hooves
Posted by steve clar on July 25, 2005
Q: hi -
could you please tell me the difference (from head-on, not underneath) in appearance of elk and caribou hooves?
thanks!
steve clar
A: I had to do some sleuthing to find info on this for you. Did come up with some info and hope it helps. The Caribou have especially wide hooves (proportionately) that are actually broader in winter with the growth of additonal horny material on the outer portions of their hooves. In the summer, their hooves lose this outer edge and their slimmer hooves, still broad compared to the Elk, are better adapted to walk over rocks and stones. All of the deer family walk on two toes (digits 3 and 4), the first digit is totally absent but digits 2 and 5 are reduced in size and are often called "false toes". The false toes in Caribou are especially large, compared to the Elk, and provide additional surface area for walking over snow. Since you asked about a "head-on view", looking at each animal's foot, you'd notice that the Caribou's hooves are especially wide and their false toes are both larger and stick out to the side more than the Elk's does. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( July 28, 2005)