Siberian ibex

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Siberian ibex
Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica)

Siberian ibex ( Capra sibirica )

Systematics
without rank: Forehead weapon bearer (Pecora)
Family : Horned Bearers (Bovidae)
Subfamily : Antilopinae
Tribe : Goatsies (Caprini)
Genre : Goats ( capra )
Type : Siberian ibex
Scientific name
Capra sibirica
( Pallas , 1776)

The Siberian or Asiatic Ibex ( Capra sibirica ) is a species of cloven-hoofed animals that lives in the Asian mountain regions . It is related to the Alpine Ibex and is sometimes listed as its subspecies.

features

Siberian ibex reach a head trunk length of 130 to 165 centimeters, a shoulder height of 67 to 110 centimeters and a weight of 35 to 130 kilograms, whereby the females remain significantly lighter than the males. The color of the fur varies depending on the region and season, but is kept in shades of brown. The animals become significantly darker in winter dress, and males can also have white spots on the neck and back.

Both sexes have horns. Those of the females are small and slightly bent backwards; those of the males are much more massive, they are bent backwards and can be over a meter long. The males also have a much more pronounced goatee than the females.

distribution and habitat

Siberian ibex mainly inhabit mountainous regions in Asia. Their distribution area extends from southern Russia and western Mongolia over the western parts of China to northern India and Afghanistan . They occur occasionally at altitudes up to 6700 meters, generally they avoid forests. In winter they migrate down to lower areas.

Way of life

Skull of an ibex found in the Altai Mountains near the Belucha

The way of life of the Siberian ibex is largely similar to that of the Alpine ibex. They are predominantly diurnal and feed on grasses and herbs. Females and young animals live in stable herds of 10 to 20 animals, the males form bachelor groups. Within these groups they establish a hierarchy through showing off behavior and horn fights, but sometimes males also live solitary. However, there have been observations from the Himalayas that sometimes males and females live together all year round.

After a gestation period of around five to six months, the female gives birth to one or two, rarely three young animals. These reach sexual maturity at 1.5 to 2 years, but the first reproduction usually only takes place a few years later.

threat

Compared to other ibex, the Siberian ibex is common and not threatened. Estimates of the total stock from the 1990s amount to over 250,000 copies. However, uncontrolled hunting and poaching can pose threats to the overall population.

Systematics

Siberian ibex in the hospital in the Himalayas, Northwest India

For a long time the Siberian ibex was combined with the Alpine ibex and the Nubian ibex to form one species. However, other ibexes such as the Iberian or Caucasian ibex are not so strikingly similar to them and have therefore long been recognized as separate species. Genetic studies, however, strongly suggest that the Siberian ibex is also a separate species, based on the genus Capra . The external similarities to the Alpine Ibex and the Nubian Ibex would therefore not be a sign of close relationship, but rather plesiomorphies .

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
  • DE Wilson, DM Reeder: Mammal Species of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Phylogenetic Reconstructions in the Genus Capra (Bovidae, Artiodactyla) Based on the Mitochondrial DNA Analysis . Russian Journal of Genetics 43 (2), 2007, pp. 181-189. doi: 10.1134 / S1022795407020135

Web links

Commons : Capra sibirica  - collection of images, videos and audio files