It's true! Unlike other deer, female reindeer do indeed have antlers.
"Reindeer are the only members of the deer family in which both males
and females grow antlers... The main purpose of antlers is to display
social rank. the larger the rack, the higher the animal ranks in the
herd. Male reindeer shed their antlers in late autumn after the
rutting season; females shed theirs in the spring. In the period of
time after the males have shed their antlers and before the females
have, the females become the dominant animals. As the task of finding
food becomes more difficult during the harsh winter months, females
armed with antlers can keep the larger but antler-less males from
bulllying them. This happens especially in snowy areas that females
have excavated to reach the lichens that sustain them until the
spring."
Seneca Park Zoo: Why do our female reindeer have antlers?
http://senecaparkzoo.org/kids/wonder/reindeer.php
This interesting fact has led some to speculate about the gender of
Santa's famous reindeer:
"According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, both male and
female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year (the only members
of the deer family, Cervidae, to have females do so). Male reindeer
drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November
to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they
give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical
rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from
Rudolph to Blitzen . . . had to be a girl. We should've known that
when they were able to find their way."
Snopes: Reindeer Games
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/reindeer.htm
You'll find much more info about reindeer on this page prepared by the
Reindeer Research Program at the University of Alaska:
University of Alaska, Fairbanks: Reindeer Facts and FAQ's
http://reindeer.salrm.uaf.edu/html/reinFAQ.html
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "antlers" + "female reindeer"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=antlers+%22female+reindeer
I hope this information is useful. If anything is unclear, please
request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before
you rate my answer.
Best wishes,
pinkfreud |
