| The
muskox (Ovibos moschatus) is an arctic mammal of the Bovidae family, noted
for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males, from which
its name derives. As members of the subfamily Caprinae of the family Bovidae, muskoxen are more closely related to sheep and goats than to oxen, but are in their own genus, Ovibos. Both sexes have long curved horns. Muskoxen are usually around 2.5 m (8.2 ft) long and 1.4 m (4.6ft) high at the shoulder. Adults usually weigh at least 200 kg (440 lb) and can exceed 400 kg (880 lb). Their coat, a mix of black, gray, and brown, includes long guard hairs that reach almost to the ground. Rare "white muskox" have been spotted in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Muskox wool, or qiviut (an Inuit word), is highly prized for its softness, length, and insulative value. |