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Musk Ox

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Musk Ox

Description: Head and body length is 2-2.1 m (6.5 to 7 ft) with a shoulder height of 1.2-1.5 m (4 to 5 ft); tail length is 9-10 cm (3.5 to 4 in). Coat has dark brown coarse guard hairs reaching nearly to the ground, shedding rain and snow. The inner coat (qiviut) is fine, soft, light brown dense wool - cold and moisture cannot penetrate it. Front and underparts are dark brown to black; legs are lighter. Body is robust with a slight hump at the shoulder. Neck, legs and tail are short. Horns in both sexes are broad, curving downward and nearly meeting in the mid- line of the skull (they are massive structures covering the head). Hooves are large, widely splayed to assist in movement over snow and are adapted to scratching through snow in search of lichens, etc.

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