The Muskox
The Muskox known as the Oomingmak to the Alaskan natives, are huge. The word Oomingmak means "the animal with skin like a beard" to the natives (Inupiaq speaking Eskimos). It grows to around 5ft in height and can weigh up to 900lbs.
The brown shaggy, silk fur is its main adaption to surviving in the cold environments as their extraordinary fur coat covers their whole body even the udder. The muskox coat and hooves keep them warm in the cold arctic weather which can reach –70ºF. The muskox has two kinds of fur, an outer fur which is coarse and stiff; then an under fur which is soft and able to keep the muskox very warm. The fur of the muskox is 3-4 inches thick. Even the young calves are able to survive by themselves when the temperatures get down to -30ºF.. They were almost extinct due to poaching, as there fur is regarded as one of the warmest in the world as its 8x warmer than wool and lighter than cashmere.
It's found in the Northern Tundra Areas (northern Alaska, Canada, Ellesmere Island and Greenland) and the Nunivak Island in Alaska. They try to live near a river in the tundra environment if possible as one of there foods can be found close by (the willow plant).
The Muskox known as the Oomingmak to the Alaskan natives, are huge. The word Oomingmak means "the animal with skin like a beard" to the natives (Inupiaq speaking Eskimos). It grows to around 5ft in height and can weigh up to 900lbs.
The brown shaggy, silk fur is its main adaption to surviving in the cold environments as their extraordinary fur coat covers their whole body even the udder. The muskox coat and hooves keep them warm in the cold arctic weather which can reach –70ºF. The muskox has two kinds of fur, an outer fur which is coarse and stiff; then an under fur which is soft and able to keep the muskox very warm. The fur of the muskox is 3-4 inches thick. Even the young calves are able to survive by themselves when the temperatures get down to -30ºF.. They were almost extinct due to poaching, as there fur is regarded as one of the warmest in the world as its 8x warmer than wool and lighter than cashmere.
It's found in the Northern Tundra Areas (northern Alaska, Canada, Ellesmere Island and Greenland) and the Nunivak Island in Alaska. They try to live near a river in the tundra environment if possible as one of there foods can be found close by (the willow plant).
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