Deer is the family; caribou is one species within it — the same animal Europeans call reindeer. Caribou is the North American name, generally used for wild herds, while reindeer usually refers to Eurasian and domesticated animals. Both sexes grow antlers, which no other deer species does.
The core difference
- deer — the family Cervidae, containing dozens of species.
- caribou — one species, Rangifer tarandus, of the Arctic and subarctic.
Caribou and reindeer are the same species
The split is regional and cultural rather than biological:
- caribou — North America, and typically wild, migratory herds
- reindeer — Eurasia, and typically the domesticated or semi-domesticated animals herded across Scandinavia and Siberia
Reindeer introduced to North America are still called reindeer, which shows the distinction is about husbandry and origin, not taxonomy.
What sets the species apart
- Antlers on both sexes — unique among deer. Males shed in early winter, females keep theirs through to spring.
- Enormous migrations — some North American herds travel further annually than any other land mammal.
- Hooves that change seasonally, hardening in winter for ice and for digging through snow to reach lichen.
- Clicking tendons in the feet, which help a herd stay together in poor visibility.
The plural
Caribou is usually unchanged in the plural — one caribou, a herd of caribou — though caribous is occasionally seen. Deer and reindeer never take an s.
Frequently asked questions
Is a caribou a deer?
Yes. Caribou is one species within the deer family, distinguished by both sexes growing antlers and by its Arctic adaptations.
What is the difference between caribou and reindeer?
They are the same species. Caribou is the North American name, usually for wild herds; reindeer is used for Eurasian and domesticated animals.
What is the plural of caribou?
Usually caribou, unchanged. Deer and reindeer are always unchanged in the plural.