Musk Ox

Musk Ox, long-haired, dark-brown ruminant related to goats and sheep. The musk ox is found in northern Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Sweden, and has been re-introduced into Alaska. An adult bull averages 1.9 to 2.3 m (6ƒ to 7y ft) in length, stands 1.2 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) at the shoulder, and has long, downward-curving horns with sharp, upturned tips; females are much smaller. Both sexes have a dense undercoat and an ankle-length outercoat for protection against the cold. The male emits a strong scent of musk when in rut, hence the name.

The musk ox travels in herds of 10 to 50. Its numbers have been drastically reduced and its range limited by humans, who hunt it for hides and meat. Efforts have been made to conserve the species, however, and it is now protected in Canada. In 1975 a small herd from North America was reintroduced into Arctic Siberia (where it had become extinct). The adults of a herd, when threatened, form an outward-facing circle with the young in the middle.

Scientific classification: The musk ox belongs to the family Bovidae of the order Artiodactyla. It is classified as Ovibos moschatus.