Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Colin2B on 21/12/2017 09:03:21

Title: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: Colin2B on 21/12/2017 09:03:21

Male reindeer cast their antlers in December after the mating season whereas females keep them until the spring. This has led to speculation that Santa’s reindeer are female.
It would appear, however, that traditionally, reindeer who pulled sleighs in colder regions were actually castrated males. Castration keeps the males docile, and they will then keep their antlers through the winter. So does Santa castrate his reindeer??
If so does Santa neuter the reindeer the same way they do in Russia by biting the reindeers’ testicles with their teeth?

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: syhprum on 21/12/2017 11:44:05

I am sure that when Santa's reindeer aren't hurtling around the Earth at near light speed they are looked after by some of his elves to whom the job would be deputised.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: jeffreyH on 21/12/2017 12:13:19

Ouch! Those Russians are something else. No wonder Putin has such a blank expression.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: Colin2B on 21/12/2017 16:54:09

Quote from: jeffreyH on 21/12/2017 12:13:19

No wonder Putin has such a blank expression.

Mmm, some people do suggest he is a bit of a nutter.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: alancalverd on 21/12/2017 21:15:10

Delicious, fried in butter.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: jeffreyH on 21/12/2017 21:32:34

When have you eaten Putin fried in butter? Was it just his testicles? Maybe THAT'S why he looks so glum.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: alancalverd on 22/12/2017 07:15:23

Never mind the bollocks, here's a clue:

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen.

Mostly gender-neutral, as befits our tedious age, but Vixen can only be female. I'd guess that Dancer, Comet and Blitzen are more likely female than male - at least following in the style of "Gladiators". Cupid is always depicted as male and if I had to name reindeer from this restricted set, I'd probably reserve Dasher, Prancer and Donner for males.

Interesting that they are named as pairs, with the male on the left except for the third pair, presumably Santa's subtle torque balance correction for the coriolis force encountered on his transpolar route.

Title: Re: Are Santa’s reindeers castrated?
Post by: Bored chemist on 22/12/2017 10:39:47

Quote from: alancalverd on 22/12/2017 07:15:23

Mostly gender-neutral, as befits our tedious age,

"The commonly cited names of the eight reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. They are based on those used in the 1823 poem..."
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus%27s_reindeer

Must have been ahead of its time.