The Alpine ibex Capra ibex , also known as the steinbock , is a European species of goat that lives in the Alps. It is one of ten species in the genus Capra and its closest living relative is the Iberian ibex. The Alpine ibex is a sexually dimorphic species; males are larger and carry longer horns than females. Its coat is brownish-grey. Alpine ibexes tend to live in steep, rough terrain and open alpine meadows. They can be found at elevations as high as 3, m 10, ft and their sharp hooves allow them to scale the steep slopes and cliffs of their mountainous habitat.
Alpine ibexes primarily feed on grass and are active throughout the year. Although they are social animals, adult males and females segregate for most of the year, coming together only to mate. During the breeding season, males use their long horns to fight for access to females. Ibexes have few predators but may succumb to parasites and diseases. By the 19th century, the Alpine ibex had been extirpated from most of its range and it went through a population bottleneck of fewer than individuals during its near-extinction event, leading to very low genetic diversity across populations.
The species has been successfully reintroduced to parts of its historical range. As of [update] , the IUCN lists the species as being of least concern. Carl Linnaeus first described the Alpine ibex in It is classified in the genus Capra with nine other species of goat. Fossils of the genus Tossunnoria are found in late Miocene deposits in China; these fossils appear to have been transitional between goats and their ancestors.
Mitochondrial and Y chromosome evidence show hybridisation of species in this lineage. The Alpine Ibex and the Iberian ibex C. The Alpine ibex appears to have been larger during the Pleistocene than in the modern day. In the 20th century, the Nubian C. The following cladogram of seven Capra species is based on mitochondrial evidence: [ 8 ]. Alpine ibexes are sexually dimorphic. Females are much smaller and have a shoulder height of 73β84 cm 29β33 in , a body length of β cm 48β56 in , and weigh 17β32 kg 37β71 lb.
The Alpine ibex is a stocky animal with a tough neck and robust legs with short metapodials. Compared with most other wild goats, the species has a wide, shortened snout. Adaptations for climbing include sharp, highly separated hooves and a rubbery callus under the front feet. Transverse ridges on the front surface of the horns mark an otherwise flat surface. At 69β98 cm 27β39 in , the horns of males are substantially longer than those of females, which reach only 18β35 cm 7.
