Where does the musk ox live: natural areas of residence, what it looks like and what it eats

The musk ox is a mammalian artiodactyl animal of the Bovid family. The Latin name - "ovibos", or "ram-ox", reflects the unique combination of the external massiveness of yaks and the herd instinct of rams. The musk ox is genetically close to the Asian buffalo. Animals were first seen at the end of the 17th century in Canada. There are several reserved places in the world where the musk ox lives today.

Origin of species and description

In the prehistoric era of the Miocene, the helmet-bearing musk ox roamed the mountains of Central Asia. Whether ancient animals differed in appearance and behavior from modern ones is unknown. Archaeologists have not found enough remains to recreate their appearance.

About five million years ago, the harsh climate forced the musk oxen to descend from the Himalayan mountains and develop a new territory - the north of Eurasia and Siberia. The heyday of the animal population fell on the Pleistocene period. Then the path of the musk ox is traced to North America. It is endemic to Alaska and Greenland.

The second name of the animal - "musk ox" - contradicts the physiology of musk oxen, since they lack musk glands. The Canadian Indians used the word "musked" to refer to a swampy area where large artiodactyls were found.

In the modern description, the musk ox looks like this:

• height at the withers - 135 centimeters;
• weight - 260-650 kilograms;
• body length - 190-260 centimeters;
• hump on the scruff of the neck;
• the front of the body is wider than the back;
• rounded large hooves;
• elongated head;
• horns are bent from bottom to top;
• short tail hidden under fur.

Males are larger than females. The abundance of food also affects the size of musk oxen. An artiodactyl living in captivity weighs more than wild counterparts. But the largest muskoxen live in western Greenland.

The main feature of the animals is long thick hair hanging down to the hooves. Its length is 60 centimeters on the sides. The shaggy musk ox is completely covered with it. Due to the dense undercoat, which is 8 times warmer than sheep's, it does not freeze in the cold. Males are distinguished by a thicker hairline on the nape. The color of the animals is brown. White bulls are almost never seen.

Musk ox wool consists of eight types of pile and is the warmest in the world.

The cub of a musk ox is called a calf. From birth, he is protected from the cold by subcutaneous fat. Musk ox calves are born one at a time.Two cubs in the offspring is a rarity, which is explained by abundant and nutritious feeding. In the wild, the multiplicity of animals does not occur.

Where the musk ox lives

Modern musk ox habitats:

• North American continent, land of Grinelev and Parry;
• north, west, east of Greenland;
• Canadian Banks Islands, Victoria;
• continental part and islands of the Arctic archipelago of Canada;
• islands in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska - Nunivak and Nelson.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska remains the musk ox habitat of North America. Animals are adapted to the harsh climate.

The southernmost region of their distribution is in the taiga of Canada - in the east and north of the mainland.

The extermination of Canadian musk oxen at the beginning of the 20th century marked the beginning of the protection and resettlement of animals in Eurasia. After World War II, the settlers were taken in by Norway and Sweden. But their number has not increased significantly.

Musk oxen population was restored in the tundra of Russia. In the 1970s, they were accepted by Taimyr and Wrangel Island. The number of animals increased to fourteen thousand by 2015, but in 2022-2023 it halved due to poaching. The Musk Ox population on the protected Wrangel Island has survived. Other distribution areas of musk oxen on the European mainland:

• Polar Urals;
• Yamal;
• Republic of Sakha, which belongs to Yakutia;
• Zavialov Island, Magadan Region.

Taimyr and Wrangel musk oxen live in the Gornokhodatinsky nature reserve in the polar Urals. A shelter has been created for the animals - a corral. Some of them constantly live in natural conditions. In the Magadan region, unique artiodactyls can be seen in the Solnechny nature reserve.

The habitat of musk oxen in Yakutia covers the lower reaches of the rivers Anabar, Indigirka, Kolyma and the delta of the Lena River. Their natural habitat is also on Begichev Island.

The musk ox is distributed only in the northern hemisphere, in a natural zone with arctic, subarctic and temperate climates. In the southern hemisphere, there is a suitable climate for musk oxen in Antarctica, but the animals will not find food in the ice.

What animals eat

The herbivorous musk ox forages by digging through the layer of snow. The animal eats herbs, branches of shrubs, mushrooms, berries, moss reindeer moss. In the warm season, musk oxen use saline soil to replenish their need for mineral s alt.

