Musk ox, large, wild, shaggy ruminant, related to oxen and goats, native to N Canada and Greenland. In Europe and Siberia it was exterminated in prehistoric times. Its brown fur reaches almost to the ground, and its down-pointing, recurved horns form a helmet over the forehead. When threatened, the herd form a defensive circle round the calves. Length: to 2.3m; weight: to 410kg. Family Bovidae; species Ovibos moschatus. |
