Muskoxen inhabit the low-lying coastal and inland plains as well as the river valleys of the Arctic. Natural occurring populations of muskoxen are only found in Greenland and Canada's Arctic tundra. Canada's natural population occurs in the Arctic Islands, including Banks Island and Victoria Island. 

The muskox resembles the bison, but is actually more closely related to sheep.  Muskoxen are stocky, long-haired animals with slight shoulder humps. Their long black coat accentuates their short legs and protects them from the Arctic conditions. Both cow and bull muskoxen have horns which curve downward, toward the face, out and up. On bulls, the horn bases extend across the forehead and meet as a solid form of horn and bone. On cows, the horns are slightly smaller and are separated by a patch of fur. Muskoxen have rounded hooves that are like that of a caribou, but smaller. The front hooves are larger than the hind ones, which prevents the animal from sinking into soft snow and enables them to dig for food. They feed on shrubby willows in the summer, but must dig through snow to find willows, grasses and sedges in the winter.

Muskoxen are renowned for their defense strategies – a threatened heard will run to an area of shallow snow or high ground and line up to face their attackers. When surrounded, they will form at tight ring with their rumps together. Wolves are their primary predator.

Mature bull muskoxen weigh from 600 to 800 lbs (273 to 364 kg), while cows will weight between 400 to 500 lbs (182 to 227 kg).