Markhor
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 Markhor at the LA Zoo
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| Capra falconeri (Wagner, 1839) |
The Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a goat-antelope found in sparse woodland in the Western Himalayas.
Markhor stand 65 to 115 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh from 40 to 110 kilograms. Females are tan in colour with a white underbelly and a pattern of black and white on the legs. Males have a lighter tan colour with the same white underbelly and pattern on the legs, as well as a black face and a large amount of long shaggy white fur on their neck and chest which can grow to knee-length. Both sexes have corkscrew-shaped horns which can grow up to 160 cm / 64 inches long in males, and up to 25 cm / 10 inches in females.
Markhor are found at altitudes of 500 to 3500 metres (1,500 to 11,000 feet) where they eat grass, leaves, and whatever other vegetative matter they can find, often standing on their hind legs to reach the top leaves of trees. Markhor are crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon. Females gather in herds of up to nine individuals and males are normally solitary.
During mating season, males fight each other for the attention of females. These fights involve lunging until the two males' horns are locked together, and then twisting and pushing until one male falls. Markhor sound much like the domestic goat.
The Markhor is officially the National animal of Pakistan. The word "Markhor" is Persian for "Snake Eater". The creature was featured in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Footage of Markhor appears in the 'Mountains' episode of the BBC documentary series Planet Earth (starting around the 33rd minute) along with footage of predation on them by snow leopards.
The animal is largely found in the Northern Areas of Pakistan especially in Chitral, Ghizar and Hunza regions.
About 2000 - 4000 exist in the wild.
[edit] Subspecies
- Bukharan Markhor, (Capra falconeri heptneri}
- Astor Markhor, (Capra falconeri falconeri)
- Kabul Markhor, (Capra falconeri megaceros)
- Kashmir Markhor, (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis)
- Sulaiman Markhor, (Capra falconeri jerdoni)
[edit] References
- Caprinae Specialist Group (1996). Capra falconeri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN A2cde v2.3)
