Reindeer

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/reindeer

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Rangifer tarandus
2. What is the habitat?Circumpolar distribution across Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra, boreal forests, and mountains
3. What special features help reindeer stay warm in the Arctic?Reindeer have a double‑layered fur that keeps heat in, hollow guard hairs that trap air, and special nasal passages that warm the air before it reaches their lungs. They also use counter‑current heat exchange in their legs to keep their bodies warm.
4. How do reindeer move so fast on snow?Their large, concave hooves spread their weight so they don't sink into the snow. A thick pad and a dewclaw give them extra traction on ice and hard ground.

Cervid: A member of the deer family (Cervidae), characterized by antlers in most species.
Sexual Dimorphism: Distinct physical differences between males and females of the same species.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.