Also known as caribou in
North America. This is a large male who displays his
fitness as a mate by the size of his antlers. These
are bony structures that grow each year and then
shed. Being able to grow such large structures on an
annual basis is nutritionally and energetically
intensive and so a good indicator of how fit an
animal is.
Reindeer antlers are the second largest antlers
after those of moose, though the largest of any deer
relative to body size. They grow under a layer of
"velvet" which is then shed when they have reached
full size.
This picture taken on the lower slopes of Alkhornet
mountain.
Picture
copyright Paul Ward |
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