Rangifer tarandus
TAXONOMY
Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758), Swedish Lapland.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Caribou; French: Renne; German: Rentier, Wildren; Spanish: Reno.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Medium-sized. Shoulder height: 33–59 in (85–150 cm); body length: males 70–84 in (180–214 cm), females 64–81 in (162–205 cm); tail length: 6–8 in (14–20 cm); weight: males 200–460 lb (92–210 kg), females 174–256 lb (79–116 kg). A dwarf subspecies (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) of 31–37 in (80–95 cm) shoulder height inhabits Spitzbergen Islands. Reindeer have elongated body and short legs. Muzzle is covered by hair, and a thick mane along the lower part of neck adorns both sexes. Hooves are very large, wide, and flat, accompanied by wide and long dewclaws, with long coarse hairs between fingers.
Unlike all other deer, both males and females wear antlers. Antlers are forked, reaching 39 in (100 cm) width and 53 in (135 cm) length of beam in males. Coat color is nearly white to a shady light in winter and grayish brown in summer. Tail and rump patch are white. In winter, hairs are air-filled to supply thermal insulation. Construction of teeth is particularly adapted for grazing and to eat soft lichens; teeth are not fitted for browsing on woody vegetation.
DISTRIBUTION
Wide areas in Eurasia and North America from the Arctic Ocean and arctic islands southward to 50°N in Scandinavia, Finland, European part of Russia, and to 58°N in western Siberia.
HABITAT
Inhabit arctic deserts such as on Arctic Ocean islands, in lichen or lichen-mossy tundra, covered by dwarf bushes of birch, willow, alder; in high mountains, tundra with dwarf vegetation, in forest-tundra where clearings with dwarf vegetation inter-change with larch clumps. Thin coniferous forests (pine, larch) with abundant woody lichens are also common habitat as well as vast marshlands (in western Siberia) and swamps amidst forests. Reindeer are perfectly adapted to life on seaside plains as well as in coniferous forests on hillsides and in open, woodless mountain plateaus to 8,850 ft (2,700 m).
BEHAVIOR
Reindeer live in families (female with calf), herds, and gatherings. Most typical are herds of 2,500–3,000 individuals coordinated in movements and following a single leader when disturbed. Gatherings during migrations reach 80,000–100,000 animals and more, consisting of several herds; each herd coordinated in movements. Forest herd is three to eight (maximum 55) animals, as visual contact between more animals is hard in a forest.
Following the leaders is a typical behavioral reaction of disturbed deer. Actually, experienced females and bulls are the first to leave a herd's protection to escape on their own.
Herd life increases competition for feeding in snow. Adult bulls shed antlers soon after rut, in the beginning of winter. Calves follow mothers during winter to feed in their crater.
Barren females and young bulls shed antlers in March, so only pregnant females wear antlers in springtime.
Reindeer make seasonal migrations. Each population uses particular calving grounds where females return year after year. Summer pastures are also constant for each population, though position of those pastures might change, depending on natural conditions of the year. Reindeer use constant migration routes, especially points of river crossings. They move to points of most favorable combinations of snow cover and abundance of food.
Reindeer run with high speed. Good swimmers, they can cross sea straits that are 75 mi (120 km) wide. In areas under high hunting pressure, deer run 1,640–1,980 ft (500–600 m), but in places of low human pressure, they will allow a human to approach within a distance of 32–39 ft (80–100 m).
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
In Eurasia tundra, winter food consists of 20–90% lichens. Daily diet of an animal is about 11 lb (5 kg) of lichens. Also, winter diet is comprised of dry plants, green shoots of cotton grass, sedges, horse-tail, and green mosses. Important source of protein in autumn are mushrooms. Feeding in winter is mostly on lichens, which consist of 50–80% carbohydrates. At the same time, animals experience crucial lack of vitamins, proteins, and fat. They consume young leaves of birch and willow, twigs, buds, and flowers, cotton grass, and sedges.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Polygynous. Rut time coincides with autumn migrations in September–October. Fights between bulls are frequent. Winners, the strongest animals control 7–8 females. Rutting bulls eat rarely, and soon are exhausted, changing the hierarchy. Bulls younger than one and a half years do not take part in rut due to rivalry of elder ones. Most large females take part in rut; among those, more than 80% get pregnant. Gestation period is 192–246 days, mother gives birth to one calf. A newborn stands in one hour and first suckles in five hours. After 5–7 hours, mother can leave the birthing ground, followed by calf. Strong link between mother and calf lasts three months. Lifespan of bulls is 4–5 years, maximum to 14 years; of females, 6–7 years up to 19 years.
More than 40% of calves die in the first year and about 30% of the rest die at the second year. Wolves are the main predators, then brown bear, raven, golden eagle and sea eagle. Also, calves die during spring migration while crossing big rivers or from cold.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Reindeer is the principal source of survival for indigenous people of the north. There are more than three million wild reindeer in North America and Eurasia and, also, about 2.5 million of tame reindeer. Reindeer meat is of specific quality. Deer pelts provide clothes necessary to survive in harsh northern climate. Velvet antlers are used in Asian medicines.
