Musk ox
| Musk ox | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Sub-class | Theriiformes |
| Infra-class | Holotheria |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Preptotheria |
| Order | Artiodactyla |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Sub-family | Caprinae |
| Tribe Information | |
| Tribe | Ovibovini |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Ovibos |
| Species Information | |
| Species | O. moschatus |
| Population statistics | |
The musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) is a large mammal of the family Bovidae, and found in the high Arctic tundra regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Description
Musk ox are large, standing 4 to 5 feet at the shoulder, a body length of 4.4 to 8.2 feet, and weigh 630 to 900 pounds. Males are larger than females. The horns are present in both sexes, hook-shaped, and curving first downwards, ending in a pointed tip upwards. The horns of the males are massive and contiguous at their base, covering the top of the head while a strip of fur separates those of the females. The shaggy coat is its chief characteristic, extremely long, with a high insulation value, colored in a mixture of blacks, dark-to-light grays and brown, and covers the body completely except for the horns, hooves, lips and nose. On the shoulders the males' coat is very shaggy and outwardly creates something similar to a mane. The wool, collected from domesticated animals and called qiviuk, is thinner than cashmere and eight times warmer than sheep's wool. Although the overall look implies a weighty appearance, musk ox are fast, reaching speeds of up to 37 mph.
Musk ox, despite the name, bear no musk-secreting glands in the normal sense. What they have is a substance originating at the preputial gland, added to their urine during mating season, and spread to the guard hairs on the belly strictly by the movements of dominant males[1]. The odor it gives off is described as both musky and pungent[2].
Subspecies
- Ovibos moschatus moschatus, Barren Ground musk ox
- Ovibos moschatus wardi, Greenland, or white face musk ox
