The Musk Ox is an arctic mammal from the bovine family and is known for its thick coat.

Scientific Name – Ovibos moschatus

Classification – Ovibos

Gender Names – Male – steer, bull; Female – cow; Baby – stot, calf

Collective Noun – Drove, herd, yoke

Length/Size – 1.1 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft)

Weight – 180 to 410 kg (400 to 900 lb)

Top Speed – 60 km/h (37 mph)

Life Expectancy – 12 – 20 years

Gestation Period – 8 – 9 months

Special Features – Covered with thick coat; male emits strong odor during mating season to attract female

Social Structure – Live in herds of 12–24

Geographical Distribution – Arctic tundra (Canadian Arctic and Greenland)

Natural Habitat – River valleys and lakeshores; shifts to higher slopes and plateaus in winter

World Population – 80,000 to 125,000

Conservation Status – Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Critically Endangered, Endangered

Diet – Grasses, leafy plants, mosses, herbs, and shrubs

Predators – Arctic wolves, grizzly bears and polar bears