Different Types of Reindeer

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are perfectly adapted to the harsh Arctic environment. Let's take a closer look at some of their unique features:

• They stand about 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall at the shoulder and can reach lengths of up to 2.3 meters (7.5 feet). Interestingly, the males are significantly larger than the females, sometimes even twice the size.

• Their winter coat is made up of hollow hairs filled with air, which act like insulation to trap heat and keep them warm.

• The color of their fur changes with the seasons, going from a darker shade in the summer to a lighter one in the winter. Some Arctic reindeer even turn almost completely white, sporting white patches on their belly, neck, and hooves.
• Their hooves are wide and curved, spreading the reindeer's weight over the snow and soft ground, preventing them from sinking. Their hooves also make clicking sounds as they walk, which helps the herd stay together even during fierce Arctic storms.
• Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, which is a pretty unique characteristic. The males shed theirs after the mating season, while the females keep theirs throughout the winter and into spring. Scientists believe this is because the females use their antlers to defend food sources, which is especially important during pregnancy.
• Their noses are incredibly efficient, warming the frigid air before it reaches their lungs. They also have a keen sense of smell, allowing them to detect food buried under the snow.
• Their eyes shift from a golden color in the summer to blue in the winter. This, combined with a reflective layer in their eyes, helps them see incredibly well in the dim Arctic light.
• Reindeer are surprisingly agile. They can run at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour), which is essential for escaping predators. They're also strong swimmers, often crossing rivers during their long migrations.
• Reindeer are herbivores, and their diet consists primarily of lichens, especially during the winter months when other vegetation is scarce. They also graze on grasses, sedges, herbs, and leaves, depending on the season and availability. Their digestive systems are specially adapted to extract nutrients from these tough, low-quality food sources.
• Reindeer breeding season, or rut, typically occurs in the fall. Males compete for access to females, often engaging in fierce battles using their antlers. After a gestation period of about 7-8 months, females usually give birth to a single calf in the spring.
• Calves are precocial, meaning they can stand and walk within hours of birth, allowing them to keep up with the migrating herd.

The Arctic isn't just reindeer territory, it's home to a remarkable community of adapted species. Meet them all in our complete Arctic wildlife guide.

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) have adapted to diverse environments across the Northern Hemisphere. Though considered a single species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they comprise 14 distinct subspecies that can be grouped in several ways.

The most comprehensive classification combines geography and habitat:

1. Arctic Tundra Reindeer: inhabit the northernmost regions, including Svalbard and Greenland.
2. Eurasian Tundra Reindeer: spread across Scandinavia and Siberia.
3. Eurasian Forest Reindeer: occupy the boreal forests of Finland and Eastern Europe.
4. North American Woodland Caribou: live in the forests of Canada.

These groupings reflect both their current habitats and their evolutionary history.

Two main genetic lineages emerged during the Pleistocene: the Euro-Beringian reindeer, which spread across Northern Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, and the North American reindeer, which remained in eastern Canada.

Their genetic diversity varies based on movement patterns and isolation. Tundra herds maintain high genetic variation through frequent mixing during migrations. Mountain populations, separated by terrain and volcanic activity, evolved distinct local traits. Island populations show reduced genetic diversity due to historical population crashes that limited breeding pools.

Recent DNA analysis has revealed that physical appearance doesn't always reflect true genetic relationships. This understanding prompted Canada to establish conservation units that consider genetics, habitat requirements, and behavior patterns, enabling more effective protection of distinct reindeer populations.

As mentioned before, the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) includes 14 subspecies that can be grouped based on where they live and the environments they inhabit. This distribution helps us understand how these animals have adapted to different northern conditions.

1. Arctic Tundra Reindeer:

They represent the northernmost subspecies of Rangifer tarandus. These subspecies adapted to the harshest Arctic conditions, with shorter legs and more compact bodies than their southern relatives. They also have thicker fur, smaller antlers, and can dig through deeper snow to find food. Furthermore, they also developed highly efficient digestion to survive on sparse vegetation.

• Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus):are the smallest of all reindeer subspecies. They evolved in isolation on the Svalbard archipelago, developing stocky bodies, short legs, and relatively small antlers. Unlike other reindeer, they don't form large herds or migrate long distances, instead living in small groups and moving short distances to find food.
• Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi): inhabit the Canadian Arctic islands. They have white winter coats that stay lighter even in summer, helping them blend with their snowy environment year-round. Their hooves are broader than other subspecies, allowing them to dig through hard-packed snow efficiently.
• Greenland caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus):are larger than the other Arctic subspecies. They undertake some of the longest migrations among Arctic reindeer, moving between the coast and inland areas. These caribou have particularly well-developed senses for detecting predators across open tundra, and their legs are slightly longer than other Arctic subspecies to help them cover long distances.

