The shaggy musk-ox is not really an ox at all. This animal is actually a relative of sheep and goats. The first part of its name comes from the strong smell that the bulls, or male musk-oxen, give off during mating season. The musk-ox can be found in the tundra regions of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The Inuit use the fur of musk-oxen to make a cloth similar to cashmere. The scientific name of the musk-ox is Ovibos moschatus.
Physical features
The musk-ox looks like a small buffalo. An adult male, or bull, may grow up to 71/2 feet (2.3 meters) long and weigh 900 pounds (410 kilograms). The female, called a cow, is smaller than the bull. Both males and females are stocky and have large heads, short necks, and short, stout legs.
The musk-ox has very long, dark brown fur. In fact, the fur hangs about 35 inches (90 centimeters) down from the animal's neck, chest, and hindquarters. It almost sweeps the ground. Under the musk-ox's outer fur is a thick layer of wool.
Both bull and cow musk-oxen have horns. They can grow as long as 2 feet (60 centimeters) in older males. Females and young have smaller horns.
Behavior
Musk-oxen generally travel in herds of about 20 to 30 animals. They feed on grass and low-growing plants. Musk-oxen are not aggressive unless they feel threatened. Then they use their horns as weapons. When a wolf pack threatens a herd of musk-oxen, for example, the bulls and cows of the herd form a circle around the calves. They point their heads outward from the circle. In this way, the wolves are faced with a wall of sharp horns.