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Musk Ox
Musk Ox are Arctic animals native to Canada and Greenland. They have also been introduced to Sweden, Siberia and Norway. They have been reintroduced to Alaska which was part of their historic range. Musk Ox are members of the bovine family.
Both sexes have long curved horns and males are slightly larger than females. Males are 200 – 250 cm (6.6 – 8.2 ft) long and females 135 – 200 cm (4.4 -6.6 ft) long. Average weight is about 295 kg (650 lb). Their long thick coats make them look larger than they are.
Musk Ox live in small herds of up to 20 in the summer and gather in slightly larger groups of up to 24 in the winter. They are herbivours . A single calf is born to females and the rate of reproduction is relatively low. Life expectancy is 12 – 20 years.
They are capable of reaching a speed of 60 km (37 mi)/hr.
Both sexes have long curved horns and males are slightly larger than females. Males are 200 – 250 cm (6.6 – 8.2 ft) long and females 135 – 200 cm (4.4 -6.6 ft) long. Average weight is about 295 kg (650 lb). Their long thick coats make them look larger than they are.
Musk Ox live in small herds of up to 20 in the summer and gather in slightly larger groups of up to 24 in the winter. They are herbivours . A single calf is born to females and the rate of reproduction is relatively low. Life expectancy is 12 – 20 years.
They are capable of reaching a speed of 60 km (37 mi)/hr.
Fun Facts
During the last ice age Musk Ox lived as far south as Virginia.
scientific classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Aratiodoctyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Ovibus
Species
O. moschatus
did you know?
Musk Ox hair produces a fine yarn that sells for up to $80 per 28 gm (1 oz). However attempts to farm the animals have been mostly unsuccessful for financial reasons.
In 1967, 14 animals were captured and moved to Kuujjunk, Quebec to try to establish a farm. When it failed years later some 54 animals were released into the wild. Today there are about 1400 animals in northern Quebec.
The world population of Musk Ox is estimated at 80 -125 thousand animals with the largest concentration of 69 thousand on Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic.
Where to find us
We have one male Musk Ox living at Safari Niagara. The Musk Ox paddock is in the far northwest corner of the zoo.
Park Hours
- Mon - Sun
- Closed
Office Hours
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
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