West Asian Ibex

West Asian Ibex, Bezoar Ibex, or Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), is the wild goat species, inhabiting forests, shrublands and rocky areas ranging from Turkey and the Caucasus in the west to Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east. It is one of the ancestors of the domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus).

Etymology

The Modern English word goat comes from Old English gāt "she-goat, goat in general", which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *gaitaz (cf. Norwegian/Icelandic geit, German Geiß, and Gothic gaits), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰaidos meaning "young goat" (cf. Latin haedus "kid").

Physical Appearance

The world's longest horns in terms of body weight belong to the bezoar ibex or wild goat, and they can grow to a height of almost 1.4 meters (4 feet 7 inches). Horns from the south and east desert areas are typically 30 percent smaller. Females have slightly shorter horns that can develop up to 0.2 m (7.9 in) in length. Both sexes change to a gray-colored coat in the winter, with males having a dark brown summer coat while females have a more reddish-golden one. Additionally, both sexes have a tuft of hair that grows from their chin. A black stripe that starts at the spine and crosses the ibexes' shoulder, limbs, and neck. During mating season, this stripe becomes darker.

Abilities

The act of head-butting is common among goats, despite the fact that as humans it may seem harmful. Goats utilize it for both self-defense and interspecies play.

Weaknesses

The same material that makes up human fingernails, keratin, covers the whole bone core of a horn. They begin to grow shortly after the animal is born and continue to do so throughout the animal's existence. They do not regenerate if they are damaged or removed.

Ecology

Wild goat is a principal prey for leopard in Iran but also an important prey for Iranian cheetah or African cheetah in central Iran, while wolf rarely hunts wild goat in Iran. In the Greater Caucasus, impact of predators upon wild goat is generally considered non-significant, though Eurasian lynx, wolf and even brown bear Ursus arctos can catch, at least, juveniles and golden eagles scan cliffs intermittently in summer and try to hunt kids. Mortality caused by snow avalanches has not been recorded, even in the Greater Caucasus, unlike tur Capra caucasica and Capra cylindricornis. In Dagestan in the North Greater Caucasus, females may live up to 18 years but usually less, while males can reach the age of 14. In Turkmenistan, males live up to 11 years. Mortality among juveniles varies from 40% to 75% in different areas and years in Armenia. In Daghestan, this index is about 35%, while among adults it is about 3-6%, higher in males.

In the Greater Caucasus in Daghestan and Chechnya, wild goats are sympatric with the Eastern tur that dominates above timberline but may be less numerous than wild goats in the forest. In Chechnya, wild goats are sympatric, but much less numerous, with Caucasian chamois, particularly on the limestone Rocky Range. However, the main wild goat distribution on the northern slope of the Eastern Greater Caucasus is on the Side Range, where chamois is very rare. Where wild goats do occur on the north slope of the Main Range, it is a forest dweller as usual in the Greater Caucasus, while chamois mostly stays above timberline. Eurasian roe deer also share habitat with the wild goat, not only in the Greater Caucasus, but also in several locations in South-East Armenia). In Dagestan, male wild goats start courting females in mid December. The rutting season lasts until the third week of January. Females give birth to between one and three kids in late June to mid July. The major threats to this species are poaching, competition for food with domestic livestock, and disturbance and habitat loss from logging and land clearing.

Behavior

Wild goats and other goats are passive to humans and other creatures, except for males. Males are territorial to other males for their mate. Can be subdue male for their horns and beards. Similar to goats, West Asian Ibexes are more aggressive and curious than sheep and are more likely to assert their control over a social group than sheep.

Distribution and Habitat

The Wild Goat ranges discontinuously from central Afghanistan and southern Pakistan, west through Iran, southern and western Turkmenistan, northern Iraq, the Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, northeastern Georgia, and southern Russia), as far as southwestern Turkey. It once occurred in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, but is now extinct in these countries. The wild goat inhabits mountainous areas, where there is a mixture of rocky outcrops (including scree slopes) and vegetation (shrubby thickets (maquis) or conifer forests). It is a mixed forest species in the Caucasus, especially in the Greater Caucasus.

Movement Pattern: Altitudinal Migrant
Individual Type: Solo
Population Trend: Stable
Population:
- Earth: 70,000+
- Berbania: 120,000
- Reinachos: 500,000
- Delphia: 50,000
- Sawintir: 45,000
Locomotion: Terrestrial
Habitat: Polar; tundra; taiga; montane grasslands and shrublands; temperate coniferous forests; temperate broadleaf and mixed forests; temperate deciduous forests, temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands; subtropical coniferous forests; subtropical moist broadleaf forests; subtropical dry broadleaf forests; subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands; salt plains; limestone forest; tropical coniferous forests; tropical moist broadleaf forests; tropical dry broadleaf forests; tropical grasslands; tropical savannas and shrublands; Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub; mushroom forests; deserts and xeric shrublands; badlands; flooded grasslands and savannas; swamp; riparian; wetland; mangrove forest; bamboo forest; air-breathing coral reefs; radiated vale; lava trench; ghost town; ruined skyscraper
Earth:
- Extant (resident): Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia; Iran; Iraq; Pakistan; Russia; Turkey; Turkmenistan
- Extinct: Jordan; Lebanon; Syria
- Presence Uncertain: Afghanistan
Berbania/Hirawhassa: worldwide
Reinachos/Ityosel: worldwide
Delphia/Thatrollwa: worldwide
Sawintir: worldwide

Tamed

Wild goats were feeding with grasses or wheat.

Lore

Before Revolution - 10000 BC

10,000 BC before present-day evidence proves the first domesticated goat in Ganj Dareh in Iran. The most recent genetic analysis confirms the archaeological evidence that the wild bezoar ibex of the Zagros Mountains is the likely original ancestor of probably all domestic goats today. Goat remains have been found at archaeological sites in Jericho, Choga Mami, Djeitun, and Çayönü, dating the domestication of goats in Western Asia between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago.