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Alpine Ibex

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Max is one of Alpine breeder bucks

Alpine Ibex 

Photo of wild Alpine Ibex in the Swiss Alps

Photo courtesy of  www.bakisto.net

The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), also known as the steinbock or bouquetin, is a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps. It is a sexually dimorphic species with larger males who carry larger, curved horns. The coat colour is typically brownish grey. Alpine ibex tend to live in steep, rough terrain above the snow line. They are also social, although adult males and females segregate for most of the year, coming together only to mate. Four distinct groups exist; adult male groups, female-offsping groups, groups of young individuals, and mixed sex groups.

During the breeding season, males fight for access to females and use their long horns in agonistic behaviours. After being extirpated from most areas by the 19th century, the Alpine ibex was reintroduced to parts of its historical range and all individuals living today descend from the stock in Gran Paradiso National Park in northwest Italy and from the neighbouring French valley of Maurienne, now part of the Vanoise National Parklinked to the former. These two national parks are connected and have been especially created to help the ibex to thrive. The ibex is the emblem of the Gran Paradiso National Park and of the Vanoise National Park. The species is currently listed as of least concern by the IUCN.

 Appearance

Compared with other members of its genus, the Alpine ibex has a short, broad head and a duller coat. It has brownish grey hair over most of the body, a pale abdomen and slightly darker markings on the chin and throat and in a stripe along the back. They moult twice a year, firstly in April or May, and then again in September, when they replace the short summer coat with thicker hair and a woolly undercoat.

Males commonly grow to a height of 90 to 101 centimetres (35 to 40 in) at the withers, with a body length of 149 to 171 centimetres (59 to 67 in) and weigh from 67 to 117 kilograms (148 to 258 lb). Females are noticeably smaller, with a shoulder height of 73 to 84 centimetres (29 to 33 in), a body length of 121 to 141 centimetres (48 to 56 in), and a weight of 17 to 32 kilograms (37 to 71 lb). Both male and female Alpine ibexes have large, backwards-curving, horns with numerous ridges along their length. At 69 to 98 centimetres (27 to 39 in), those of the males are substantially larger than those of females, which reach only 18 to 35 centimetres (7.1 to 13.8 in) in length.

Reproduction and growth

The breeding season starts in December, and typically lasts around six weeks. During this time, male herds break up into smaller groups that search for females. The rut takes place in two phases. In the first phase, the male groups interact with the females who are all in oestrous. The higher the male's rank, the closer he can get to a female.^[3] Males perform courtship displays. In the second phase of the rut, one male separates from his group to follow an individual female. He displays to her and guards her from other males. Before copulation, the female moves her tail and courtship becomes more intensive. They copulate and then he rejoins his group and reverts to the first phase.^[3] Gestation lasts around 167 days, and results in the birth of one or two kids, with twins making up about 20% of births.^[16]

Alpine ibex reach sexual maturity at eighteen months, but females do not reach their maximum body size for five to six years, and males not for nine to eleven years. The horns grow throughout life, growing most rapidly during the second year of life, and thereafter by about 8 centimetres (3.1 in) a year, eventually slowing to half that rate once the animal reaches ten years of age. Alpine ibex live for up to nineteen years in the wild.

Nubian Ibex

Photo Courtesy of  Photos8.com

Ibex Video's

 The Amazing Survival Abilities Of The Ibex

 Rutting Nubian Ibex puts on a show

General Characteristics

Body Length: 105-125 cm / 3.5-4.1 ft.
Shoulder Height: 65-75 cm / 2.1-2.5 ft.
Tail Length: 15-20 cm / 6-8 in.
Weight: 25-70 kg / 55-154 lb.

The Nubian Ibex (Capra ibex nubiana) is a desert-dwelling goat antelope found in

mountainous areas of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Yemen, and

Sudan. It is generally considered to be a subspecies of the Alpine ibex but sometimes

considered specifically distinct (Capra nubiana)

The Nubian ibex is relatively small compared to other ibexes.  Its coat is a light sandy brown in colour with the hindquarters lighter.  The underparts are almost white, and the upper side of the tail is darker.  Bucks have a dark stripe on their front legs and one down their back, as well as a dark beard.  During the October rut, the neck, chest, shoulders, upper legs, and sides of bucks become dark brown to almost black in colour.  The semicircular horns curve upward, backwards, and finally down.  While they are found in both sexes, but are much larger in males than females.  Horns on bucks grow up to 120 cm / 48 inches long, and have 24-36 knobs on the outer curve.  The much thinner, shorter horns of females grow up to 35 cm / 14 inches.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

Gestation Period: 5 months.
Young per Birth: 1-2
Weaning: After 3 months.
Sexual Maturity: At 2-3 years.
Life span: Up to 17 years.

Mating occurs during the late summer months, especially October.  The majority of kids are born in March.

Ecology and Behavior

In contrast to most desert animals, the Nubian ibex drinks almost daily.  The light, smooth, shiny coat is thought to reflect a large amount of incoming solar radiation, which allows the animals to remain active throughout the day, even during hot summer afternoons.  During summer nights, the Nubian ibex rests in high, open areas of slopes, allowing a variety of escape routes should danger present itself.  During the cooler winter nights, herds rest in more sheltered places, like caves or under overhangs.  Nubian ibex, although equipped with a semi-waterproof coat, do not like to get wet, seeking shelter if possible during rain storms.

Family group: Single sex herds, with kids staying with their maternal herd until the age of three years.
Diet: Grasses, leaves.
Main Predators: Leopard, bearded vulture, eagle.

Distribution

Rocky, desert mountains with steep slopes in northeastern Africa and parts of Arabia

 

Conservation Status

The Nubian ibex is classified as endangered by the IUCN (1996), with an estimated population of 1200 animals in 1986.

Remarks

Ibexes belong to a confusing species complex, with the definitions between species and subspecies being very controversial.  Previously, all species were classified under Capra ibex, though here they are all discussed as separate species.  The Nubian ibex is still often combined with the Ethiopian ibex.  Ibex (L) a kind of goat, a chamois.  Capra (Latin) a she-goat.  -anus (Latin) suffix meaning belonging to; Nubia is an undefined stretch of land in northern Africa.

 

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