Antlers are the reindeer’s most memorable characteristic. But no, they drop them for the winter to grow bigger ones for spring so all of Santa's reindeers are female! He always accompanies carts of toys for kids led by reindeer. A male’s antlers can measure up to 51 inches (130 centimeters) long, and a female’s antlers can reach 20 inches (50 centimeters). I thought like other deer, reindeer males had the antlers. What facts have you learned recently that have completely changed what you thought to be true? However, males shed it quite early in the winter start whereas females keep it until spring. Some of Santa’s reindeer Facts. Female reindeer are slaying it! Mine is the reindeer thing. The Reindeer is the only species of deer in which the females carry antlers as well as the males. So, it would be female. The antlers of the female reindeer are considerably smaller than those of the male. This means that if the reindeer spotted pulling Santa’s sleigh on December 24 have antlers, they must be females, as males would have already shed their antlers. In comparison to body size, reindeer have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species. Female Svalbard deer begin growing their antlers in summer and keep them all year. Santa will not appear alone on Christmas Eve. On top of that, there’s also a subtle change in the growth. To know more watch this video. Why do Female Reindeer Have Antlers? - Page 2 The Sami people (Sápmi) have also depended on reindeer herding and fishing for centuries. That means Santa’s sled either has to be pulled by young reindeer, constantly replaced as … Scientists have observed that male reindeer shed their antlers in early December after mating season, while female reindeer keep their antlers all year. Not all female caribou (reindeer) have antlers, but for Santa’s crew to have antlers in December, they would be females.” There’s more to it than just the antlers. But all male Reindeer lose their antlers in the late fall, well-before Christmas. : IV: 16: IV In Sápmi, reindeer are used to pull a pulk, a Nordic sled. Apparently, if a male reindeer is castrated, it stops the process of casting the antlers, thus he becomes more like a female. Female antlers are considerably linear when compared with those of a male reindeer. In snow the antlers are used to scrape snow away from the ground, and as such they are an important feature for survival. “Rudolph could be a castrated male, or a female. Male and female reindeer can grow antlers annually, although the proportion of females that grow antlers varies … Also, it’s important to note that when a female reindeer does have antlers, the size is quite different. This is thought to be because females can use the antlers to find food. 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