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"Caribou" is more recent, having being first used by French Canadians in the mid-to-late 17th century. The word ''maka-lipi'' is from the proto-Algonquian language, and literally means "to shovel snow", i.e. the caribou's habit of pawing away the snow with its front hooves to reach grass<ref>https://www.dictionary.com/browse/caribou?s=t</ref>. The Miꞌkmaq people who also lived in what is now Quebec had a similar word to describe the same animal: ''γalipu''<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caribou</ref>; their interactions with the French Canadians would have their word altered into ''caribou'' as early as 1665.
"Caribou" is more recent, having being first used by French Canadians in the mid-to-late 17th century. The word ''maka-lipi'' is from the proto-Algonquian language, and literally means "to shovel snow", i.e. the caribou's habit of pawing away the snow with its front hooves to reach grass<ref>https://www.dictionary.com/browse/caribou?s=t</ref>. The Miꞌkmaq people who also lived in what is now Quebec had a similar word to describe the same animal: ''γalipu''<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caribou</ref>; their interactions with the French Canadians would have their word altered into ''caribou'' as early as 1665.
==Description==
Reindeer are large, with a shoulder height of 33 to 59 inches. Bulls are 71 to 84 inches in length, and weigh 350 to 400 pounds, with some examples considerably larger<ref>https://yukonsheep.com/caribou.htm</ref><ref>https://www.wideopenspaces.com/biggest-caribou-kills-record-books-pics/</ref>. Females are somewhat smaller, with a length of 64 to 81 inches, and weigh 180 to 260 pounds. The overall size of the animal varies among the subspecies. The body is stout and compact, supported on powerful legs with large, splayed hooves, enabling the animal to have a sure-foot in all seasons<ref>https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/reindeer</ref>.
The coat is dense and long, dark gray-brown in color or, especially in domesticated animals, a lighter gray to brown. In winter the coat is generally lighter than in summer. The subspecies ''R. t. pearyi'' living on the high Arctic islands of Canada wears an almost pure white coat year round. A dense undercoat combined with a longer, hollow-strand overcoat protects against the cold in the Arctic climate.
The antlers are rod-shaped and widely branched. The shape of the antlers is irregular, asymmetrical and different for each animal; on average the antlers are palmate at each end. Bull antlers are up to 53 inches long with a spread of nearly three feet; females are much smaller, about 17 inches in length<ref>https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/why-do-female-reindeer-grow-antlers/</ref>. Male animals shed their antlers in autumn, females only in spring.
==References==
==References==