Any of several wild goats of the genus Capra, especially C. ibex, native to mountainous regions of Eurasia and northern Africa and having long, ridged, backward-curving horns.
[Latin.]
|
Results for ibex
|
On this page:
|
Any of several wild goats of the genus Capra, especially C. ibex, native to mountainous regions of Eurasia and northern Africa and having long, ridged, backward-curving horns.
[Latin.]
For more information on ibex, visit Britannica.com.
Wild goats of the genus Capra spp. includes Spanish ibex (C. pyrenaica), Siberian ibex (C. ibex siberica), Cretan wild goat (C. aegagues cretica).
| Ibex | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
|
Capra ibex |
An ibex, also called steinbock[citation needed], is a type of wild mountain goat with large recurved horns that are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa, and East Africa. The name ibex comes from Latin, borrowed from Iberian or Aquitanian, akin to Old Spanish bezerro "bull", modern Spanish becerro "yearling". Ranging in height from 27 to 43 inches and weighing 200 to 270 pounds the ibex can live 20 years.
Ibex mainly live in craggy, mountainous areas, and can negotiate very steep terrain quite easily. They have adapted features common to climbing ungulates, such as small hooves, short legs, and stocky bodies. Ibex rely on their excellent climbing ability in order to elude natural predators, such as snow leopards. There are now fewer than 25,000 ibex remaining in the world.
Male ibex are commonly larger and heavier than females. However, the most noticeable difference between genders is the presence of large horns. Females will keep a pair of smaller, thinner horns that grow considerably more slowly than the males'. The ibex's horns begin to grow at sexual maturity and continue to do so throughout the rest of the animal's life.
The five species of ibex are grouped with four other species in the genus Capra:
Legend had it that the ibex's spine was rigid and non-straight, so that the goat could not look back. If threatened from behind, it would jump off a precipice and land unharmed on its horns.[citation needed]
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Français (French)
n. - bouquetin
Deutsch (German)
n. - Steinbock
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ζωολ.) ίβηξ, αγριοκάτσικο, κρι-κρι
Português (Portuguese)
n. - bode (m) montês (Zool.)
Русский (Russian)
альпийский козел, козерог
Español (Spanish)
n. - íbice, cabra montés
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - stenbock
中文(简体) (Chinese (Simplified))
野生山羊
中文(繁體) (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 野生山羊
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - アイベックス, ノヤギ
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) الوعل
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - עז-הבר, אקו
If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.
To select your translation preferences click here.
| ibex | Merino Wool Ibex |
| swarovski ibex | Ibex Vest Blue |
Join the WikiAnswers Q&A community. Post a question or answer questions about "ibex" at WikiAnswers.
Copyrights:
![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more | |
![]() | Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ibex". Read more | |
![]() | Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Read more |
Mentioned In: