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Make a donationIt is a species of the Goat subfamily that naturally inhabits the rocky mountain areas of North Africa. Although rare in its natural habitat, the species has been introduced to North America, southern Europe and elsewhere.
The goat antelope is also known as the long-maned ibex. It reaches 80-100 cm in height at the withers and weighs from 40 to 140 kg. It is sandy brown in color, as its fur darkens with age. It has a slightly lighter belly and a dark stripe along its spine. It has a longer tuft of hair under the chin / which in males can reach the chest / and a loose mane.
The horns of the long-maned ibex have a triangular cross-section and are powerful. They curve out, back and inside. They reach up to 50 cm in length. They are smooth, but transverse striations appear at their base with age.
Geographic spreading
The species naturally inhabits northern Africa: Algeria, Tunisia, northern parts of Chad, Egypt, Libya and northern parts of Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger and Sudan.
Habitat
The goat antelopes prefer dry mountain areas where they eat grass, shrubs and lichens. They are capable of extracting the water completely necessary for their metabolism from the vegetation they eat, but in the presence of a water source, they drink from the water and wallow in it. They are active early in the morning and at dusk, resting during the rest of the day. Very mobile, they can jump over 2 meters.
They adapt well to their habitat, which consists of steep rocky slopes and canyons. When they feel threatened, they always run in a zigzag pattern, jumping off the rocks in order to escape from the attackers. They prefer difficult, rough terrains, as they are much better prepared to move in such conditions than any predator. The goat antelope is extremely nomadic and constantly moves along the rocky ridges.