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Cervidae - Deer, Elk, Moose and Caribou
The
deer family are large, herbivorous, hoofed animals. They
are members of Order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Many are commonly
observed and admired for their beauty, and they are primary quarry for hunters.
Males in this family grow antlers, while females do not. Caribou are an exception,
both males and females grow antlers. Antlers are shed annually, and consist
of dermal
tissue, basically the
same as bone. In the spring when antlers are growing, they are covered by
skin and are said to be in "velvet". The skin houses many large blood vessels
which allows nutrients to be carried to the growing regions of the antlers.
They grow very fast and by late summer to early fall, they reach the maximum
size, when the outer skin begins to die. The males then rub their antlers
on trees and shrubs "shedding" the dead skin and "polishing" their antlers.
Antlers differ from horns in that horns are not shed annually and horns consist
of a dermal (boney) core surrounded by permanent epidermal
tissue which is hard and
is not shed or rubbed off each year as with antlers. After the fall breeding
season, and usually well into the winter, the antlers are shed and they grow
new ones again the next spring and summer. Does and cows are generally smaller
than bucks and bulls. Breeding occurs in the fall, calves and fawns are born.
Antilocapridae - Pronghorn
The
family Antilocapridae only contains a single species in North America, the
pronghorn. Its classification is a bit uncertain, but most mammalogists consider
it a separate family. Pronghorns are unique in several ways. The horn in males
is forked in a forward direction, hence the word "prong" in the name pronghorn.
Usually, no prong exists in females. Another unique feature is the fact that
the horn consists of a dermal, bone core that is almost bladelike and an outer
sheath that is primarily keratin, the same substance found
in human fingernails. The unique feature is that this outer sheath is shed
annually, a process that is not found in any other "horned" mammals. Pronghorns
are known for their speed on foot, and their specific habitat requirement
for wide-open spaces. They are very well adapted to their prairie existence.
Bovidae - Goats and Sheep
Family
Bovidae is a large and diverse family that includes our domestic livestock,
such as cattle, sheep and goats, and it also includes bison. All males in
this family have horns, and some females do. The horn consists of an inner
dermal, boney core surrounded by a sheath consisting of keratin. Unlike the
pronghorns, this outer sheath is not shed. Bovids are well adapted to a diet
of vegetation having high-crowned teeth that tolerate a very wearing diet
of grasses and other vegetation, plus their hooves accommodate their climbing
ability. They are ruminants, having a four-chambered
digestive system that allows them more complete digestion of their herbivorous
diet. The mountain goats
and mountain sheep are in this family.