What is the difference between the Finnish Forest Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) and the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)?
The Finnish Forest Reindeer and the Woodland Caribou are sub-species of the Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), an ungulate (hoofed) mammal in the deer family.
The Finnish Forest Reindeer and the Woodland Caribou have long legs with wide, crescent-shaped, cloven (split) hooves for walking on snow.
The Finnish Forest Reindeer and the Woodland Caribou have antlers. The male has large V-shaped antlers, that are larger than the female’s antlers.
The Finnish Forest Reindeer is larger than the Woodland Caribou.
The Finnish Forest Reindeer measures 180-220 centimetres (71-87 inches) long and 120 centimetres (47 inches) at shoulder height, whereas the Woodland Caribou measures 162-214 centimetres (64-84 inches) in long.
The Finnish Forest Reindeer is native to Finland and north-western Russia, whereas the Woodland Caribou is native to southern Canada and northwest America.
[Location of photographs: London Zoo, England and Berlin Zoo, Germany]
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM