$Unique_ID{QAD00230}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Genus Rangifer.--Hamilton Smith}
$Subject{Genus Rangifer. --Hamilton Smith; Rangifer; }
$Journal{Quadrupeds of North America:  Volume III}
$Volume{Vol. 3:111}
$Genus{Rangifer}
$Species{}
$Common_Name{}
$Log{}

       Portions copyright (c) Creative Multimedia Corp., 1990-91, 1992

                       A U D U B O N ' S   M A M M A L S

                    By John James Audubon, F. R. S., &c. &c.

                                      AND

                     The Rev. John Bachman, D. D., &c. &c.

                  -------------------------------------------
                                   VOL.  III.
                        --------------------------------


                        GENUS RANGIFER.--HAMILTON SMITH.


                                DENTAL FORMULA.

                            0         1-1        6-6
                   Incisive -; Canine ---; Molar --- = 34.
                            0         0-0        6-6


     Horns in both sexes, irregularly palmated, bifurcated, and rather long;
canine teeth in both sexes; muzzle, small.
     According to our opinion, two species of this genus exist--one in the old
world (Rangifer tarandus), commonly called the Lapland Reindeer, and the Caribou
(Rangifer caribou) and its varieties, the Reindeer of the American continent.
Should, however, the varieties of the Reindeer found in different parts of the
Arctic circle on both continents form one species only, then there is but one
species in the genus known at present.
     Fossil remains of a Reindeer of small size have been found near Etampes in
France.
     The generic name, Rangifer, is not of Latin origin, but has been formed
from the old French term Rangier or Ranger, a Reindeer, probably through the
later Rangifere.