Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

Why do female caribou have antlers? Arctic study points to nutrition

Biologists have long wondered why caribou are the only deer in the world in which females—like males—have antlers. A study of shed antlers collected from calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge provides a new answer. The study is published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

Why do female caribou have antlers? Arctic study points to nutrition
Image: Phys.org
Biologists have long wondered why caribou are the only deer in the world in which females—like males—have antlers. A study of shed antlers collected from calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge provides a new answer. The study is published in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

Originally published at Phys.org

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