Also called caribou, reindeer are members of the deer family. They are unique among deer in that both sexes, not just the males, grow antlers. The antlers of the female are smaller and more slender than those of the male. Both males and females shed their antlers each year.

Physical features

Compared to other deer, reindeer tend to have thicker bodies and shorter legs. Reindeer stand about 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 meters) at the shoulder. They can weigh as much as 700 pounds (320 kilograms). Reindeer that people have tamed tend to be smaller, about the size of donkeys.

Reindeer are usually brown or gray with lighter underparts. An almost pure-white variety lives in northern Greenland. All reindeer have thick coats. Hard, brittle outer hairs cover a dense underfur. Reindeer also have large hooves that spread widely. These help them get a firm footing on ice and snow.

Behavior and reproduction

Reindeer live together in herds. These herds migrate (travel) long distances between summer and winter homes. In the summer reindeer eat grasses and other vegetation. In the winter they eat a plant called reindeer moss, which they find by using their feet to scrape through snow on the ground.

Reindeer breed in the autumn. Males often battle each other for mates. A female gives birth to one or two calves after a pregnancy of about seven and a half months. Newborns weigh about 13 pounds (6 kilograms) and are reddish brown.

Reindeer and humans

In some regions people use reindeer to pull sleds over the snow. Reindeer are also valued for their meat and milk. Their skins are used in the production of tents, boots, and clothing. Reindeer are sometimes hunted for sport as well.