Capra sibirica
The Siberian ibex, the largest member of the genus Capra, is a common species found in the Alpine meadows and crags of Central Asia and Southern Siberia.
The bow-shaped horns of Siberian ibex males are also the largest within the genus.
Siberian ibexes are generally found in herds, but adult males sometimes live alone during some periods of time. They migrate when too much snow starts to accumulate in the autumn. When this happens, they can move over 100 km and change up to 2000 m in elevation. When snow accumulates, they reach food by digging the snow with their hooves.
The Siberian ibex is prey for many species, but the snow leopards are the most common predators of this animal.
The picture of a Siberian ibex, above, was taken at the Brookfield zoo of Chicago, in August 2004.
Genus Capra
Subfamily Caprinae
Family Bovidae
Order Artiodactyla
Subclass Eutheria
Class Mammalia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index