MUSKOX 



Measurements. — Males larger than females. Total length, 

 males, 96 inches; tail vertebras, 4 inches; hind foot, 20 inches; 

 height at shoulder, 59 inches. 



Geographical Distribution. — Arctic America. 



Food. — Low-growing vegetation such as mosses, lichens, 

 grass, willows, etc. 



Enemies. — Wolves. 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Ovibos 



Barren Ground Muskox. — Ovibos moschatus moschatus (Zim- 

 merman). 

 As described above. Found from about 60° north latitude 

 north to Coronation Gulf and from Hudson Bay west to the 

 I20th meridian. 



Hudson Bay Muskox. — Ovibos moschatus niphcecus Elliot. 

 "The males are similar in coloration to males of O. m. 

 7noschatus except that they are rather more intensely black, 

 while the horns are lighter colored; usually there is no or 

 very little white on the head ; females and young males have 

 a variable amount of white on the head and face, in some 

 specimens nearly as much as in average individuals of O. m. 

 wardi." (Allen) Total length, males, 92.5 inches; tail 

 vertebrae, 2 inches; height at shoulder, 52 inches; weight, 

 579 pounds. Found about the head of Wager Inlet west to 

 Baker Lake and thence westward toward Great Slave Lake. 

 Limits of range unknown or where niphcecus merges into 

 typical moschatus. 

 White-faced Muskox. — Ovibos moschatus wardi Lydekker. 

 Not as dark- colored as the two preceding forms and with 

 much more white on face and head. Found "from the 

 eastern coast of Greenland, in about latitude 70°, north- 

 ward to North Greenland and thence westward from Grant 

 Land to Banks Land, or from longitude 20° W. to 125° W., 

 and south to Boothia Peninsula and Victoria Land (former- 

 ly) in latitude 70°." (Allen) 



******* 

 The Muskox, with the exception of the Bison, is the only 

 American wild Ox and is a unique and characteristic animal of 

 our Arctic fauna. It is preeminently adapted for an Arctic 

 existence, not only through its ability to withstand long 

 exposures to very low temperatures, due to its superb coat of 

 heavy hair, but because it can scrape away the snow and ice 

 and feed on lichens and other procumbent vegetation. 



Against natural enemies, chief of which is the Wolf, the 



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