Reindeer by Ellie

Double Layered

georgetteft1997 — 2026-02-04 09:57:16 UTC

They have a dense undercoat and long hollow guard hairs. This structure traps air providing insulation from extreme cold allowing them to regulate their body temperature. Even in temperatures as low as -40c

Clicking

2026-02-04 10:02:10 UTC

As Reindeer walk they make a clicking noise. This is the leg tendons snapping as they slip over the bone. Thought to help with herd cohesion in low visibility

Concave hooves

georgetteft1997 — 2026-02-04 10:02:15 UTC

Concave hooves act like snowshoes which prevents them from sinking into the snow. in winter, hooves will tighten to expose a sharp edge, which provides traction on icy/slippery surfaces and in summer they soften which provides better grip on wet surfaces. These adaptations allow reindeer to navigate various terrains effectively.

Turbinate Nose

2026-02-04 10:03:25 UTC

Specialized nasal passages with complex turbinal bones which warms the incoming icy air before reaches the lungs

Antlers

georgetteft1997 — 2026-02-04 10:03:53 UTC

Male and females have antlers, the males will shed theirs in early winter while females retain them, they use them to dig throught the snow to find food.

Foraging

2026-02-04 10:04:31 UTC

Wide shovel like hooves to crater the snow to hunt for lichen and vegetation

Migration

2026-02-04 10:05:17 UTC

Migration is a vital survival strategy for Reindeer, in the winter they reside in southern forests where they forage for food under the snow. In spring they migrate over 1,000km north to find better grazing,

The reindeer migrate instinctively based on environmental cues, allowing them to adapt to changing seasonal conditions.

Altitude

2026-02-04 10:05:32 UTC

they live at varying altitudes across the year depending on the number of biting insects, moving up mountains in the summer as insect numbers increase

georgetteft1997 — 2026-02-04 10:06:52 UTC

Gut

2026-02-04 10:08:25 UTC

Their digestive system is adapted to deal with the tough cellulose of the plant material in their diets, primarily feeding on lichens, mosses and grasses. Reindeer have the enzyme lichenase in their gut which enables them to break down tough lichens to release glucose.

Herd formation

2026-02-04 10:08:28 UTC

Gather together for warmth and protection

Eye Colour Change

9786851 — 2026-02-04 10:10:13 UTC

The tapetum lucidum (located behind the retina) changes from golden-brown in the summer months to blue in the winter months. This adaptation increases visibility depending on the conditions.

Golden-brown: Reduces glare and enhances vision in bright conditions.

Blue: Increases eye sensitivity in dim, blue-hued Arctic conditions. This also allows reindeer to more easily spot lichen against the snow.

Calves

2026-02-04 10:12:52 UTC

Reindeer calves can walk as soon as one hour after birth, allowing them to follow their mother and avoid predation.

Metabolism and blood chemistry

2026-02-04 10:13:16 UTC

Can significantly lower their resting heart rate and metabolism in winter -specialised haemoglobins function at low temps

Adjust activity

2026-02-04 10:15:47 UTC

Minimise activity levels during extreme cold (rely on stored fat) to reduce energy expenditure