Composer of animals in the tundra
Preserving the species and traditional wisdom Here, reindeer herding is a way of life, deeply intertwined with their time-honored practices, reflecting an interwoven relationship with nature. In Finland’s Arctic region, reindeer are a cornerstone of the cultural identity of the Inari Sámi. The Inuit of the Kivalliq Region in northern Canada, the Caribou Clan in the Yukon, the Iñupiat, the Inuvialuit, the Hän, the Northern Tutchone, and the Gwichʼin all rely on reindeer for food, clothing, and shelter. Reindeer hold profound significance in Indigenous cultures. Sacred to the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic Migration allows reindeer to adapt to environmental conditions, following the availability of vegetation and avoiding the harshness of winter landscapes. The migration patterns of these herds cover distances of 19 to 55 kilometers (12 to 34 miles) per day. Benefits of herding include increased vigilance against predators, enhanced foraging efficiency, and better access to mates during the breeding season. These herds can range from a few individuals to several hundred thousand. Most reindeer are highly social and exhibit herding behavior. All of this helps keep the tundra pristine. As they trample the ground and spread seeds through their droppings, reindeer increase nitrogen in the soil and slow the encroachment of shrubs. Their mass amounts of grazing help keep plant species healthy, which provides more food and shelter to the biodiversity in their ecosystem. With a four-chambered stomach to digest the most challenging and coldest materials, a reindeer’s diet can consist of lichen, leaves, grasses, mushrooms, and even small rodents, fish, and bird eggs when nutritionally starved. Image credit: Moori | Dreamstime (12596181) Ecosystem engineers of the tundra Reindeer live in herds to survive the harsh winter climate together. Reindeer have gold eyes in summer and blue in winter. It also improves their vision during continuous darkness and helps spot predators. This ability helps them survive in the Arctic as many objects blend into the white, snowy landscape. A study by the University College London in 2011 revealed that reindeer could see light within the ultraviolet range. Changing eye color to match the seasonĪnother characteristic of reindeer is their changing eye color. As the antlers grow, they are covered in thick velvet, filled with blood vessels.īulls begin to shed their antlers early to midwinter, while female reindeer keep theirs and acquire the highest ranks in the feeding hierarchy with them ― making all the reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh female. In March or April, males begin, and in May or June, the females follow. Reindeer are the only species in the cervid, or deer, family where both males and females grow antlers. The most distinct feature of reindeer is their antlers. Image Credit: Moori | Dreamstime (12596159) Both males and females grow large, velvet antlers. However, weight can vary dramatically between seasons, with males losing as much as 40% of their summer size in the winter months.Ī reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, in the Arctic snow. The heaviest bulls weigh as much as 318 kg (701 lb). Males, or bulls, are slightly larger with a body length of 1.8 to 2.1 meters (5.9-6.9 ft) and can weigh between 159–182 kg (351–401 lb). Physical traits and characteristicsįemale reindeer, or cows, can measure up to 1.6 to 2 meters (5-6.6 ft) and weigh up to 120 kg (260 lb). In Europe, they are simply called reindeer. In North America, they are called caribou if they are wild and reindeer if they are domesticated. They are the same species as caribou, Rangifer tarandus.
Reindeer are native to Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America in the Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions. Caribou and reindeer are the same species The reindeer is the Iconic Species of the Greater Eurasian Tundra Bioregion ( PA4). They are the largest, most numerous herbivores in circumpolar areas, making their grazing essential for a healthy landscape in a region warming four times faster than the rest of the planet. Yet, this iconic species plays an even more significant role in our shared ecosystem. In Western folklore, reindeer magically pull Santa Claus’ sleigh, flying around the world delivering presents for children to open on Christmas morning. One Earth’s “Species of the Week” series highlights an iconic species that represents the unique biogeography of each of the 185 bioreg ions of the Earth.