Rangifer tarandus
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Cervidae
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
peary caribou (English), caribou (French), Norwegian reindeer (English), North American caribou (English), Eurasian reindeer (English), reno (Spanish)
Synonym
Similar species
Summary
Introduced intentionally to the subantarctic islands of Kerguelen and South Georgia, populations of Rangifer tarandus (reindeer) have had a significant impact on native vegetation of the islands due to grazing and trampling.
Species Description
Rangifer tarandus is a social deer, and can form regional herds of 50,000 to 500,000 animals which band together during spring, although these herds are generally comprised of single-sex subgroups of 10 to 1,000 individuals (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008). R. tarandus is highly nomadic and may travel 5,000km in a year. Population densities are generally very sparse, about 0.5 animals per square kilometre, however during their migration; this may reach numbers of over 19,000 animals per square kilometre (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008).
Lifecycle Stages
Usually one or two Rangifer tarandus calves are born, which wean at about 6 months and reach maturity 2.5-3.5 years. Individuals can live up to 20 years (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008). From birth to one year of age, both sexes double their crown to tail length and achieve 80 - 90% of their final adult size. Also during this period, both sexes increase their weight seven-fold (Leader-Williams & Ricketts, 1982(a)). Conception can occur from around 1.5 years of age.
Habitat Description
Rnagifer tarandus are adapted to their cold environments by having a very thick coat and by having shirt tails. They can smell lichen and other foodstuffs under snow which is a special adaptation. Their major predators are bears and wolves (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008). R. tarandus’s primary habitat is Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra, open montane and woodland habitats, and is often on high mountain slopes and in alpine zones of 2,300 – 3,000 meters. R. tarandus typically feeds on lichens, mosses herbs, ferns, grasses, and shoots and leaves of deciduous shrubs and trees (especially Salix spp. (willow) and Betula spp. (birch) (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008).
Reproduction
In Rangifer tarandus rutting takes place around October. Young are born around May and June, with the gestation period being about 228 days (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008). During the reproduction period, males lose twice as much body tissue as females, as more energy is put into the development of antlers than in pregnancy and lactation (Leader-Williams & Ricketts, 1982(a)).
Nutrition
Rangifer tarandus feeds on lichens, mosses herbs, ferns, grasses, and shoots and leaves of deciduous shrubs and trees (especially Salix spp. (willow) and Betula spp. (birch) (Hentonen & Tikhonov, 2008).

Principal source:

Compiler: Comité français de l'UICN (IUCN French Committee) & IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Review:

Publication date: 2010-10-04

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Rangifer tarandus. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Rangifer+tarandus on 26-12-2024.

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Rangifer tarandus
NATIVE RANGE
  • canada
  • china
  • finland
  • greenland
  • mongolia
  • norway
  • russian federation
  • svalbard and jan mayen
  • united states
Informations on Rangifer tarandus has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
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Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Rangifer tarandus in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Red List assessed species 2: EN = 1; LC = 1;
View more species View less species
Locations
FRENCH SOUTHERN TERRITORIES
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
Mechanism
[3] Grazing/Herbivory/Browsing
[1] Trampling
[1] Interaction with other invasive species
Outcomes
[3] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [2] Reduction in native biodiversity
  • [1] Habitat degradation
Management information
Locations
CANADA
FRENCH SOUTHERN TERRITORIES
GREENLAND
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
Management Category
Eradication
Control
None
Unknown
Monitoring
Bibliography
32 references found for Rangifer tarandus

