Musk ox | Facts & Information
# Musk ox | Facts & Information
Musk ox | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Musk ox
Height: 1.1 – 1.5 m at shoulder (4 to 5 ft)
Habitat: tundra areas, lakes and plateaus
Food: Herbivore
Male length: 200 – 250 cm (6.6 to 8.2 ft)
Weight: 180 – 410 kg (400 to 900 lb)
Speed: 60 km / h (37 mph)
Colors: dark brown, black
Breeding: 1 Chick
Predators: Wolf, grizly bear, polar bear
Live: in the herd (10-30 individuals)
Average age: 12 – 20 years in the wild
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Musk ox
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Facts
Area: Arctic (North America, Sweden, Siberia and Norway)
Female length: 135 – 200 cm (4.4 to 6.6 ft)
Features: has the longest fur (over 1m long)
Origin
The musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) is an arctic mammal that belongs to the family Bovidae. It can be found most often in Alaska and Greenland.
It is believed that this animal has existed for 100,000 years, being contemporary with the mammoth.
Its name comes from the strong smell left behind by the males.
It has been introduced to several Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway.
At the time of this writing the species is not in danger of extinction.
Musk ox feed
Musk ox is a herbivorous animal. It feeds on plants, grass, roots or lichens.
In the warm season or when food is abundant, the number of individuals in the herd increases. The greater the amount of feed the better and juicier grass will choose.
Being an animal that lives among lakes and glaciers, it has no problems quenching its thirst.
Appearance musk ox
With a height of up to 1.5 m at the shoulder it is one of the largest animals in the Arctic.
The body is covered with a long and thick fur. It is recognized for fur with the longest strands. They often exceed 1 meter in length. It keeps the animal warm at temperatures up to -60 degrees.
The fur is called qiviut (or qiviuq). It is very appreciated for its length, resistance and very good insulation in the cold. The price for an ounce (28.35 grams) is between $ 40 and $ 80.
Both sexes, both male and female, have long, curved and sharp horns
Musk ox behavior
They usually gather in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. If conditions are good and food is available, flocks of 60 individuals can also be seen.
When the herd is attacked the weakest (some females and Cubs) are protected in the middle of a circle. Males use their sharp horns and force to drive away predators.
Musk ox breeding
The struggle for females lasts long enough. Males fight serious fights with howls and bellows to impress and conquer females. The strong smell also plays an important role in the mating season.
After mating, the gestation period lasts 6 months. The female usually gives birth to a single cub weighing 8kg. The chicken grows in the first month by 0.5 kg / day.
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Musk ox | Facts & InformationMusk Ox | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Musk Ox