HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The takin (''Budorcas taxicolor''; ), also called cattle chamois or gnu goat, is a large species of
ungulate Ungulates ( ) are members of the diverse clade Ungulata which primarily consists of large mammals with hooves. These include odd-toed ungulates such as horses, rhinoceroses, and tapirs; and even-toed ungulates such as cattle, pigs, giraffes, c ...
of the subfamily
Caprinae The subfamily Caprinae, also sometimes referred to as the tribe Caprini, is part of the ruminant family Bovidae, and consists of mostly medium-sized bovids. A member of this subfamily is called a caprine, or, more informally, a goat-antelope ( ...
found in the eastern Himalayas. It includes four subspecies: the Mishmi takin (''B. t. taxicolor''), the golden takin (''B. t. bedfordi''), the Tibetan (or Sichuan) takin (''B. t. tibetana''), and the
Bhutan takin The Bhutan Takin (''Budorcas taxicolor whitei'') is a vulnerable subspecies of Takin native to Bhutan, North Eastern India, Western part of China, and Tibet. The main threats to the Bhutan Takin are hunting and habitat loss. Range, behaviour, an ...
(''B. t. whitei''). Whilst the takin has in the past been placed together with the
muskox The muskox (''Ovibos moschatus'', in Latin "musky sheep-ox"), also spelled musk ox and musk-ox, plural muskoxen or musk oxen (in iu, ᐅᒥᖕᒪᒃ, umingmak; in Woods Cree: ), is a hoofed mammal of the family Bovidae. Native to the Arctic, ...
in the tribe Ovibovini, more recent mitochondrial research shows a closer relationship to '' Ovis'' (sheep). Its physical similarity to the muskox is therefore an example of convergent evolution. The takin is the
national animal This is a list of countries that have officially designated one or more animals as their national animals. National animal {, class="wikitable sortable" ! Country ! Name of animal ! Scientific name (Latin name) ! class="unsortable", Picture ...
of
Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainou ...
.


Etymology

The specific name ''taxicolor'' comes from la, taxus, , badger and la, color, , hue, label=none referring to badger-like coloration.


Appearance

The takin rivals the muskox as the largest and stockiest of the subfamily
Caprinae The subfamily Caprinae, also sometimes referred to as the tribe Caprini, is part of the ruminant family Bovidae, and consists of mostly medium-sized bovids. A member of this subfamily is called a caprine, or, more informally, a goat-antelope ( ...
, which includes goats, sheep, and similar species. Its short legs are supported by large, two-toed hooves, which each have a highly developed spur. It has a stocky body and a deep chest. Its large head is distinctive by its long, arched nose and stout
horn Horn most often refers to: *Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound ** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various a ...
s, which are ridged at the base. These horns are present in both sexes, and run parallel to the skull before turning upwards to a short point; they are about long, but can grow up to . Its long, shaggy coat is light in color with a dark stripe along the back, and males (bulls) also have dark faces. Four subspecies of takin are currently recognised, and these tend to show a variation in coat colour. Their thick wool often turns black in colour on their undersides and legs. Their overall coloration ranges from dark blackish to reddish-brown suffused with greyish-yellow in the eastern Himalayas to lighter yellow-gray in the Sichuan Province to mostly golden or (rarely) creamy-white with fewer black hairs in the Shaanxi Province. The legend of the '
golden fleece In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece ( el, Χρυσόμαλλον δέρας, ''Chrysómallon déras'') is the fleece of the golden-woolled,, ''Khrusómallos''. winged ram, Chrysomallos, that rescued Phrixus and brought him to Colchis, where P ...
' sought by Jason and the
Argonauts The Argonauts (; Ancient Greek: ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War (around 1300 BC) accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, ''Argo'' ...
may have been inspired by the lustrous coat of the golden takin (''B. t. bedfordi''). Hair length can range from , on the flanks of the body in summer, up to on the underside of the head in winter. In height, takin stand at the shoulder, but measure a relatively short in head-and-body length, with the tail adding only an additional . Measurements of weights vary, but according to most reports, the males are slightly larger, weighing against in females. Sources including Betham (1908) report that females are larger, with the largest captive takin known to the author, at , having been female. Takin can weigh up to or in some cases. Instead of relying on localized scent glands, the takin secretes an oily, strong-smelling substance over its whole body, enabling it to mark objects such as trees.Macdonald, D. (2001) ''The New Encyclopedia of Mammals''. Oxford University Press, Oxford. via arkive.org A prominent nose with a swollen appearance caused biologist George Schaller to liken the takin to a "bee-stung moose." Features reminiscent of familiar domesticated species have earned takins such nicknames as "cattle chamois" and "gnu goat."


Distribution and habitat

Takin are found from forested valleys to rocky, grass-covered alpine zones, at altitudes between above sea level. The Mishmi takin occurs in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, while the Bhutan takin is in western Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve Dihang-Dibang or Dehang-Debang is a biosphere reserve constituted in 1998. It is in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mouling National Park and the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are located fully or partly within this biosphere reserve. Th ...
in Arunachal Pradesh, India is a stronghold of both Mishmi, Upper Siang (Kopu) and Bhutan takins.


Behaviour and ecology

Takin are found in small family groups of around 20 individuals, although older males may lead more solitary existences. In the summer, herds of up to 300 individuals gather high on the mountain slopes. Groups often appear to occur in largest numbers when favorable feeding sites, salt licks, or hot springs are located. Mating takes place in July and August. Adult males compete for dominance by sparring head-to-head with opponents, and both sexes appear to use the scent of their own urine to indicate dominance. A single young is born after a gestation period of around eight months. Takin migrate from the upper pasture to lower, more forested areas in winter and favor sunny spots upon sunrise.''Animal Diversity Web'' (November, 2002
"Budorcas taxicolor"
(University of Michigan Museum of Zoology) via arkive.org
When disturbed, individuals give a 'cough' alarm call and the herd retreats into thick bamboo thickets and lies on the ground for camouflage.Huffman, Brent

''Ultimate Ungulate'' via arkive.org
Takin feed in the early morning and late afternoon, grazing on a variety of leaves and grasses, as well as bamboo shoots and flowers. They have been observed standing on their hind legs to feed on leaves over high. Salt is also an important part of their diets, and groups may stay at a mineral deposit for several days.


Threats

The takin is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and considered Endangered in China. It is threatened by overhunting and the destruction of its natural habitat. It is not a common species naturally, and the population appears to have been reduced considerably. Takin horns have appeared in the illegal wildlife trade in Myanmar; and during three surveys carried out from 1999 to 2006 in the Tachilek market, a total of 89 sets of horns were observed openly for sale.


References

*


Further reading

*


External links

*
Wild creamy-white ''golden takins'' (b. t. bedfordi) in China
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q193469, from2=Q10741556 Caprids Mammals described in 1850 Taxa named by Brian Houghton Hodgson