Definition of the word musk ox

The word "musk ox" is derived from the animal's mmnnace, which was once used as a source of musk, a fragrant substance. The musk scent is actually produced by males of a closely related species, known as the Arctic musk ox (Ovibos moschatus), during mating season. The animals themselves, known scientifically as Ovibos granti, were named after Sir Walter Elliot Granville, 2nd Baron Granville, a British politician and amateur naturalist, by Norwegian zoologist Thomas Meister Carmichael Christophersen in 1829. The musk ox, also called the barren-ground caribou, is a type of wild sheep that lives in the Arctic regions of northern Canada, Alaska, and Russia. They are adapted to survive the extreme cold and lack of vegetation in these areas, with thick fur and a diet composed mostly of lichens. The name "musk ox" has caused some confusion and controversy, as the animals themselves do not produce musk. In fact, the last remaining wild populations of these animals were saved from hunting due to the mistaken belief that they produced musk, which led to a near extinction of the species. Despite this, the term "musk ox" has become ingrained in common usage, and is still widely used today.