Ibex
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A male Nubian ibex

An ibex, commonly called by its French name: bouquetin also called Steinbock in German^[1], is a type of wild mountain goat (Capra) 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 (90 to 120 kg), the ibex can live 20 years. The two species of wild goats, which are usually not called ibex are the markhor and the wild goat.

Male ibex are commonly larger and heavier than females. However, the most noticeable difference between genders is the presence of large horns. Females grow a pair of smaller, thinner horns that develop 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.

Ibex species

The seven species of wild goats, which are called ibex:

• The Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is found in the European Alps. Alpine ibex are found in Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Slovenia, and have been introduced to ranches in the United States, Canada, and Argentina.

• The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) occurs in the Middle East. Occurs in the Red Sea hills of Sudan as well as the highlands in Egypt. Nubian ibex are heavily preyed upon by Wazzi shepherds.

• The Walia or Ethiopian ibex (Capra walie) is found in the Semien Mountains of the Ethiopian Highlands, where it is critically endangered. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Alpine Ibex. The Ibex is also a national emblem of the great ancient Axum empire.

• The Spanish or Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) is now restricted to the Pyrenees and other mountainous enclaves in Spain. There are approximately 50,000 Spanish ibex on the Iberian Peninsula.

• The Asiatic or Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) is found in central Asia and southern Siberia.

• The West Caucasian ibex (Capra caucasica) is found in the western Caucasus.

• The East Caucasian ibex (Capra caucasica) is found in the eastern Caucasus.

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In ancient history

Evidence of the ibex is present in the archaeological record, particularly in the Near East and Mediterranean regions. Excavations from Minoan Crete at Knossos, for example, have yielded specimens from about 1800 BC, including one cylinder seal with an ibex defending himself from a hunting dog.^[2] From the similar age a gold jewelry ibex image was found at the Akrotiri archaeological site^[3] on Santorini in present day Greece.

An Iron Age capra ibex specimen was recovered at the Aq Kupruk archaeological site in present day Afghanistan, illustrating either domestication or hunting of the ibex by these early peoples.^[4]

References

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