Knowra Muskox Muskox The muskox (Ovibos moschatus) is a large Arctic bovid with a dense insulating coat and curved horns. It lives in tundra regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska, and has been introduced to other Arctic areas.
Bovidae : The family of cloven-hoofed mammals that includes cattle, sheep, goats, and antelopes. Muskoxen belong to this family, despite their distinctive Arctic appearance.
Tundra : A cold, largely treeless biome with low-growing vegetation and often permanently frozen subsoil. Muskoxen feed and shelter across Arctic tundra landscapes.
Qiviut industry : The small-scale production and sale of yarn and textiles made from muskox underwool. Harvested qiviut is valued for exceptionally warm, lightweight garments.
Dovrefjell : A mountain region in central Norway that supports an introduced population of muskoxen. Muskoxen were brought to Dovrefjell in the twentieth century, creating a notable European population.
Reindeer : A deer species native to Arctic and subarctic regions, known as caribou in North America. Both occupy Arctic environments, but reindeer are cervids rather than bovids.
Artiodactyla : The mammal order of even-toed ungulates, including bovids, deer, pigs, and camels. This broader group places muskoxen among even-toed hoofed mammals.
Herbivore : An animal that obtains most of its food from plants or algae. Muskoxen graze grasses and sedges and browse other tundra plants.
Subsistence hunting : Hunting primarily to provide food, materials, or other necessities for a household or community. Muskoxen have provided Arctic communities with meat, hides, and other materials.
Banks Island : An island in Canada's Northwest Territories with a large Arctic wildlife population. Its muskox population is one of the largest and most studied in Canada.
Bison : Large bovines of the genus Bison, native to parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Their heavy build and horns invite comparison, but bison are not close living relatives of muskoxen.
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