Actually,
Caribou and Reindeer are different in that they live in geographically different (and separate) portions of the Earth. Technically though, they are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring (the requirements of a species), hence the same Latin (species) name. This came up in a discussion recently when scientists postulated (in an article in a local paper) that if current trends continue, that reindeer will no longer be found south of the Arctic Circle (which actually included caribou too)
IL Bill On Dec 20, 2004, at 11:23 AM, Raimo K wrote:
I also thought that they were different but the Latin name is the same.
Reindeers are not so small - full grown males are quite big. Fairytales are not always correct.
All the best!
Raimo K
Personal photography homepage at:
http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho
----- Original Message ----- From: "William Robb" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: What a Rack!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Raimo K" Subject: Re: What a Rack!
Rangifer tarandus - itīs the same as - reindeer.
I had thought the reindeer was a smaller animal than the North American Caribou.
Trivia time: It's the animal on the Canadian quarter, if you can find a quarter with an animal on it.
William Robb
