Animal of the Day #8

Today’s animal is... the Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica)!!

The Siberian ibex is a stocky wild goat native to a large portion of central Asia. Their habitat is a mix of high-altitude steppe, alpine meadow, and semidesert. They usually live at altitudes between 6,600 and 16,400 feet above sea level, though they can also be found at altitudes as low as 2,300 feet.

                        Distribution map of the Siberian ibex

The individual size of the Siberian ibex can vary greatly. Male Siberian ibex are about 35–43 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh 130–290 lbs. Female Siberian ibex are noticeably smaller, being 26–36 inches at the shoulder and weighing 75–123 pounds. Male Siberian ibex have characteristically long horns, which can grow to 45 inches long, or in extreme cases, 58 inches. Female Siberian ibex also have horns, but they are much smaller, only growing to about 11 inches long. The hair of all Siberian ibex is brown, tan, or reddish, although females and juveniles are usually more bland in appearance compared to males.

Siberian ibexes feed mainly on alpine grasses and herbs. During the winter, they also feed on needles from trees like aspen, spruce, or juniper. In the summer, they’ve been observed visiting salt licks.

Some facts about the Siberian Ibex:

• The Siberian ibex is listed as near threatened and declining on the IUCN red list.

• The Siberian ibex can live up to 22 years in captivity.

• Both male and female Siberian ibexes have beards.

• The Siberian ibex is the most widely distributed species in the genus Capra.

comment below if you have any animals you'd like to see in the future! :]