The reindeer
Rangifer tarandus fennicus
The reindeer is related to other deer, such as elk, red deer and roe deer. The reindeer is the only deer animal where both the female and the male have horns. The reindeer is also the only deer animal that we humans have tamed. There are no wild reindeer in Sweden today, but the domestic variety grazes freely in the northern parts of the country.
About
Today there are no wild reindeer in Sweden, but the tame variant of its relative. They are a grey colour with lighter streaks on the side. During the summer the reindeer eat a lot of brushwood, herbs and grass. In the winter they eat mushrooms and lichen that they dig from under the snow.
The females and their young live in a group, while the males live alone for the majority of the year. They mate in the autumn and the calves are born in May.
Did you know that:
• There are 7 subspecies of reindeer.
• The reindeer is the only deer animal where both the female and the male carry horns.
• In North America, the reindeer is called Caribou.
• There is a clicking sound when the reindeer runs due to a tendon running across a bony prominence on their hooves.
Fact
Class: Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
Scientific name: Deer family (Cervidae)
Conservations status: EX
Size: 90-140 cm at the shoulder height. 150 – 230 cm in length.
Weight: 60-200 kilo
Number of youngs: 1 calf. The rutting season occurs in the fall and the calves are born in May.
Conservation status
