Musk ox: lifestyle features

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

The musk ox (Ovibos moschatus), also known as the musk ox, is the only member of the bovid family that remains today. The distant ancestors of this animal lived in the highlands of Central Asia more than 10 million years ago. Then they gradually settled Eurasia and North America. Due to climate change, their population has greatly decreased. At the beginning of the last century, they were also brought to Russia, to Wrangel Island and Taimyr, where they successfully took root.

Musk Ox Description

This is a large ungulate animal with a massive head and a short neck. Rounded horns serve as reliable protection against predators. The body is almost completely covered with thick dark brown and black hair hanging almost to the ground with a thick undercoat.

She is several times warmer than sheep's wool and is able to save the animal from any frost. With the help of wide hooves, the musk ox can rake snow, getting food for itself in the winter. A very well developed sense of smell helps to find it under the snow, thanks to which the musk ox also detects the approach of enemies. Large eyes allow you to recognizeobjects even in complete darkness. The height of the animal varies from 130 to 150 cm at the withers, and the weight is 260-650 kg. Males are much larger than females. Despite such significant size, the musk ox has a closer relationship not with cows, but with goats and sheep. The name of this animal has nothing to do with musk. It is related to the Native American word "musked", meaning marshland.

Like goats, musk oxen can easily jump over rocks and steep slopes. Bulky and clumsy forms do not prevent them from running fast, they are not inferior in speed even to a horse.

What does a musk ox eat

These animals are completely unpretentious in food. Despite their large body weight, the vegetation that appears in the short polar summer among the permafrost is enough for them. In winter, they extract lichens, sedge, dwarf birch and willow from under the snow. A musk ox consumes 5 times less food than a reindeer, and this amount of food is enough for him to maintain his life.

herd instinct

Musk oxen have very developed social ties, especially among females and calves. These are herd animals that live in groups of 15-20 individuals. Such a herd is supported, as a rule, by one dominant male. Between the calf and his mother there is a very close relationship, they are in constant contact with each other. From the moment of birth, the calf interacts with all members of the group, participating in games that are an important part of the life of the herd.

Enemies

The main enemies in nature for the musk ox are wolves, bears, wolverines and, of course, hunters. To protect themselves from predators at the moment of danger, these strong animals stand in a ring close to each other, covering small calves with themselves, and take turns rushing at the enemy. One of the males attacks, then returns back to the circle. So they fight back when attacked by several predators. Strong and sharp horns are what the musk ox is famous for.

This method of protection does not work only in relation to a person, or rather, the weapon that he uses. Hunters often take advantage of the immobility of musk oxen, rallied in a ring, and shoot them with a gun. These animals amaze with their sense of camaraderie. They surround the killed musk ox and stand to the death, protecting it and forcing the hunters to kill the whole herd. Therefore, the number of musk oxen with the appearance of people with firearms in the Arctic has declined sharply.

Musk ox and man

The indigenous population of the Far North has long used musk oxen as game animals. Especially appreciated is their wool and warm undercoat, which is called "giviot". More than 2 kg of valuable down can give a musk ox.

Pictures like the one above showcase the variety of crafts that can be made with musk ox hair yarn. Animals kept in captivity are carefully combed, collecting giviot, and those that are in the wild leave a lot of wool inmolting period on plants. You just need to collect it.

The meat of musk oxen is also valued. The only exception is the meat of males that are killed during the mating season, because it has a rather strong smell of musk.

Mating season

Musk oxen wedding time comes at the height of the summer season. The task of the male is to become the owner of the harem, to attract as many females as possible, asserting his right in the fight with rivals. During this period, there are fights between bulls, which until recently grazed together and defended themselves from predators. After exchanging menacing looks, they back away, and then rush towards each other, colliding foreheads. The losing male leaves the battlefield.

When passions subside and the mating season ends, everyone again huddle together and continue to graze peacefully side by side. Calves are born in May. The female, as a rule, gives birth to one cub weighing approximately 7 kg, which is covered with thick hair. For almost a year, calves feed on their mother's milk, which is rich in fat. In the early days, feeding occurs up to 20 times a day.

Already in the first hours from the moment of birth, the calf can follow its mother, after 2-3 days it becomes more active, and a few days later it already gets to know other calves and plays with them cheerfully. The musk ox matures slowly. Only in the third year of life does it become sexually mature and capable of reproduction.

The Musk Ox is on the list of creatures in need of resettlement today. His photo can now be seen among the pictures of animals,subject to protection. Scientists believe that it is necessary to restore the musk ox population in the Arctic. This will help increase hunting and fishing resources.