caribou

Thân thiện

A caribou walks across a snowy tundra.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large North American deer (Rangifer tarandus) of Arctic and subarctic regions: A mammal characterized by both males and females growing large, branching antlers. It is the same species as the reindeer of Eurasia but is typically referred to as 'caribou' in North American contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The migrating herd of caribou stretched for miles across the tundra.
  • Caribou are uniquely adapted to survive in extremely cold climates.
  • The distinction between a reindeer and a caribou is primarily one of geography and domestication.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: The term is often used in discussions of Arctic ecology, migration patterns, and conservation.
  • The health of the caribou population is a key indicator of the Arctic ecosystem's stability.
• Cultural Significance: In North America, particularly among Indigenous peoples, the caribou holds significant cultural and subsistence importance.
  • For generations, the community has relied on the caribou for food, clothing, and tools.

Variants and Related Words

• Reindeer (n): The name for the same species () in Eurasia, often associated with domestication.
  • In Europe, reindeer are herded by the Sámi people.

Synonyms

• Reindeer: The direct synonym, though usage is region-specific.
• Deer: A broader category (family Cervidae) to which the caribou belongs.

Học thuật

Noun

1. Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes; called `reindeer' in Eurasia and `caribou' in North America

Từ đồng nghĩa

• reindeer
• Greenland caribou
• Rangifer tarandus