Abstract
Hoof and foot measurements and body weights were taken from 60 living semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) (8 female and 13 male calves, 10 young females (age 2 yrs), 9 young males (age 2-3 yrs) and 20 adult hinds) at the Kaamanen Reindeer Research Station during the winter 1988. The outline of the hooves and the feet (hoof + dew claws) from front and hind legs were drawn when pressed down on a hard substrate in a natural position. Measurements were taken also from foot prints of 26 wild forest reindeer (R. t. fennicus Ldnn.) (7 calves, 11 hinds and 8 stags) made on hard snow surfaces in Kuhmo and Salamajarvi national park during 1985-88. Reindeer had bigger hooves and feet on front than on hind legs, and male calves had bigger hooves and feet than female calves. Hoof and foot areas of wild forest reindeer (means 74.6 and 200.3 cm2 for calves, 79.4 and 230.4 cm2 for hinds and 83.6 and 258.6 cm2 for stags) were bigger than those of semi-domesticated reindeer (means, front legs, 60.9 and 165.3 cm2 for calves and 78.9 and 214.1 cm2 for hinds, respectively). There were significant correlations between live weight and hoof areas (r=0.839 and 0.792), between live weight and foot areas in front and hind legs (r = 0.714 and 0.664) and between live weight and foot area when supported by 4 legs (r = 0.726) in semi-domesticated reindeer. Load on ground and foot load in semi-domesticated reindeer when supported by 4 legs were 235 and 85 g/cm2 in calves and 268 and 102 g/cm2 in hinds.
Highlights
Reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) spend over 40 per cent o f each year in snow
To be sure that the hoof and foot areas were as correct as possible, control measurements were taken on distinct reindeer foot prints on hard snow surfaces to determine space between the hooves and the distance between hind edge of hooves and dew claws (Thing 1977)
According to McCullough (1965) no significant differences existed between sexes in measurements o f hooves in black-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus), but differences in yearlings and adults were significant
Summary
Reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) spend over 40 per cent o f each year in snow They are true chinophiles (Formozov 1946, Pruitt 1959), which means that they are highly adapted to snow. T h e y have blunt toes, crescent-shaped hooves with a sharp edge for grip on hard snow and ice and functional lateral digits, or dew claws. A heavy growth o f bristle-like hairs surrounds the hoof, and the joints o f the middle toes can be bent sharply to assume an almost horizontal position. The reindeer hoof can be considered i n a state o f transition toward a plantigrade foot (see Nasimovich 1955) Those adaptations greatly increase the surface area o f the h o o f and help the reindeer to float on soft snow
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