Reindeer - description, habitat, lifestyle

In this article we will study the artiodactyl mammal, namely the reindeer. This animal is ranked among the deer family, distinguished by its habits and lifestyle. Residents of Eurasia and North America breed and keep deer for household needs. With their help, carry out the transportation of goods and move themselves. Deer are very common in the tundra in the Far North, they are also found on the Taimyr Peninsula and in other regions. But it makes no sense to run ahead, we will study all aspects in order.

Description

1. According to the length of the body, these representatives of the family are stretched to 2 m. With a body weight of 200 kg. In height, the withers grow deer up to 120 cm on average. Individuals living in the northern regions, in their overall characteristics do not exceed the southern counterparts. Those larger and more powerful.
2. A distinctive feature of this variety can be considered the huge horns that individuals have two sexes.Horns have a long and thick base, they first move back, then lean forward and retain this format.
3. Every year, individuals shed their horns. In males, this action occurs at the end of autumn or the beginning of winter, and in females - at the end of spring or the beginning of summer. After a certain period, the horns begin to grow again and reach their highest point. Other branches already appear on the updated horns, the format becomes more complicated. When the animal reaches the age category of 5 years, the horns are formed completely.
4. Deer are famous for their elongated and rigid mane that adorns the neck. At the same time, the hairs are brittle, quickly breaking, so the mane often looks unkempt. The core of each hair is hollow, the core is missing. As for the fur, it is warm and changeable. Depending on the food and the season, it can vary in color, being light or dark.
5. Often the color can be motley, consisting of darkened and lightened areas. In summer, the fur is softer and shorter. Color in such a period reaches a coffee or brown tone. Lateral parts of the neck with suspension are pigmented with light.Young animals are not as dark as the adult generation. Cubs are more likely to be monochrome than variegated. They are either brown or gray-brown. In deer living in the southern part of Siberia, lighted large specks can stand on the back.

Habitat

1. The main area of ​​distribution is the tundra. Also, these individuals are found in the forest-tundra and mountainous areas. They can live on flat land or in coniferous areas. Some choose harsh light forests, others dwell closer to swampy areas.
2. In winter, these individuals leave the tundra. During such a period, they prefer to reside further south, for example, in the taiga or forest tundra. In the herd there are about 2 thousand individuals. First, they are sorted in groups, then dispersed in different areas and live in small colonies.
3. If we talk about migration in the spring, it is slow. Usually animals move with frequent stops to rest. Replenish energy reserves, slumber, continue the path. For 2 months, these individuals are able to overcome from 250 to 750 km.

Nutrition

1. The diet can not be called diverse due to the fact that individuals live almost in the same places. For almost all their life they have been getting food from under the snow mass.And you have to overcome the snow drifts to get to the food. If the cover is loose, individuals dig it to a depth of 0.5-1 m. If there is a crust on the surface, then only 40 cm will be enough to overcome the forces.
2. For digging snow first, individuals of the male gender are taken. They rake deposits, finding food of plant origin. Then the females in these areas feed themselves and treat the offspring. At the very least, weak animals eat.
3. Deer are subjected to severe stress in winter, so they need more food than usual. When they feed, they do not stop for a long period. After the disruption of the grass or lichen continue to go on the way to eat. The same allows the herd, going behind, too to feed.
4. The characteristic features of the diet can be attributed to the fact that the presented mammals can assimilate the moss. They even lean on the branches of trees, shoots and other solid plant foods. In the composition of the moss almost no protein, but, nevertheless, it forms the basis of the menu.
5. A huge part of the nutrients is allocated to silicon and other mineral compounds. The moss is ranked as high-calorie food, digested for a long time and increases energy reserves. In the winter, these animals require protein compounds and other minerals.
6. They complement the basic menu with brackish water and mushrooms that grow in the cold. In the remaining periods, deer spend those stocks that they managed to gather in the warm season. In the habitat there is little food supply, therefore, due to migration, individuals expand it.
7. Another source of food is considered moss. Especially often lean on it when the season is accompanied by a large amount of snow. As a rule, moss comes across by chance, it is not specifically sought. When animals need a lot of food, they lean on mice, eggs of birds and chicks.
8. Representatives of the family are struggling with dehydration due to the consumption of snow, which comes with food. They can gnaw the discarded horns in the hope of filling the deficit in nutrients. When the season is accompanied by severe frosts without snow, these animals will weaken due to lack of fluid.

Behavior

1. It is worth noting an interesting fact, the represented individuals are public animals. They prefer to graze in large herds. In each there can be more than 1000 individuals. When the animals are going to migrate, this number greatly multiplies.
2. It is noteworthy that the represented deer migrate over the course of several decades in the same route. In this case, the length of the path may be more than 500 km. Such individuals swim beautifully, so there is no problem for them to cross the straits and rivers.
3. Siberian representatives of this species in winter mainly live in the forest. In late spring, deer gather in large herds and head for the tundra. It is at this time in such places for animals there is more food. Approximately at the end of the summer or the beginning of autumn, the animals in question come back.
4. As for the Scandinavian representatives of the species, on the contrary, they try to keep away from the forests. Caribou deer that live in North America in mid-spring move from the forest to the sea. Only in the middle of autumn they return to their habitats.
5. There is also a European view. Throughout the year, they move around the territory for short distances. In the summer, they prefer to dwell in the mountains. In such places it is much cooler. In addition, the deer thus save themselves from predators.In winter, they can move to another mountain or go back down.
6. How sad it did not seem, deer suffer greatly from gadflies. The problem is that these insects lay their eggs directly under the skin of the animal. Soon the boils develop. It is in them that the larvae begin to grow. Even in the nostrils of individuals lay eggs nasal gadfly. Thus, animals suffer and become depleted.

Breeding

1. As for the mating season, the game of deer is mainly carried out in the middle of autumn. Males are constantly fighting among themselves to gain the attention of females. After mating, the couple waits for offspring for about 8 months. As a rule, only 1 baby is born. Only in rare cases there are twins.
2. Literally in a day, the deer already begins to run after its mother. Before winter comes, the female must feed the offspring with milk. After 3 weeks after birth, the horns begin to gradually break through in the deer. Only in 2 years deer reach sexual maturity. The life span of individuals is about 25 years.

The enemies

1. Large-sized predators predominantly hunt reindeer. The individuals in question have enough fat and meat. The main enemies of deer can be considered bears, wolves, lynx and wolverine. It is during the migration of the represented animals that they open for hunting. For predators, this is the most favorable time.
2. At such times, deer gather in huge herds and try to migrate over long distances. Weak and sick individuals always lag behind and beat off the herd. Exhausted, they become easy prey for predators.
3. Unfortunately, the most dangerous for animals are people. It is he who exterminates deer in large numbers. All this happens for the sake of meat, skins and horns of the animal. In the Northern European part, there are currently about 15 thousand individuals.
4. In North America, this figure is much higher. In the country represented, there are about 600 thousand individuals. In the polar zone of Russia, the number of deer reaches 800 thousand. There are also domestic deer. Their number passes for 3 million.

People have long domesticated reindeer. They simply isolated part of the wild herd and over time the animals adapted. As a result, individuals feel great. They are accustomed to people, and lead a semi-free lifestyle.Deer do not scatter in case of danger, but wait for protection from humans.

Video: Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)