PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Height : 3-5 feet

Weight : 500-900 lb.

Color : Brown, shaggy, silky fur. The fur of the Muskox is 3-4 inches thick.

The Muskox eats a wide variety of plants, including grasses, sedges, forbs, and plants. Its favorite food is Willow.

The Muskox's horn is also called a boss.
 

LIFE CYCLE & HABITAT

The Muskox has one calf every two years.

They only fight during mating season, and they don't fight for dominance but for the right to breed. The older bulls are usually the leaders of the group.

Their only important predators are man and mosquitoes. When the Musk-Ox is being attacked, they form a circle with the older individuals on the outside, and the calves are protected in the centre of the ring. Because of the defensive strategy of the Muskox, they are particularly vulnerable to human hunters. The mosquito is an important transmitter of diseases.
 

Page last updated on September 6, 2001