| Common name / Scientific name/Other common names | Physical characteristics | Habitat and behavior | Distribution | Diet | Conservation status |
| Peruvian huemul Hippocamelus antisensis French: Cerf des Andes septentrionales, guémal péruvien; Spanish: Ciervo andino septentrional, guemal | Coloration is speckled yellowish gray-brown. Coat is coarse and brittle and longest on forehead and tail. Dark brow streak on face. Head and body length 55.1–65 in (140–165 cm), tail length 4.5–5.1 in (11.5–13 cm), shoulder height 30.5–35.4 in (77.5–90 cm), weight 99.2–143.3 lb (45–65 kg). | Inhabits mainly hills, rugged country, and steep mountain slopes, at elevations of 8,200–17,060 ft (2,500–5,200 m). Active during daylight. Groups form as segments, or subpopulations, of a larger group or population. Groups consist of adult males and females, accompanied by a few young. Solitary animals uncommon. | The Andes of Peru, western Bolivia, northeastern Chile, and northwestern Argentina | Lichens, mosses, herbs, and grasses. | Data Deficient |
| Northern pudu Pudu mephistophiles French: Pudu du nord; Spanish: Pudu norteño, sachacabra, venadito de los páramos | Coloration is generally buffy, the middle of the back is dark brown, underparts are buffy to rufous. The face, outer ears, chin, and feet are dark brown to black. Head and body length 23.6–32.5 in (60–82.5 cm), tail length 1–1.8 in (2.5–4.5 cm), shoulder height 9.8–16.9 in (25–43 cm), weight 12.8–29.5 lb (5.8–13.4 kg). | Found in temperate zone forests and fringing grasslands at 6,560–13,120 ft (2,000–4,000 m). Has been found only alone or in pairs. Has a whistling vocalization. | Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. | Herbaceous vegetation including bamboo, leaves, bark, twigs, buds, blossoms, fruit, and berries. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Brocket deer Mazama bororo English: Small red brocket; Spanish: Bororó de Sáo Paulo | General coloration is brown to dark brown. Head and body length 28.3–53.1 in (72–135 cm), tail length 2–7.9 in (5–20 cm), shoulder height 13.8–29.5 in (35–75 cm). | Usually found in woodlands and forests from sea level to elevations of 16,400 ft (5,000 m). Relatively sedentary, diurnal, and nocturnal. Extremely shy. | Presently found in Patagonia from about 39° to 45°S latitude. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Data Deficient |
| Merioa brocket deer Mazama bricenii Spanish: Corzuela gris enana | Small, reddish coloration. Head and body length is 28.3–53.1 in (72–135 cm), tail length is 2–7.9 in (5–20 cm), and shoulder height is 13.8–29.5 in (35–75 cm). | Found in dimmed forests, evergreen forests, and deserts. Relatively sedentary, diurnal, and nocturnal. Extremely shy. | Western Venezuela and Colombia. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Not threatened |
| Dwarf brocket deer Mazama chunyi French: Daguet gris nain; German: Kleiner Grauer Mazama; Spanish: Conzuela montera | Coloration is uniformly light to dark brown with a reddish tint. Head and body length 28.3–53.1 in (72–135 cm), tail length 2–7.9 in (5–20 cm), shoulder height 13.8–29.5 in (35–75 cm). | Usually found in woodlands and forests from sea level to elevations of 16,400 ft (5,000 m). Relatively sedentary, diurnal, and nocturnal. Extremely shy. | The Andes of southern Peru and Bolivia. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Data Deficient |
| Gray brocket deer Mazama gouazoubira English: Brown brocket deer; Spanish: Corzuela gris | Coloration is grayish brown. Even, convex nasals. Males have slender, straight antlers that are ridged at the base. Shoulder height 17.7 in (45–61 cm), weight 37.5 lb (17 kg). | Usually solitary. Individuals of both sexes maintain stable home ranges for periods ranging from two to four years. Use urination, defecation, forehead rubbing, and thrashing to communicate and show territory. | San Jose Island (Panama); Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia east to Brazil and south to Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Uruguay. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Data Deficient |
| Yucatán brown brocket deer Mazama pandora | Coloration is brown to gray-brown, underside is whitish. Males have long, divergent, and usually curved antlers. Large patch of long, dark, stiff hairs on forehead. Head and body length 28.3–53.1 in (72–135 cm), tail length 2–7.9 in (5–20 cm), shoulder height 13.8–29.5 in (35–75 cm). | Usually solitary. Individuals of both sexes maintain stable home ranges for periods ranging from two to four years. Use urination, defecation, forehead rubbing, and thrashing to communicate and show territory. | Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Data Deficient |
| Little red brocket deer Mazama rufina French: Daguet rouge nain; German: Kleiner Roter Mazama; Spanish: Conzua chica | Coloration is brown. Head and body length 28.7 in (73 cm), shoulder height 17.7 in (45 cm). | Reside in tropical forests. Relatively sedentary, diurnal, and nocturnal. Extremely shy. | Ecuador, southern Colombia. | Many kinds of plants, some of the preferred items include grasses, vines, and tender green shoots. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| Pampas deer Ozotoceros bezoarticus French: Cerf des pampas; Spanish: Ciervo de las pampas; venado de campo | Coloration of upperparts is reddish brown or yellowish gray. Face, crown, and tail are darker. Head and body length 43.3–55.1 in (110–140 cm), shoulder height 27.6–29.5 in (70–75 cm), mass 66.1–88.2 lb (30–40 kg). | Reside in open savannas and cerrado which used to be found in most of the natural grasslands of South America south of the Amazon. Seasonal breeder. Largely sedentary. Generally solitary. | Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Bolivia. | Herbivorous, but exact diet is unknown. | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
