The reindeer is best known for pulling Santa's sleigh each Christmas. While this is a myth the animal is real. In some parts of their range they may be known by the alternative name of caribou.

They are herbivores which will feed on grasses, lichen and fungi.

Males use their large antlers to fight prior to the breeding season during a period known as the rut. The winner gains mating rights with nearby females.

In some areas of their range they continue to be threatened by hunting along with habitat loss and climate change.

Read on to learn more about these magical mammals.

Appearance

What does the reindeer look like?

The reindeer (also known as the caribou) has a wide range across North America, Asia and Europe which leads to high variability in their appearance. Those in the colder, northern regions are lighter in color while those in America tend to be brown with dark legs. Asian and European reindeer are typically greyer than brown.

Most of the darker colored individuals have a patch of white fur above the hooves and along the neck and belly.

Reindeers have lightweight fur which is highly effective at trapping heat against their body.

Both males and females sport a pair of large antlers which they shed and regrow each year. Females tend to have smaller antlers than the males. While the antlers grow they have a velvety cover which is shed once the antlers are fully grown. Their antlers may grow up to 1.2m (3.9ft) tall.

Part of the antler is shaped like a paddle and used to scrape away ice and snow.

Males antlers are dropped in November while the females will retain their antlers until May next year once they have calved.

Their hooves are broad and flat which helps to provide stability on the soft ground in summer. During winter these have become harder with a sharper edge that helps to cut through snow and ice.

The nose of a reindeer is covered with hair which helps to warm the cold air of their environment before it enters the lungs.

At the end of the body is a tail which measures 10-25cm (4-10in) long.

Reindeers have a body length of between 1.2 and 2.2m (4-7.25ft) long. An average weight for a reindeer is between 120 and 300kg (265-660lbs). At the shoulder they stand 1.4m (4.6ft) tall.

Males are typically larger than females. Those which live in the North also tend to be smaller than those in the south.

Diet

What does the reindeer eat?

Reindeers are herbivores. They feed mostly on grasses in summer while relying on lichen and fungi in winter. These main food sources are supplemented with grasses, sedges, leaves, lichen and mosses.

Each reindeer requires between 4-8kg (9-18lbs) of food each day.

Credit: Public Domain