Musk ox (Ovibos moschatus), also known as the musk ox, is the only remaining member of the family today bovids.Distant ancestors of this animal lived in the highlands of Central Asia, more than 10 million years ago.Then gradually colonized Eurasia and North America.Due to climate change, their population has declined significantly.At the beginning of the last century brought them in Russia, Wrangel Island and Taimyr, where they successfully took root.
Musk ox: description
This is a large hoofed animal with a massive head and a short neck.Rounded horns serve as a reliable protection from predators.The body is almost entirely covered with a thick, hanging almost to the ground coat of dark brown and black with a thick undercoat.She several times warmer than sheep wool and can save an animal from any frost.With wide hooves musk ox can rake the snow, producing their own food in the winter.Finding it in the snow makes a very well-developed sense of smell, by which the musk ox also detects approaching enemies.Big eyes enable to recognize objects even in total darkness.The height of the animal varies from 130 to 150 cm at the withers and weighs 260-650 kg.Males are much larger than females.Despite such significant size, not more closely related to cows and goats and sheep with a musk ox.The name of this animal to musk is irrelevant.It is connected with the Indian word "musked", indicating the marshland.Like goats, musk oxen can easily jump over cliffs, steep slopes.Bulky and clumsy form did not prevent them to run fast, they are not inferior in speed even horses.
The musk ox eats
These animals completely unpretentious food.Despite the large body mass, it is enough that the vegetation that appears short polar summer among the permafrost.In winter, they get out of the snow lichens, sedges, dwarf birch and willow.Musk ox consumes 5 times less food than the reindeer, and of the amount of food it is enough to sustain life.
herd instinct
between musk oxen very developed social networks, particularly among females and calves.This gregarious animals that live in groups of 15-20 individuals.This flock is supported, usually one dominant male.Between the calf and its mother has a very close relationship, they are in constant contact with each other.Since the birth of the calf interact with all members of the group, participating in the games, which are an important part of the life of the flock.
enemies
main enemies in nature for the musk ox are the wolves, bears, wolverines, and, of course, the hunters.For protection from predators during an emergency, these strong animals ring stand close to each other, covering a small calves, and in turn throw the enemy.One of the male attacks, and then back into the circle.So they beat off the attack and several predators.Strong and sharp horns - what famous musk ox.
Such a way of protecting not only works against a man, or rather weapons that he uses.Hunters often use immobility muskox, rallied in the ring, and shoot them with a gun.These animals affect their sense of camaraderie.They surround the slain musk ox and facing death, protecting it and forcing hunters to kill the whole herd.Therefore, the number of musk oxen in the Arctic, with the advent of people with guns declined sharply.
musk ox and the man
indigenous population of the Far North has long used as a game animal musk oxen.Especially prized their wool and warm undercoat, which is called "giviot."More than 2 kg of lint can give valuable musk ox.Images, such as located above demonstrate the diversity of products that can be performed using the yarn obtained from the musk ox hair.Animals in captivity, carefully combed, collecting giviot, and those that are on the outside, leave a lot of hair during moulting on plants.It is only necessary to collect it.
prized meat and musk oxen.The only exception is the meat of males who were killed in the mating season, t. To. It has quite a strong smell of musk.
marriage between
weddings among muskoxen occur at the height of the summer season.The problem of male - to become the owner of the harem, to attract more females to assert its right to fight with rivals.During this period, there are fights between bulls, who had recently grazed together and defending against predators.Exchanging glare, they draw back, and then rush to meet each other, faced their foreheads.The loser male leaves the battlefield.
When passions subside and the mating season ends, all slipping back into the herd and continue to graze peacefully nearby.In May, the calves are born.The female usually gives birth to one calf weighing about 7 kg, which is covered with thick hair.For nearly a year the calves are fed their mother's milk, characterized by a high fat content.In the first days of feeding occurs up to 20 times per day.Already in the first hours after birth the calf can follow his mother, after 2-3 days it becomes more active, and a few days later he met with other calves and have fun playing with them.Musk ox grows slowly.Only in the third year of life it becomes sexually mature and able to reproduce.
The list of creatures in need of resettlement, is today and musk ox.Picture it now can be seen among the pictures of animals to be protected.Scientists believe that it is necessary to restore the population in the Arctic musk ox.This will help increase hunting and fishing resources.
