Caribou, (Rangifer tarandus), known as reindeer in Europe, are part of the deer family and are famous for their migrations across the tundra and forested landscapes of the Arctic and subarctic.

Reindeer have large, concave hooves well adapted to walking in snow and soft tundra. Their hooves also help them dig through snow to reach lichen, their primary winter food source.

Reindeer are known for their long migrations, which are among the longest of any terrestrial mammal. They travel in herds that can number thousands, moving between summer and winter feeding grounds. These migrations are driven by the need to find food and avoid predators.

In folklore, particularly in Western culture, reindeer are often associated with Christmas, famously pulling Santa Claus’s sleigh.