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Article: Musk ox.(Species Spotlight)(Brief article)
- Article from:
- Sports Afield
- Article date:
- November 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Living in the harsh conditions of the arctic regions in Alaska, Greenland, and Canada, the musk ox is perfectly adapted to its arduous environment. Having survived since the ice ages, this arctic icon is insulated with a soft fur undercoat that is eight times warmer than wool. On top of it is an overcoat of long brown guard hairs that can be up to two feet long, nearly reaching the ground. In total, a musk ox's coat is three to four inches thick.
Both males and females have horns that curve down beside the face, then up and outward into points. Males, or bulls, have larger horns that virtually meet on the top of the head in a thick armor-like cap known as the ...