Reindeer
Reindeer Facts
| Size | 35-55 inches (90-140 cm) (shoulder height) |
| Speed | Up to 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Weight | 132-660 pounds (60-300 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Food | Moss, lichen, grasses |
| Predators | Bears, eagles, wolves |
| Habitat | Northern Europe, Northern Asia, North America, Greenland |
| Order | Even-toed ungulates |
| Family | Deer |
| Scientific name | Rangifer tarandus |
| Characteristics | Males and females both grow antlers |
Main Characteristics
Reindeer belong to the deer family. They're herd animals that live in colder parts of the earth. They're the only species of deer in which both male and female animals have antlers. They migrate the furthest of all land mammals: 3,100 miles (5,000 km) per year. The most famous (fictional) reindeer is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Distribution and Habitat
Reindeer are common in North America, Northern Europe and Northern Asia. In summer they live in the tundra, a barren landscape without trees. They spend the winter in the taiga, a landscape with coniferous forests.
Life Style
Reindeer are diurnal herd animals. During the summer, they embark on a journey towards the north, seeking safety in numbers by forming massive herds consisting of thousands of animals. However, when winter arrives, they make their way back to the south and split into smaller herds comprising 10 to 100 animals.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Reindeer are 47-86 inches (120-220) cm long and have a shoulder height of 35-55 inches (90-140 cm). Their weight is 132-660 pounds (60-300 kg). Of all deer species, reindeer have the largest antlers relative to their body size.
Antlers
• Male AND female
The reindeer is the only species of deer in which both male and female animals have antlers.
• Length and Shape
Their antlers are formed by two long beams and some small, short “side branches”. In males, they grow up to 53 inches (135 cm) long, while in females, they reach up to 20 inches (50 cm) in length.
• Why Do Reindeer Grow Antlers?
Antlers serve multiple purposes: male deer use them for engaging in battles against other males. In winter, pregnant females dig for plants that are under ice or snow. The animals also use it to defend themselves against predators.
Do Reindeer Keep Their Antlers?
No. At the end of August, they rub off the soft velvet coating of their antlers. The antlers are finally shed in October and November. But only with males. The females wear their antlers until spring.
• Why Do Reindeer Shed Their Antlers?
The males need their antlers for fighting against rivals. In winter it's an unnecessary weight that they have to carry around. That's why they shed them. Pregnant females keep their antlers until spring because they need more food during the winter. They use it to dig in the snow for food.
Hooves
Reindeer live in the far north and frequently roam through the snow. To prevent them from getting stuck and needing a tow truck (just kidding), they have special hooves. In winter they're hard and solid, especially at the rims. This gives them better grip on slippery ice and makes it easier for them to dig for food in the snow. In summer, the hooves adapt to the moist, muddy ground. They become soft. They get along well even in swampy areas.
Reindeer or Moose – What’s the Difference?
Reindeer and moose are related. Both species belong to the deer family. On average, moose grow twice as big and weigh twice as much. Contrary to moose, they don't have a dewlap. Reindeer's antlers consist of long beams, while moose antlers are shaped like an open hand and only grow in males.
Reindeer or Roe Deer – What’s the Difference?
Reindeer and deer are related. Both species belong to the deer family. On average, deer are only about half the size of a reindeer and only weigh half as much. In deer, the antlers are more like thin twigs and only grow in males.
Diet
Reindeer are herbivores. In summer they feed mainly on grass. In winter they eat lichens, mosses and, more rarely, mushrooms, herbs and berries. They're ruminants. After eating the grass, it ends up in the stomach and is regurgitated to be chewed a second time. The advantage: The grass becomes more digestible and the nutrients can be absorbed better.
Behavior
Migrations
• Route and Distance
Reindeer only stay in the tundra in summer. In winter they move south, where it is warmer. When migrating between summer and winter range, the animals cover long distances. Reindeer hold the record for the longest migration of a land mammal: 3,100 miles (5,000 km) per year. But: Not all reindeer migrate. There are also herds that hardly move.
• Small Herds Merge
Reindeer live in small herds of 10-100 animals. However, during their migrations they join forces with other species. A herd can quickly grow to more than 100,000 animals. In North America there was a herd that numbered around 900,000 animals each year.
