Musk Ox: Facts & Arctic Adaptations

Ovibos moschatus

BUILT FOR ICE-COLD ENVIRONMENTS

When temperatures drop below freezing in Denmark, one can envy the musk ox's extreme robustness.

The musk ox, which can also be seen here at the zoo, is powerfully built and capable of living in areas where temperatures can drop as low as -80 degrees Celsius. It has high shoulders, small ears and wide horns that bend out to the sides and meet in the middle of the forehead. In order to cope with the extreme cold conditions, the fur is crucial. It consists of long, coarse guard hairs that cover the entire robust body. The guard hairs are dark brown, almost black, and function as an effective barrier against wind and precipitation. Underneath them lies a very dense undercoat that is lighter in color and consists of fine, curly woolly hairs that retain body heat.

Despite its heavy, compact and slightly clumsy appearance, the musk ox is surprisingly agile and can run up to 40 km/h. However, it cannot maintain high speeds for long periods of time. The dense and insulating undercoat retains heat so effectively that if the musk ox is too active during the summer months, it risks overheating and dying of heatstroke. The musk ox's only sweat glands are located on the back of its head.

Musk oxen live in herds, especially in winter, when smaller groups can gather in herds of up to 60 individuals. Most of the year, the herd can consist of several sexually mature males, but this changes in late summer during the rutting season, when the males fight among themselves. The sexually mature males urinate on their hind legs and stomach, giving off a strong odor, and they compete for the favor of the females by bumping their broad horns against each other. Collisions can occur at speeds of up to the aforementioned 40 km/h. Oh – that must give you a little headache the next day.

A musk ox calf is born in the spring and is closely protected by its mother. When the herd feels threatened by predators such as polar bears or wolves, the adults gather in a tight ring around the calves. With their heads turned outwards, they are ready to defend the herd by shooing away attackers. This group defense means that the musk oxen can often avoid fleeing, thus reducing the risk of overheating.

Musk oxen migrate over large areas and spend a large part of their waking time foraging in the harsh and sparsely vegetated Arctic landscapes.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE MUSK OX

Gestation: 8 months
Habitat: Canada, Greenland, Alaska, tundra
Diet: Herbs, bark and grass
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Weight: 150-300 kg
Lenght: 120 cm i skulderhøjde

IT'S NOT AN OX

Despite its name, the musk ox is not an ox at all. Rather, it is more closely related to goats and sheep.

NOT EXCLUSIVELY A GROUP DEFENSE

The ring enclosure, where the musk oxen stand close together, is also useful when the temperature is well below freezing. When the musk oxen stand close together, they can retain heat better and thus take turns standing either at the inside or the outside of the ring. However, the young are always guaranteed a place in the warm middle, as they cannot tolerate temperatures as cold as adults.

ONLY EUROPEAN BREEDING COORDINATOR

ZOO is the European breeding coordinator for the musk ox. In addition, ZOO has been involved in the relocation of musk ox from East Greenland to West Greenland and has thus contributed to the establishment of the West Greenland population. Here the climate is milder and food availability is greater than on the eastern side.

STATUS IN NATURE

The musk ox is not endangered.

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