Musk Ox
The Musk Ox (Ovibos moschatus) is a large, shaggy mammal native to the Arctic tundra of North America and Greenland. It is not a true ox, but a member of the goat family.
The Musk Ox is known for its thick, shaggy coat that provides excellent insulation against the cold. It has a unique defense mechanism: when threatened, the herd will form a circle, with the adults on the outside facing the threat and the calves on the inside.
The Musk Ox is a true symbol of the Arctic wilderness.
Musk Ox
Classification
Mammalia > Artiodactyla > Bovidae > Ovibos > O. moschatus
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
4 - 5 feet
(1.2 - 1.5 m)
Average Weight
600 - 800 lbs
(270 - 360 kg)
Average Life Span
12 - 20 years
Gestation Period
240 - 250 days
Did You Know?
The Musk Ox is known for its incredibly thick coat, which has two layers: a long outer guard hair and a dense inner wool called qiviut, one of the warmest natural fibers in the world.
Despite their name, Musk Oxen are more closely related to goats and sheep than to oxen.
They are found in the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland, well-adapted to extremely cold environments.
When threatened, Musk Oxen form a defensive circle with their young in the center, facing outwards to present a wall of horns to predators.
Both male and female Musk Oxen have horns.
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