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| Musk Ox |
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| The musk ox is a large, shaggy Arctic mammal with a thick coat of long brown hair that almost reaches the ground. Under this outer hair is a dense, soft undercoat called qiviut, which is one of the warmest natural fibers in the world. Musk oxen have strong, curved horns and sturdy bodies that help them survive in cold, windy environments. They are herbivores and mainly eat grasses, mosses, lichens, and Arctic plants that grow during the short summer. Musk oxen live in the Arctic tundra of Greenland, northern Canada, and parts of Alaska. Musk oxen are well adapted to extreme cold. Their thick fur traps heat, and their compact bodies reduce heat loss. In winter, they use their hooves to dig through snow to reach food. When threatened by predators like wolves, musk oxen form a defensive circle with their horns facing outward to protect the group. One interesting fact about musk oxen is that they have existed for thousands of years and survived the last Ice Age, making them one of the Arctic’s most ancient land animals still alive today. |