Management information
Bell, Cameron M. & Robert A. Dieterich, 2010. Translocation of reindeer from South Georgia to the Falkland Islands. Rangifer, 30 (1), 2010
Summary: Available from: http://www.ub.uit.no/baser/septentrio/index.php/rangifer/article/viewFile/247/237 [Accessed May 2010]
Chapius, J.L., Bouss�s P. & Barnaud G. 1994. Alien mammals, impacts and management in the French subantarctic islands. � Biological Conservation 67: 97- 104.
Iriarte, J.A., Lobos, G., & Jaksic, F.M. (2005). Invasive vertebrate species in Chile and their control and monitoring by governmental agencies. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 78, 143-151.
IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)., 2010. A Compilation of Information Sources for Conservation Managers.
Summary: This compilation of information sources can be sorted on keywords for example: Baits & Lures, Non Target Species, Eradication, Monitoring, Risk Assessment, Weeds, Herbicides etc. This compilation is at present in Excel format, this will be web-enabled as a searchable database shortly. This version of the database has been developed by the IUCN SSC ISSG as part of an Overseas Territories Environmental Programme funded project XOT603 in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment. The compilation is a work under progress, the ISSG will manage, maintain and enhance the database with current and newly published information, reports, journal articles etc.
Klein, David R., 1987. Vegetation Recovery Patterns following Overgrazing by Reindeer on St. Matthew Island. Journal of Range Management, Vol. 40, No. 4 (Jul., 1987), pp. 336-338
Leader-Williams, N., 1980. Population Dynamics and Mortality of Reindeer Introduced into South Georgia. The Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul., 1980), pp. 640-657
Leader-Williams, N and C. Ricketts, 1982b. Growth and Condition of Three Introduced Reindeer Herds on South Georgia: The Effects of Diet and Density. Holarctic Ecology, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Oct., 1982), pp. 381-388
Leader-Williams, N., D.W.H. Walton, and P.A. Prince, 1989. Introduced reindeer on South Georgia�A management dilemma. Biological Conservation Volume 47, Issue 1, 1989, Pages 1-11
Lebouvier, M.; Frenot, Y., 2007. Conservation and management in the French sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding seas. Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania. 141(Part 1). NOV 2007. 23-28.
McCann, T.S. 1987. Further range expansion of introduced reindeer Rangifer tarandus on South Georgia. � British Antarctic Survey Bulletin 76: 95-98.
Moen, Jon and Hector MacAlister, 1994. Continued range expansion of introduced reindeer on South Georgia. Polar Biology Volume 14, Number 7 / October, 1994
Varnham, K. 2006. Non-native species in UK Overseas Territories: a review. JNCC Report 372. Peterborough: United Kingdom.
Summary: This database compiles information on alien species from British Overseas Territories.
Available from: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3660 [Accessed 10 November 2009]
General information
Chapuis, J., Bouss�s, P., & Barnaud, G. 1994. Alien mammals, impact and management in the French Subantartic Islands. Biological Conservation, 67, 97-104.
Summary: Cet article pr�sente la situation actuelle et les impacts des populations introduites de mammif�res dans les �les subantarctiques fran�aises. Les moyens de contr�le en place ou planifi�s sont �galement pr�sent�s.
Chapuis, J.L, & Bousses, P. 1987. Relations animal-v�g�tation : cons�quences des introductions de mammif�res phytophages dans l archipel de Kerguelen. Actes du colloque sur la Recherche fran�aise dans les Terres Australes.269-278
Summary: L histoire des introductions de 4 mammif�res herbivores, l �volution de leurs populations, et leurs impacts sur les communaut�s v�g�tales et animales sont pr�sent�s et discut�s. Des moyens de contr�le sont envisag�s pour permettre la restauration de ces milieux.
Chung, C. H. 1993. Thirty years of ecological engineering with Spartina plantations in China. Ecological Engineering 2: 261-289.
Summary: A review of Spartina plantations in China and their effects on coastal morphology, soils, animals and human beings.
Cook, S. Poncet, A.P.R. Cooper, D.J. Herbert and D. Christie Glacier retreat on South Georgia and implications for the spread of rats. Antarctic Science, Published online by Cambridge University Press 17 Feb 2010 doi:10.1017/S0954102010000064
