Barren-ground Caribou

Barren-ground Caribou

Taxobox
name = ("albino") Barren-ground Caribou
status = LR/lc


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
subclassis = Theria
ordo = Artiodactyla
familia = Cervidae
subfamilia = Odocoilinae
genus = "Rangifer"
species = "R. tarandus"
subspecies = "R. tarandus groenlandicus"
subspecies_authority = (Linnaeus, 1767)
binomial = "Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1767)

Barren-ground Caribou ("Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus") are a subspecies of caribou that are found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and western Greenland. They are medium sized caribou with the females 90 kg (198 lb) and the males 150 kg (331 lb). However, on some of the smaller islands, the average weight may be less.

Like the Peary Caribou, both the males and females have antlers. In general, during the summer, the coat of the caribou is brown, and much lighter in the winter. The neck and rump tends towards a creamy-white colour. However, the general colouration may differ depending on the region.

The barren-ground caribou usually breeds in the fall and calves in June but may not drop their single calf until July. Usually the female will give birth away from the herd and if possible on a patch of snow. After birth, the female will lick the calf clean and eat the tissues and the placenta. This may serve two purposes, first to replace nutrients lost from birthing and second to help remove the scent that would attract predators.

The main food source is lichen but they will also feed on Cyperaceae (sedges) and other grasses along with twigs and mushrooms. Caribou have also been observed to eat antlers, seaweed and will lick salt deposits. There is some evidence to suggest that on occasion they will also feed on lemmings, arctic char and bird eggs.On the mainland of Canada, the animals may travel in herds of several thousand but on the islands, they move in smaller groups (no more than 50). They are migratory animals and may travel 1,200 km (746 mi) in a season. Some groups, such as those living on Victoria Island during the summer, will migrate to the mainland in the fall time after the sea ice has formed. At this time, the smaller groups may form into a larger herd and several hundred animals may be seen. Mainland barren-ground caribou herds move to coastal areas for part of each year, with the exception of the Beverly Herd. [cite web |url=http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:zcC6ALKtmXAJ:www.taiga.net/projectcaribou/pdf/casestudies/beverly_study.PDF+thelon+wildlife&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us |title=The Beverly Caribou Herd: Continental Wilderness Travellers |publisher=taiga.net |accessdate=2008-01-16] The Beverly Herd (located primarily in Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories; portions in Nunavut, Manitoba, Alberta) and the Qamanirjuaq Herd (located primarily in Manitoba, Nunavut; portions in southeastern NWT, northeastern Saskatchewan) fall under the auspices of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board. [cite web |url=http://www.arctic-caribou.com/aboutcaribou.html |title=The caribou herds |publisher=arctic-caribou.com |accessdate=2008-01-16]

The barren-ground caribou, called "tuktu" in Inuinnaqtun/Inuktitut, and written as "ᓇᐹᕐᑐᕐᑲᓐᖏᑦᑐᒥ ᑐᒃᑐ" in Inuktitut syllabics, is a major food source for the Inuit, especially the Caribou Inuit bands living in the Kivalliq Region ("Barren Lands") of present-day Nunavut. [cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Land-Farley-Mowat/dp/1586420240/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198536516&sr=1-5 |title=Walking on the Land |publisher=amazon.com |accessdate=2007-12-24]

The major predator of Barren-ground caribou is the arctic wolf who may follow the herd for many miles. The caribou has poor eyesight and hearing but is capable of outrunning the wolf.

References

* [http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Rangifer+tarandus+groenlandicus NatureServe]
*Terrestrial Mammals of Nunavut by Ingrid Anand-Wheeler. ISBN 1-55325-035-4
*IUCN2006|assessors=Deer Specialist Group|year=1996|id=29742|title=Rangifer tarandus|downloaded=18 June 2006

See also

* Reindeer hunting in Greenland

External links

* [http://www.nwtwildlife.com/NWTWildlife/caribou/description.htm Barren-ground Caribou]
* [http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=85 Hinterland Who's Who]
* [http://www.arctic-caribou.com/index.html Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board website]
** [http://www.arctic-caribou.com/range_map.html Map of the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou range]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Barren Ground caribou — Barren Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barren Ground caribou — Caribou Car i*bou (k[a^]r [i^]*b[=oo]), n. [Canadian French.] (Zo[ o]l.) The American reindeer, especially the common or woodland species ({Rangifer Caribou}). [1913 Webster] {Barren Ground caribou}. See under {Barren}. {Woodland caribou}, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barren ground caribou — noun of tundra of northern Canada; in some classifications included in the species Rangifer tarandus • Syn: ↑Rangifer arcticus • Hypernyms: ↑caribou, ↑reindeer, ↑Greenland caribou, ↑Rangifer tarandus * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • barren ground caribou — a migrating caribou of the North American tundra and taiga, having many branched slender antlers. Also, Barren Ground caribou. [1820 30] * * * …   Universalium

  • Barren Ground bear — Barren Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Caribou — Car i*bou (k[a^]r [i^]*b[=oo]), n. [Canadian French.] (Zo[ o]l.) The American reindeer, especially the common or woodland species ({Rangifer Caribou}). [1913 Webster] {Barren Ground caribou}. See under {Barren}. {Woodland caribou}, the common… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barren — Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents; Bisc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barren flower — Barren Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Barren Grounds — Barren Bar ren (b[a^]r ren), a. [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, fem. brehaigne, baraigne, F. br[ e]haigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. br[ e]kha[ n], markha[ n], sterile; LL. brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish documents;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Caribou Inuit — ethnic group group=Caribou Inuit poptime=3,000 popplace=Nunavut rels=Christianity, Shamanism langs=Inuktitut related=Copper InuitCaribou Inuit, Barren ground Caribou hunters, are bands of inland Inuit who lived west of Hudson Bay in northern… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”