About Capra sibirica (Pallas, 1776)
The Siberian ibex, scientifically named Capra sibirica, has a number of regional common names including Altai ibex, Asian ibex, Central Asian ibex, Gobi ibex, Himalayan ibex, Mongolian ibex, and Tian Shan ibex. It is a polytypic ibex species, a wild relative of goats and sheep, that lives in Central Asia, and it is the most widely distributed species in the genus Capra by a large margin. Currently, the Siberian ibex is ranked as Near Threatened due to its low population density across most of its range and an overall population decline. However, reliable population data is scarce and difficult to obtain, compounded by the species' large natural range, so accurate observations of the population remain limited. Formerly, the Siberian ibex was classified as a subspecies of the Eurasian Alpine ibex, and it is still not fully resolved whether it is a single species, or a complex of genetically distinct units that qualify as separate species. The Siberian ibex is the longest and heaviest member of the genus Capra, though its shoulder height is slightly shorter than that of the markhor. Siberian ibexes primarily inhabit areas above the tree line, on steep slopes and rocky scree. Their habitat includes a mix of high altitude steppe, alpine meadows, and semidesert regions. While they can be found as low as 700 m (2,300 ft) on hills in the Gobi Desert, they are most commonly found at elevations between 2,000 and 5,000 metres (6,600 and 16,400 ft) during the summer. In winter, they descend to lower, sometimes sparsely forested, slopes. In Tajikistan, the species' distribution is shaped by climatic variables including seasonal temperature and precipitation of the warmest quarter. The native range of the Siberian ibex covers central and northern Asia, including Afghanistan, western and northern China (primarily Xinjiang), north-western India, south-eastern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan, Mongolia, northern Pakistan, and south-central Russia. In 1978, 40 Siberian ibexes were introduced to the Canadian River canyon of New Mexico in the United States, where a small population has become established. In Pakistan, the species' historical range stretched from Swat to Khunjerab, but its range has since contracted to the country's extreme northern regions due to human-caused pressures and climate change. The Siberian ibex rutting season runs from late October to early January. During the rut, males devote a large amount of energy to courting females, and are often emaciated from lack of grazing by the end of the season. Courtship lasts over 30 minutes, and involves licking, ritualized postures, and flehmen behavior if the female urinates. Males compete for dominance during the rut by rearing up on their hind legs and clashing their horns together. Gestation lasts 170 to 180 days, and most births produce a single kid. Twins occur in up to 14% of births, and triplets are very rare. Newborn kids weigh approximately 3 kg (6.6 lb), and grow quickly during their first year. Their horns become visible around three to four weeks after birth. Kids can start eating grass as early as eight days after birth, but do not eat grass regularly until they are around one month old, and are not fully weaned until they reach six months of age. Males reach sexual maturity at 18 months old, but do not reach full adult size until they are nine years old. Females breed for the first time during their second year. In the wild, males typically live for ten years, and females can live up to seventeen years. Individuals in captivity have been recorded living up to 22 years.