• Crossing Rivers
Reindeer are skilled swimmers. They even cross large rivers. In the water they reach speeds of 4-6 mph (6.5-10 km/h).
Are Reindeer Dangerous?
No. Reindeer are calm and gentle animals. Their friendly nature becomes their downfall when people try to capture them or hunt them.
Senses and Abilities
Adaptation to the Cold
• Fur
How do reindeer survive the cold? They have a double coat that keeps them nice and warm. It consists of a warm undercoat and a thick outer coat of hollow hairs. They store heat particularly well. They even have fur under (!) their hooves.
• Moss as Antifreeze
To avoid freezing to death, reindeer have a special trick: they eat moss. It contains a specific substance that prevents their blood from freezing when they travel through the icy Arctic. The moss is for the reindeer like antifreeze for the windshield wiper system in the car.
Sense of Smell
Reindeer have a keen sense of smell. With their sensitive nose they're even able to find mosses and lichens that are hidden under the snow.
Sense of Sight
Reindeer have excellent vision. They have a transparent tissue in their eyes that makes them capable of perceiving ultraviolet light. This is very rare in mammals. Having the ability to see UV light comes with multiple benefits: it enhances visibility in snowy landscapes during the day and in pitch-black darkness at night, enabling quicker detection of predators.
Speed
Reindeer reach speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h).
Communication
Clicking Hooves
Reindeer produce a clicking sound as they walk. It's their tendons that slip over a bone (the so-called sesamoid bone). This is completely normal and not an injury or illness. Interestingly, the clicking sound is an important part of their communication. It can be heard several hundred feet away. So they always know exactly where their fellow peers are or where they're going - without having to see them. This is quite handy when visibility is poor, for example in snow or in the dark. They can even tell their conspecifics apart by the sound of their clicking: larger, heavier animals sound different than small, lighter ones.
Life Expectancy
In the wild, reindeer live 12-15 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The natural enemies of reindeer are wolves, golden eagles and bears.
Human Impact
Humans pose the biggest threat to reindeer as they are killed for their meat, fur, and skin. The animals are kept in fenced areas that rarely resemble their natural habitat and meet their needs. As a result, they also suffer from illnesses and malnutrition.
Are Reindeer an Endangered Species?
Yes, reindeer are considered endangered. The large herds that once roamed are now gone. In the 1980s, a herd of approximately 900,000 animals migrated to eastern Canada every year. It was the largest reindeer herd in the world. Today it has shrunk to 54,000 animals because they've separated them from their calving grounds by road constructions and mining. In total there are still 2.8 million animals. 30 years ago there were twice as many.
Importance for the Ecosystem
Due to climate change, the tundra is experiencing an increase in shrub growth. That's not a good thing, because the more plants spread, the warmer it gets in the tundra. Especially the soil. It is permanently frozen (“permafrost”), but slowly thaws and releases the stored CO2 into the air. By trampling and eating shrubs, reindeer help to protect the climate.
Reproduction
Reindeer mate between late September and late November. The strongest male in the herd is allowed to breed with the females. The calves are born after 228-234 days in the following May or June. After about 45 days they are already eating grass, but their mother continues to nurse them until autumn.
Fun Facts
Rudolph With the Red Nose
Every Christmas you hear Rudolph on the radio: "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose..." This is a song about a little unhappy reindeer, which is laughed at by its reindeer friends because of its rather red and shiny nose. Yet, Santa Claus finds Rudolph’s nose rather cool because it glows. After all, nobody wants to drive the sleigh into the roadside ditch in the dark! In fact, some reindeer have red noses because their blood veins are more visible. But they don't glow in the dark.
Reindeer Rudolph Was Female
Rudolph is always depicted with antlers. However, males shed their antlers before winter. Females keep them until spring. The reindeer that pulled Santa Claus' sleigh must be a female.
What Are the Names of Santa's Other Reindeer?
Their names are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem.
Reindeer or Caribou?
Caribou aren't a different deer species. It is just about the name. In North America, reindeer are called caribou.
The Reindeer Is Related To:
Animals in the Same Biome:
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