---
title: "What the sources say about the Muskox | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "46 claims from the Muskox profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/muskox-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/muskox/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Muskox (*Ovibos moschatus*)

> 46 claims from the Muskox profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Muskox](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/muskox/)

## Gunn & Forchhammer (2022). Ovibos moschatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T29684A22149286.

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2022-1.rlts.t29684a22149286.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| The IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern. | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |

## Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) species profile. Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=muskox.main

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Bulls settle rivalries by charging 50 yards or more and colliding head-first on their horn bosses. | the bulls charge at top speed from distances of 50 yards or more and collide squarely on the horn bosses (note: tagline; 'settle rivalries' is the rut contest to dominance, quoted below) |
| Four inches of horn and three inches of bone over a bull's brain | Four inches of horn and three inches of bone lie directly over the brain in the area of contact (note: stats.superpower) |
| Grasses, sedges, forbs and woody plants | Muskoxen eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, sedges, forbs, and woody plants. (note: stats.diet, first part) |
| The muskox (Ovibos moschatus) settles its rivalries with a head-on crash. During the rut, the breeding season, bulls charge at top speed from distances of 50 yards or more and collide squarely on the horn bosses. | During the rut, bulls battle in spectacular and violent contests. After a period of aggressive displays, the bulls charge at top speed from distances of 50 yards or more and collide squarely on the horn bosses. (note: rut = breeding season: ADFG says the breeding season begins late summer, mating August to October (claimed below)) |
| After a clash, the bulls back away from each other, swing their heads from side to side and repeat the sequence until one bull turns and runs away. | After a clash, the bulls back away from each other swinging their heads from side to side and repeat the sequence until one bull turns and runs away. |
| Battles have included upwards of 20 clashes. | Battles have included upwards of 20 clashes. |
| The bases nearly span the entire forehead | The horns of bulls develop large bases which nearly span the entire forehead. |
| Bull muskoxen have heavily armored skulls to protect them from the shock of impact: four inches of horn and three inches of bone lie directly over the brain in the area of contact. | Bull muskoxen have heavily armored skulls to protect them from the shock of impact. Four inches of horn and three inches of bone lie directly over the brain in the area of contact. |
| Both sexes have horns, but the horns of bulls are larger and heavier than those of cows. | Both male and female muskoxen have horns, but the horns of bulls are larger and heavier than those of cows. |
| Mating takes place between August and October. | mating takes place between August and October |
| Harem groups form during that season, holding 5 to 15 females and sub-adults with one dominant bull who prevents other adult bulls from entering the group. | Smaller harem groups which form during the mating season contain anywhere from 5 to 15 females and sub-adults, with one dominant bull who prevents other adult bulls from entering the group. |
| Wolves and grizzly bears hunt muskoxen. | Predators Wolves and grizzly bears. (note: ADFG Fast Facts list predators; 'hunt' = predator) |
| The coat has a long, coarse outer layer and a short, fine underhair. | The coat consists of a long, coarse, outer layer, and a short, fine underhair. |
| The long guard hair hangs nearly to the ground | a reference to the long guard hair that hangs nearly to the ground |
| The muskox's soft, brownish, wool-like underhair has been called the rarest fiber in the world and is highly valued. | The muskox's soft brownish wool-like underhair, called qiviut, has been called the rarest fiber in the world and is highly valued. |
| Mature bulls stand about 5 feet (1.5 m) high at the shoulder and weigh 600 to 800 pounds (roughly 270 to 360 kg). | Mature bulls are about 5 feet high at the shoulder and weigh 600-800 pounds. (note: metric from 5 ft = 1.5 m; 600-800 lb = 272-363 kg) |
| Cows average about 4 feet (1.2 m) and 400 to 500 pounds (roughly 180 to 230 kg). | Cows are smaller, averaging approximately 4 feet in height and weighing 400-500 pounds. (note: metric from 4 ft = 1.2 m; 400-500 lb = 181-227 kg) |
| They had disappeared from Alaska by the 1920s. In 1930, 34 animals were captured in East Greenland and brought to Fairbanks, and all muskoxen in Alaska today descend from them. | all muskox in Alaska today are descended from these animals ... By the 1920s, muskox had also disappeared from Alaska ... In 1930, 34 muskox were captured in East Greenland and brought to Fairbanks. (note: the last sentence is in the Did You Know box) |
| Yes. The muskox is native to Alaska but had been extirpated there (wiped out locally) by the 1920s. Every muskox in Alaska today descends from 34 animals captured in East Greenland and transplanted to Alaska in 1930. | Muskox are native to Alaska, but were extirpated by the 1920s. In 1930, 34 muskox captured in East Greenland were transplanted to Alaska, and all muskox in Alaska today are descended from these animals. (note: faq 4, rewritten in review so it no longer copies the body; Did You Know box) |
| Rutting muskox bulls charge at top speed from 50 yards or more and collide on the horn bosses, then back off and do it again, up to 20 clashes a battle. | the bulls charge at top speed from distances of 50 yards or more and collide squarely on the horn bosses (note: vibe.reason; same source as the body claim) |
| dangerLevel: High | the bulls charge at top speed from distances of 50 yards or more and collide squarely on the horn bosses |