Artiodactyls can dig out half a meter of snow. The front hooves of animals are wider and longer than the hind ones, and are specially adapted for tearing the snow cover. But food at greater depths is not available to musk oxen. Also, musk oxen can't break through hard crust.

Therefore, glaciation often causes starvation and extinction of animals.

In winter, musk oxen feed on dry, frozen vegetation that is difficult to digest. Therefore, they spend less time searching for food than digesting. In spring, the herds go to the banks of the rivers, where they feed on young forbs.

Lifestyle and character traits

The musk ox roams in search of food and water: it rises to the mountains in the winter, and descends to the valleys in the spring. Thanks to warm wool, it is adapted to low air temperatures. Animals wait out snow storms, lying with their backs to the wind. The behavior of musk oxen is the same as that of wild sheep:

• females with cubs unite in a herd;
• males live in a separate group or alone;
• every herd has a leader behind whom it moves in search of food;
• in summer, animals feed in the morning and evening, and rest in the midday heat;
• feed and predators are sensed thanks to the developed sense of smell and sharp eyesight.

Musk oxen live 12 years. Good adaptation to the conditions and protection from poachers increase their life expectancy to fourteen years.

Social structure and reproduction

The rut period for musk oxen begins in July and lasts until December. At this time, one or more males join the group of females.They compete in strength, clashing foreheads. Sometimes fights end with the death of one of the opponents. Pregnancy of female musk ox lasts 9 months. Newborn cubs weigh 8 kilograms. On the day of birth, they are already on their feet and walking next to their mothers. Females locate their babies in the herd by scent, while calves identify their mothers by their appearance and voice.

Maternal groups form in a herd of musk oxen. Cubs gain experience in joint games that last up to two months. Then the young animals switch to adult food, try moss, grass and start fewer games. Calves feed on mother's milk from four months to a year.

Members of the herd of musk oxen are in close social relationship. Calves are immediately accepted into the group. More boys are born than girls. On rich mother's milk, they quickly gain weight - up to forty kilograms by two months.

Natural enemies

In nature, musk oxen are hunted:

• wolverine;
• wolf;
• bear brown, white.

Musk oxen are sensitive to the approach of predators, so it is difficult to take them by surprise. A fight with large horned animals is deadly for enemies. For populations, poachers are worse. The horns and wool of animals are of high value. Musk oxen notice the slightest movement and, in case of danger, run away at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.

If the animals cannot escape, the males form a circle in the center of which the females and small calves gather. Circle members repel predator attacks, but are defenseless against a bullet.

Population and species status

The musk ox is not listed in the International Red Book. It is not in danger of extinction in the absence of significant climate change and the interest of illegal hunters.There are 148 thousand individuals in the world. The population of musk oxen on the largest island of Greenland is 12,000. It is forbidden to hunt animals living in the National Park. A quota has been set for hunting bulls living outside the protected area in the south of the island.

Musk oxen are protected in the Arctic and in Russia. Shooting of animals is prohibited in Yakutia and the Magadan reserve. A fine of almost 8 million rubles has been set for poaching.

Yak and Musk Ox: Differences

Geneticists can distinguish a musk ox from a yak or a bison - by the diploid number of chromosomes. Outwardly, the animals are very similar. Musk ox and yak have a hump and long warm hair. The difference will be visible if the animals are placed side by side - the shape of the head, nose and horns.

The following table will help compare animals:

Musk OxHeight at withers (meters)21,3Body length (meters)42Tail length (centimeters)75 Weight (kilograms) Hump Neck Horns Tail Wool Smooth on the sides, shaggy, long, reminiscent of a skirt on the legs and stomachDangles evenly to the hooves, very thick on the neckColor Brown, gray, black, with white spotsDark brown, black

Parameter	Yak
	14
1000	650
Short, not marked by wool cover	Shaggy, covered with thick mane
Long with short hair	Hidden with massive fur
Thin, extend horizontally in different directions, smoothly bend up	Starting from a convex base on the forehead (in females it stands out with white fluff), descend vertically on the sides of the head, bend forward and upward at eye level
Mobile, covered with coarse hair, like a horse	Not visible under the coat

Yaks are larger but look sleeker. They are found in the mountains of Tibet, in India, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Iran. Most animals are domesticated. Wild yaks live only high in the Tibetan mountains, avoid people and die out. Their social organization and behavior are the same as those of musk oxen.

Musk oxen are also planned to be bred as pets. From them you can get valuable giviut fluff, milk and meat. In addition to practical benefits, musk-ox farms aim to improve the ecology of the regions and preserve representatives of prehistoric fauna.

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