Caprinae (chamois, goats, serows, sheep, gorals, tahrs)

Caprinae
There are 36 species in this subfamily of medium-sized ungulates (hoofed animals.) They are found in mountainous regions of Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. They are stocky animals and sure-footed, which helps when you live in the mountains!

Goat & Sheep
How do you tell the difference between a goat and a sheep? Look for the beard! Most male goats have beards and most male sheep don't!
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Goats
Goats were among the first animals domesticated.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Ammotragus (barbary sheep)

Barbary Sheep
Barbary sheep are also called aoudads.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Budorcas (takin)

Takin
The takin’s short legs have large hooves with two toes and a well-developed spur which makes them sure-footed even on treacherous cliffs.
Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Takin
The takin has a thick coat of dark, shaggy fur that helps keep it warm in the winter.
Source: Cincinnati Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Takin
The male takin can weigh over 800 pounds, the female weighs around 500 pounds.
Source: St. Louis Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Takin
The takin's nearest relative is the arctic musk ox.
Source: PBS The Living Edens Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Capra (goats and ibexes)

Nubian Ibex
The male Nubian ibex has long, delicate, backward-arching horns.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Nubian Ibex
The Nubian ibex has suction-like hoofs that help it climb rocky cliffs.
Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Nubian Ibex
The nubian ibex was once widespread in the mountainous regions of northeastern Africa and the Middle East. It is now found in isolated populations in the coastal regions of northeastern Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, and the southeastern tip and western portion of the Arabian Peninsula.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Spanish Ibex
The Spanish ibex is found in the Carzorla-Segura and Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain ranges on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Spanish Ibex
The Spanish ibex lives in the mountains, usually above 2,000 feet.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Siberian Ibex
The Siberian ibex is found in mountain ranges throughout central Asia, as far north as southern Siberia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Walia Ibex
The Walia ibex has a chestnut brown coat and is pale gray on its legs, chest, and rump.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Walia Ibex
The Walia Ibex is only found in the mountains of northern Ethiopia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Markhor
Markhors are found in the arid and steppe regions of the western Himalayas.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Markhor
Both the male and female Markhor have unusual, wide corkscrew-like horns.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

West Caucasian Tur
West Caucasian turs are native only to the western Caucasus Mountains in Georgia and south-western Russia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Capricornis (serows)

Japanese Serow
The Japanese serow marks its territory by rubbing trees and rocks with secretions from scent glands below its eyes and on its hooves.
Source: Animal Planet Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Japanese Serow
Japanese serows are found on the Japanese islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Hemitragus (tahrs)

Arabian Tahr
Arabian tahrs are found in the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates and the northern parts of Oman.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Himalayan Tahr
The Himalayan tahr has a thick, woolly, reddish to dark brown coat with a thick undercoat that helps keep it warm in the winter.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan tahrs have relatively short legs and small heads with large eyes and small pointed ears.
Source: Akron Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Himalayan Tahr
Himalayan tahrs are native to the southern flanks of the Himalayan Mountains from northern India east to Bhutan, as far north as Tibet.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Nilgiri Tahr
Male Nilgiri tahrs are dark brown and females are gray.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri tahr is found in the Western Ghats Mountains in south India.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Naemorhedus (gorals)

Himalayan Goral
Himalayan gorals range throughout the Himalayas from Bhutan to Pakistan.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Himalayan Goral
Himalayan gorals can be found at elevations of 3,000 to 13,000 feet.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Long-tailed Goral
The long-tailed goral is found in the mountain ranges of eastern and northern Asia, including eastern Russia, northeastern China, and Korea.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Oreamnos (mountain goats)

Mountain Goat
Mountain goats have long, thick coats that keep them warm!
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Mountain Goat
The mountain goat has white fur that helps it blend in with its environment.
Source: Oregon Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Mountain Goat
Mountain goats are found from southeast Alaska to Washington, western Montana, and central Idaho.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Ovibos (muskoxen)

Musk Ox
Musk Ox have long, shaggy brown fur that helps keep them warm.
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Ovis (sheep)

Argali
Argali sheep are found in mountainous areas in central Asia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Bighorn Sheep
Male bighorn sheep have large, backwards curling horns. In the fall, male bighorns have head butting contests to establish dominance.
Source: NHPTV Wildlife Journal Junior Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Bighorn Sheep
In winter, bighorn herds move to lower-elevation mountain pastures.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep are found in the Rocky Mountains from southern Canada to Colorado.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep have light brown fur with a whitish rump.
Source: Elmwood Park Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: No

Desert Bighorn Sheep
The desert bighorn sheep is a subspecies of the bighorn sheep. It is found on grassy mountain slopes, alpine meadows, and foothill country from Nevada and California to west Texas and south into Baja California.
Source: Los Angeles Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert bighorn sheep live in groups made up of ewes, lambs, and a few rams.
Source: Utah's Hogle Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert bighorn sheep can move over level ground at 30 miles per hour and scramble up mountain slopes at 15 mph.
Source: Joshua Tree National Park Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Dall Sheep
Dall sheep are found above timberline on ridges, dry meadows, and steep mountain slopes.
Source: Arctic Wildlife Refuge Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Dall Sheep
Dall sheep are found throughout the mountain ranges of northeast, central and southern Alaska, as well as in the Yukon Territory, the northwest corner of British Columbia, and southwest of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Dall Sheep
Dall sheep have rough pads on the bottom of their hooves that help them keep their footing on the rocks!
Source: Enchanted Learning Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School Teacher Section: No Searchable: N o

Domestic Sheep
Domestic sheep are found all over the world and there are many different breeds.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Mouflon
Mouflon or wild sheep are found throughout various countries in central Asia, from Turkey in the west, to Pakistan in the east.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Pantholops (Tibetan Antelope)

Tibetan Antelope
The Tibetan antelope is found in the remote Chang Tang area of north-western Tibet. A small number occur seasonally in northeast Ladakh, in the extreme north of India
Source: WWF Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Tibetan Antelope
The Tibetan antelope live on plateau steppes at elevations from 11,000 to 18,000 feet.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: Yes

Tibetan Antelope
The Tibetan antelope is also known as the chiru.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Pseudois (bharals)

Bharal
Bharals are also know as Himalayan blue sheep, but they look more like goats!
Source: PBS Living Edens Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Rupicapra (chamois)

Chamois
The chamois' coat is reddish-brown in summer with a dark stripe along the back. In winter the coat is blackish-brown.
Source: World Association of Zoos and Aquariums Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No Searchable: No

Chamois
The chamois is found in the Pyrenees, the mountains of south and central Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus in Asia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes

Pyrenean Chamois
The Pyrenean chamois is found in the mountains of northwestern Spain, the Pyrenees, and the Apennines of central Italy.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle/High School Teacher Section: Yes Searchable: Yes