## Muskox (Ovibos moschatus): uses. Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=muskox.uses

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Alaska's wildlife agency says it is considered the world's warmest wool for its weight. | their soft underwool called qiviut, considered the world’s warmest wool for its weight (note: the source is the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; 'considered' kept) |
| Qiviut is the soft underwool of the muskox. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says it is considered the world's warmest wool for its weight. | their soft underwool called qiviut, considered the world’s warmest wool for its weight (note: faq 2) |

## Ovibos moschatus (muskox). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ovibos_moschatus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Arctic tundra north of the tree line in Canada, Greenland and Alaska; also introduced to Russia, Svalbard and Norway | circumpolar species native to Canada, Greenland, and up until the late 1800's, Alaska. The species was reintroduced to Alaska from animals captured in Greenland in the 1930's. Muskox have also been introduced into Russia, Svalbard, Norway, and Siberia. ... lives north of the tree line on the arctic tundra (note: stats.habitat) |
| willow and dwarf birch stems in winter | In the winter months, the diet of muskoxen changes to willow, dwarf birch stems, roots, mosses, lichen (note: stats.diet, second part) |
| A horn boss is the extra-thick base of a bull's horns; cows lack it. | Females grow horns, but lack the extra thickness of a horn boss at the base of the horns. ... Males have a large horn boss, which is an extra thickness of the base of their horns at the top of the skull (note: definition added in review) |
| the boss is between 15 and 20 cm thick | Males have a large horn boss, which is an extra thickness of the base of their horns at the top of the skull, that is between 15 and 20 cm thick. |
| Fights between bulls are rarely fatal. | This behavior is rarely fatal. (note: 'this behavior' = the headbutting contests between males) |
| When a predator comes head on, muskoxen line up with their heads down and their horns facing the attacker, with the calves generally behind the adults. | When faced with a predator coming head on, muskoxen line up with their heads down and horns facing the attacker. The calves are generally located behind the adults. |
| When several predators attack, the herd creates a circle with horns pointed out and calves in the center. | When attacked by multiple predators, the herd creates a circle with horns pointed out and calves in the center of the herd. |
| Muskoxen have been known to throw and trample wolves. | Muskoxen have been known to throw and trample wolves. |
| Muskoxen can overheat easily and cannot run faster than wolves or bears long enough to escape. They tend to stay in the circle as long as possible. | these animals can overheat easily and cannot run faster than wolves or bears long enough to escape from them. They therefore tend to stay in the circle formation as long as possible. |
| on older animals it can grow long enough to brush it | This portion of the pelage can grow long enough to brush the ground on older muskoxen. |
| For warmth, calves often stand underneath their mother's skirt of guard hair. | For warmth, calves often lie with their mother, or stand underneath her skirt next to her belly. (note: 'skirt of guard hair': 'Muskox calves follow their mothers and hide underneath the mother's skirt of guard hair.' Review: put the source's 'often' back) |
| It begins growing in the fall and is shed out through the guard hair in the spring. | It begins growing in the fall and is shed out through the guard hair in the spring. |
| Bulls measure 200 to 250 cm from head to rump | The combined head and body length varies from 200 to 250 cm. (note: males; 'head to rump' = head and body length) |
| and cows 135 to 200 cm | Head and body length can vary from 135 to 200 cm. (note: females) |
| Muskoxen live north of the tree line on the Arctic tundra. | lives north of the tree line on the arctic tundra |
| They are native to Canada and Greenland. | circumpolar species native to Canada, Greenland, and up until the late 1800's, Alaska. |
| Herds have also been introduced to Russia, Svalbard and Norway, and some found their own way from Norway into Sweden. | Muskox have also been introduced into Russia, Svalbard, Norway, and Siberia. Some herds have also found their own way from Norway into Sweden. |
| Against one attacker coming head on, the adults form a line, heads lowered and horns forward, with the calves generally behind them. Against several, they close into a ring with horns out and calves inside. Larger adults may charge out at a predator, and muskoxen have been known to throw and trample wolves. | When faced with a predator coming head on, muskoxen line up with their heads down and horns facing the attacker. The calves are generally located behind the adults. When attacked by multiple predators, the herd creates a circle with horns pointed out and calves in the center of the herd. Larger adults may charge out to attack a predator. (note: faq 1, rewritten in review so it no longer copies the body; wolves line is the claim below) |
| weightKg: 320 | Males typically weigh an average of 320 kg, with a range of 300 to 400 kg. (note: task #1114: ADW's male average (its all-adult average is 285 kg); Heavy, where the name guess gave Light. Not in a curated matchup) |
| dangerLevel: High | Muskoxen have been known to throw and trample wolves. (note: task #1114: High is dangerous when cornered or provoked: a 320 kg animal that charges and tramples) |

## AnAge entry for Ovibos moschatus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Ovibos_moschatus

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| A lifespan database reports that muskoxen may live up to 24 years in the wild, and one wild-born animal was about 27.4 years old when it died in captivity. | In the wild it has been reported that these animals may live up to 24 years [ 0542 ]. One wild born specimen was about 27.4 years old when it died in captivity [ 0671 ]. |
| Wild muskoxen have been reported to live up to 24 years. AnAge's maximum longevity record is about 27.4 years, for a muskox born in the wild that died in captivity. | Maximum longevity 27.4 years (captivity) ... In the wild it has been reported that these animals may live up to 24 years [ 0542 ]. One wild born specimen was about 27.4 years old when it died in captivity [ 0671 ]. (note: faq 3) |