History, distribution and ecology of the Muskoxen

• Main Author: Harington, C. R. (Charles Richard), 1933-
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: McGill University 1961
• Subjects: Muskox; Devon Island; Lake Hazen; muskox; ovibos moschatus
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=95756

The purpose of this study is to summarize and relate the major characteristics of the genera comprised in the Tribe Ovibovini, including those groups, fossil and living. With the limited data at hand a tentative phylogenetic chart has also been drawn up. It is hoped that mapping the past distribution of tribe members and also considering the existing genera in the light of environmental influences prevalent at the time, will facilitate explanation of their distributional pattern and give some idea as to the ecological adaptations among muskoxen as well as the approximate dispersal center of the group. There has been much fragmental work carried on in various countries and concerning confined phases of distribution and taxonomy of the Ovibovini but the history of the tribe is essentially Holarctic and must be considered from that viewpoint in order to obtain an integrated, meaningful picture. Information in some detail is provided on the ecology, behaviour and possible economic future of one of the existing species, Ovibos moschatus. Much of the material in this case has been derived from a year’s data taken in the vicinity of Lake Hazen, N.W.T., augmented by further field work near Alert, N.W.T., and on the northern coast of Devon Island.