The word ‘caribou’ has been used since the mid seventeenth century, originating from the Micmac word for North American Rangifer tarandus, ‘qalipu,’ means ‘snow shoveler.’ Occasionally in North America and predominantly in Europe, the species is referred to as ‘reindeer.’
Though the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some differences in the genetics of reindeer versus caribou. A study published in Nature Climate Change in December 2013 showed evidence of two main caribou lineages.