live?
In Alaska and Canada, in Lapland (in Northern Europe) and in Siberia (in Northern Asia).
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Key figures |
180 kg
1,30 height at the withers
It can run 40 km/h for almost an hour!
Fastest speed: 95 km/h!
Gestation: 240 days
15-year life expectancy in the wild
20 years in captivity
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