Deer living in North America are also called Caribou. In scientific circles, they are also called Canadian deer. These animals are unusual in that they are the only ones of their kind that helped people to develop the northern lands. Canadian reindeer is indispensable in the household and copes with the role of pack transport. Its habitat is the tundra.
Appearance Features
Deer of the Canadian tundra has several distinctive features that are not inherent in species living in a warmer climate. First of all, it is the hairline of the front of the lips. This feature is unique to deer living in the northern parts of the continents.
The Canadian deer has an elongated body, which gives it a visually medium size. His head is proportional and elongated. The neck, although it seems at first glance too wide, is actually quite thin, but overgrown with thick hair. Another of the distinctive features of the Canadian deer from the southern species are its legs. They are shorter in comparison with relatives, so the animal looks squat. Deer is able to grow up to one and a half meters in height and reach two hundred kilograms. It is noteworthy that domesticated Canadian deer are less wild. Their main feature, due to which these animals stand out among their relatives, is the presence of large branched horns, both in the male and in the female. Moreover, in females they are still less than in males. The weight of the horns of an adult male Canadian deer can exceed 10 kilograms, and in females no more than 6 kg. They have an asymmetric shape and a huge number of different processes and scapulae.
Features of Canadian Deer Fur
Another feature inherent only to these animals is the long fur, sometimes reaching 10 centimeters, and in the neck area sometimes exceeding thirty. At the same time, the shortest coat is on the legs, but it is rather coarse and thick. The hair cover is in the hoof area and even between them. This feature makes their area wider.
In the warmer months of the year, the color of the Canadian deer has a brown tint. In winter, it becomes colorful and light colors prevail in it. At the same time, males and females practically do not differ in color.
Reindeers, due to their thick and long fur, are adapted to live in conditions of severe cold. This advantage plays not only a positive, but also a negative role. Because of the fur, they are not able to survive in the heat, as their perspiration glands are underdeveloped. Therefore, these animals regulate body temperature with the help of deep breaths and protruding tongue. Specialists also include the unique ability to swim. This is due to the fact that there is air between their hairs, which gives additional buoyancy to the Canadian deer.
