What Is Special About The Reindeer?

The reindeer or caribou deer has the Latin name Rangifer tarandus and it lives in the Arctic and subartic regions. It is common to Northern America and Eurasia. It grows to a height of about 1.2 metres at the shoulders and is a handsome animal with a thick, brown coat an broad hooves. These are well adapted for walking and trotting over snow, which predominates in its habitat over much of the year.

The reindeer is the only deer where both sexes have antlers and these can grow to lengths of 1.5 metres; they are usually shed in winter. There are two types of North America Caribou; the large woodland variety and  the barren ground caribou.

The Lapp people of Scandinavia have been domesticating reindeer for transport for centuries and this is where the myth of Father Christmas or Santa Claus riding on a sled pulled by a team of reindeer probably originates.