Gray, A. J. and Benham, P. E. M. 1990. Spartina anglica: A Research Review. ITE Research Publication No. 2, Natural Environment Reseach Council and HMSO, London.
Summary: Contains various papers about S. anglica biology, competitive ability against Puccinellia maritima, use as biofuel, and the effect on bird populations.
Henttonen, H. & Tikhonov, A. 2008. Rangifer tarandus. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Summary: Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/29742/0 [Accessed May 2010]
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 2008. Online Database Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and bioscience articles from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=180701 [Accessed 12 March 2008]
Jaksic, Fabian. (1998). Vertebrate invaders and their ecological impacts in Chile. Biodiversity and Conservation. 7. 1427-1445. 10.1023/A:1008825802448.
Summary: Available from: http://www.bio.puc.cl/caseb/casebpdf/InvadersChile-C&BIODIVERSITY.pdf [Accessed May 2010]
Klein, David R.; Shulski, Martha, 2009. Lichen Recovery Following Heavy Grazing by Reindeer Delayed by Climate Warming. Ambio. 38(1). FEB 2009. 11-16.
Leader-Williams, N., 1985. Chapter 6b: The Sub-Antarctic Islands -Introduced Mammals. in Key Environments Antarctica (Ed) W. N. Bonner And D. W. H. Walton. Published in Collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Summary: Available from: https://www.kent.ac.uk/dice/publications/KeyEnvs_IMs.pdf [Accessed May 2010]
Leader-Williams, N. 1988. Reindeer on South Georgia: the ecology of an introduced population. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 319pp.
Leader-Williams, N. and Ricketts,C . 1982a. Seasonal and sexual patterns of growth and condition of reindeer introduced into South Georgia. - Oikos 38: 27-39.
Leader-Williams, N., R. I. L. Smith and P. Rothery, 1987. Influence of Introduced Reindeer on the Vegetation of South Georgia: Results From a Long-Term Exclusion Experiment. Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Dec., 1987), pp. 801-822
Leader-Williams, N., Tessa A. Scott, R. M. Pratt, 1982. Forage Selection by Introduced Reindeer on South Georgia, and Its Consequences for the Flora. Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Apr., 1981), pp. 83-106
Lesel, R. 1967. Contribution � l��tude �cologique de quelques mammif�res import�s aux �les Kerguelen. TAAF, 38 : 3-40
Novillo, Agustina & Ricardo A. Ojeda, 2008. The exotic mammals of Argentina. Biol Invasions DOI 10.1007/s10530-007-9208-8
Summary: Available from: http://www.cricyt.edu.ar/institutos/iadiza/ojeda/pdf/Invaders%20Argentina.pdf [Accessed May 2010]
Nowak, R. 1991. Walker s Mammals of the World. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Pascal, M, 1983. Introduction of mammalian species on the Kerguelen Archipelago (South Indian Ocean). Impact of exotic species on the island milieu. C. R. Seances Soc. Biogeography. Vol. 59, no. 2. 1983.
Summary: This paper is devoted to the modalities of introduction of alien mammals in Kerguelen archipelago (Ovis a. aries, O. a. musimon, Rangifer tarandus, Rattus rattus, Mus musculus, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Felis catus ). Knowledge about the impact of these species on the insular ecosystem is summarized. Suggestions are made to attempt to solve some problems in natural conservancy. The authors insist on the fact that this damageable introduction constitutes field experiences and that it must be used it to try to understand problems in evolution and adaptation.
Pratt, R. M. and R. I. Lewis Smith, 1982. Seasonal trends in chemical composition of reindeer forage plants on South Georgia. Polar Biology. Volume 1, Number 1 / March, 1982
Vogel, Michael; Herman Remmert and Ron I. Lewis Smith, 1984. Introduced Reindeer and Their Effects on the Vegetation and the Epigeic Invertebrate Fauna of South Georgia (subantarctic). Oecologia, Vol. 62, No. 1 (1984), pp. 102-109
Contact
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Rangifer tarandus
peary caribou, caribou, Norwegian reindeer, North American caribou, Eurasian reindeer, reno
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Recommended citation
(2024). Rangifer tarandus. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).