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MUSK
OX |
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Classification: |
Ovibos moschatus |
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Description: |
The musk ox are known as
omingmak to the Inuit people. Omingmak means "the animal
with skin like a beard". Musk ox are classified with
sheep and goats. The musk ox are stocky long haired
animals. They have a small shoulder hump and a short
tail, both sexes have horns like the Caribou. Their fur
is dark brown with while on the saddle, forehead, and
legs. Height at shoulder, 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m)
Weight: 500 to 800 lbs (227 to 363 kg) Average lifespan
in the wild is 12 to 20 years. Musk ox were almost
hunted to extinction in Alaska due to the fact that
their meat is highly valuable and their hair is the
rarest fiber in the world. They were easy to kill when
they formed a circle. |
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Natural Habitat: |
In
Canada, more than 85,000 musk oxen live on the mainland
and Arctic islands of Nunavut and the Northwest
Territories. Small herds live in northern Yukon. Musk
oxen are also found in Alaska, Greenland, Norway and
Russia. |
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