Wildlife experts ponder gender of Santa's reindeer

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19 Dec 2008, 11:05 pm

By BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 19, 5:38 am ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/ap_on_fe_st/rudolph_s_gender;_ylt=Av_C62Z3gUtsau8DCWHBE5ys0NUE

Quote:

The gender of Rudolph and his or her sleigh-hauling friends — the subject of goofy Internet chatter every year around this time — is now being pondered by renowned wildlife experts at Texas A&M University.

"Santa's reindeers were really females, most likely," said Alice Blue-McLendon, a veterinary medicine professor specializing in deer who cites the depictions of Santa's helpers with antlers as the primary evidence. It turns out reindeer grow antlers regardless of gender, and most bulls typically shed their fuzzy protrusions before Christmas.

See above link for more.

Kasuki-Chan
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20 Dec 2008, 12:40 pm

err... but in the rudolph song he's reffered to as well... a he... O_o
so rudolph is definetley a dude, i'm pretty sure they all are....

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familiar_stranger
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20 Dec 2008, 1:03 pm

Kasuki-Chan wrote:

err... but in the rudolph song he's reffered to as well... a he... O_o
so rudolph is definetley a dude, i'm pretty sure they all are....

singers sometimes get things wrong and some sonds are blatent lies... ever heard a church hyme? :lol:

but as the article states casterated male reindeer have similar traits as females so that might be it, but then again is there any point taking a scientific approach to the theories brought up about santa claus?

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Anemone
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20 Dec 2008, 1:08 pm

Females generally make better servant animals, because they're less antsy: horses, camels. So why not reindeer, too?

'Tis the season to not get anything serious done at work.

release_the_bats
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20 Dec 2008, 3:38 pm

I was interested in the information on reindeer biology contained within the article.

And the absurdity of the idea of a bunch of scientists actually seriously considering such a topic! :lol: But I wouldn't put it past most of the biologists I've known; they're a wacky bunch.

ShadesOfMe
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20 Dec 2008, 5:56 pm

No..way. Rudolph and company are all guys!

release_the_bats
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20 Dec 2008, 7:47 pm

^ Somehow I suspected you'd have something to say about this.

pakled
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20 Dec 2008, 7:55 pm

well, hopefully there'd be one of each sex, or where would the little reindeer come from?...

LKL
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21 Dec 2008, 11:24 pm

Well, surely at least Vixen is female.

Or maybe gay.

Xelebes
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21 Dec 2008, 11:47 pm

May I ask? Are we truly sure they are reindeer and not caribou, moose, elk or wapiti? I mean, how can we be so sure. Has anyone actually seen the reindeer first-hand with the sled in tow. How about the handler? I didn't think so! We are being duped, having the wool pulled over our eyes! We need to know! We need to know whether or not they are reindeer and not caribou or moose. I implore someone to actually find out and until then, let us not refer them to reindeer but rather as northerly antelopes.

LKL
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22 Dec 2008, 4:36 am

afaIk reindeer are the only semi-domestic species of antlered animal, so the odds are certainly with the sleigh-pullers being reindeer. It is *possible* that the sleigh is pulled by moose, just not very likely. Moose have a reputation of being rather moody.

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22 Dec 2008, 12:59 pm

Reindeer and caribou are officially the same species: Rangifer tarandus. They live in groups, and are domesticated in Europe (and possibly used as pack animals?). Moose are a completely different species (Alces alces) with different style antlers (palmate rather than twiggy). They are solitary animals known more for demolishing vehicles on the road (by stupidly standing in the way) than for their ability to transport people. Reindeer live further north than moose, and therefore are easier for Santa to recruit. I vote for Rangifer tarandus, rather than Alces alces.

release_the_bats
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22 Dec 2008, 1:06 pm

LKL wrote:

Well, surely at least Vixen is female.

Or maybe gay.

Or MTF transexual. :lol:

LKL
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22 Dec 2008, 10:47 pm

I knew that reindeer and caribou were similar, but I didn't know that they are considered the same species. What about the little white caribou that have smaller antlers and travel in smaller groups - are they still within the same species? A subspecies?

violet_yoshi
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22 Dec 2008, 11:08 pm

Wow, slow day at the Texas A&M University I suppose.

Anemone
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23 Dec 2008, 1:05 pm

LKL wrote:

Dunno. I think Wikipedia has a list of subspecies. And of course Wikipedia knows everything. :wink:

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