Impressed by how reindeer adapt to harsh northern conditions? Meet other animals that have evolved to thrive when temperatures drop.

2. Eurasian Tundra Reindeer:

They adapted to the vast continental tundra and taiga regions stretching from Scandinavia to eastern Siberia.

Unlike their Arctic cousins, these subspecies undertake longer seasonal migrations and form larger herds. They are generally larger than Arctic reindeer but smaller than forest reindeer, with adaptations for both open tundra and forest edges.

• Mountain and tundra reindeer of Scandinavia (R. t. tarandus): move between mountains and lowlands with the seasons. They have longer legs than Arctic subspecies, helping them travel through deep snow and cross rivers during migration. In Norway and Sweden, many populations are semi-domesticated, showing a long history of human interaction while maintaining distinct wild populations.
• Siberian tundra reindeer (R. t. sibiricus): range across the extensive tundra plains of northern Russia. They form the largest herds among Eurasian subspecies and undertake long migrations between taiga forests and coastal tundra. Their antlers are typically larger than those of Scandinavian reindeer, possibly an adaptation for establishing dominance in larger herds.
• Taimyr reindeer (R. t. taimyrensis): of central Siberia represent one of the largest remaining wild reindeer populations. They have developed particular resistance to extreme temperature fluctuations, as their habitat experiences some of the largest seasonal temperature changes in the reindeer's range. These reindeer are known for their ability to swim across major rivers during migration, with specially adapted fur that provides excellent buoyancy.

Ever wondered how these northern creatures became Santa's chosen companions? Discover the history in our article about reindeer's connection to Christmas traditions.

3. Eurasian Forest Reindeer:

Evolved to thrive in dense boreal forests, distinguishing them from their tundra relatives.

These subspecies are generally larger, with longer legs and distinctive antler shapes that help them move through wooded areas. Unlike tundra reindeer, forest reindeer typically live in smaller groups and don't undertake long-distance migrations, instead moving seasonally within forest territories.

• Finnish forest reindeer (R. t. fennicus): are the largest European reindeer subspecies. Their legs are notably longer than those of tundra reindeer, helping them move through deep forest snow. Their antlers grow more vertically and with a narrower spread than other subspecies, an adaptation that helps them navigate through dense forest without getting tangled. They're skilled at finding and digging for tree lichens, their primary winter food source.
• Eastern European forest reindeer (R. t. valentinae): inhabit the forests from the Ural Mountains to the Altai region. They developed broader hooves than Finnish forest reindeer, possibly adapting to softer forest soils and marshlands in their range. These reindeer show strong social bonds within small family groups and have complex vocal communication systems adapted to forest environments where visibility is limited. Their antlers are typically more massive than those of Finnish forest reindeer, though with a similar vertical orientation.

Want to understand one of reindeer's most remarkable traits? Discover the amazing process of how they grow and shed their antlers each year.

4. North American Woodland Caribou:

Adapted specifically to North American boreal forests and mountains. Unlike their Eurasian or Arctic relatives, these subspecies developed unique behaviors for predator avoidance in forested areas and specialized feeding habits focused on tree lichens.

They generally maintain smaller, more dispersed groups than tundra caribou, a strategy that helps them avoid predators in forested environments.

• Woodland caribou (R. t. caribou): represent the most widespread forest-dwelling subspecies in North America. They have broader hooves than other subspecies, helping them walk on soft forest floors and deep snow. These caribou are excellent climbers, able to navigate steep, forested mountain slopes. They're also strong swimmers, regularly crossing rivers and lakes to access isolated forest patches.
• Gaspé caribou (R. t. gaspesiensis): are adapted to the unique conditions of Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula mountains. They're smaller than typical woodland caribou, an adaptation that helps them navigate dense mountain forests and steep terrain. This isolated population developed distinct seasonal movement patterns, moving to higher elevations in winter to access exposed areas where they can more easily dig for food.
• Labrador caribou (R. t. caboti): inhabit the rugged terrain of Labrador and northern Quebec. They developed particularly thick winter coats to handle the harsh maritime-influenced climate of their range. These caribou show unique migration patterns, moving between coastal areas and inland forests with the seasons.
• Newfoundland caribou (R. t. terraenovae): evolved in isolation on the island of Newfoundland. They're generally smaller than mainland woodland caribou and show and impressive adaptability in their feeding habits, switching between coastal and inland food sources. They've developed distinct predator avoidance strategies in response to the island's unique predator community, which lacks some mainland predators but includes high densities of black bears.

Now that you understand reindeer diversity, curious about how they compare to their antlered cousins? Explore the key differences between members of the deer family.

If you want to read similar articles to Different Types of Reindeer, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.