Iberien Ibex,Cabra Montesa

Description:

The Iberian ibex, Spanish ibex, Spanish wild goat, or Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica) is a species of ibex with four subspecies. Of these, two can still be found on the Iberian Peninsula, but the remaining two are now extinct. The Portuguese subspecies became extinct in 1892 and the Pyrenean subspecies became extinct on January 6, 2000. An ongoing project to clone to the Pyrenean subspecies resulted in one clone being born alive in January 2009. This is the first taxon to become "un-extinct", although the clone died a few minutes after birth due to physical defects in lungs

Habitat:

The Iberian ibex Capra pyrenaica populates the Iberian Peninsula and consisted originally of four subspecies. However with recent extinctions occurring within the last century, only two of the subspecies still exist.[4] These two subspecies of ibexes, the Capra pyrenaica hispanica and the Capra pyrenaica victoriae, can be found along the Spanish Iberian Peninsula and have even migrated and settled into the coast of Portugal. ther are awever good new's :) "The ibex Capra pyrenaica returns to its former Portuguese range -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gisela Moço a1c1, Margarida Guerreiro a2, Ana Filipa Ferreira a2, António Rebelo a3, Armando Loureiro a3, Francisco Petrucci-Fonseca a2 and Jesús Ma Pérez a1 a1 Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Paraje Las Lagunillas, s.n. E-23071 Jaén, Spain a2 Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa - Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal a3 Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês/Instituto da Conservação da Natureza - Quinta das Parretas, Rodovia, 4700 Braga, Portugal Article author query moço g [PubMed][Google Scholar] guerreiro m [PubMed][Google Scholar] ferreira af [PubMed][Google Scholar] rebelo a [PubMed][Google Scholar] loureiro a [PubMed][Google Scholar] petrucci-fonseca f [PubMed][Google Scholar] pérez jm [PubMed][Google Scholar] Abstract The ibex Capra pyrenaica has recently recolonized its former Portuguese range from a contiguous Spanish protected area. The first observations of ibex in Portugal were in Peneda-Gerês National Park in 1998. In 2001 we began a survey to confirm ibex presence in Portuguese territory, and to determine the current status of the species there. There are three ibex nuclei in the general area of the international border, and they are expanding their geographical range with two of the nuclei almost restricted to Portuguese territory. In 2003 the ibex population consisted of a minimum of 75 individuals. Different founder histories have led to distinct age structures in each nucleus, but in general they exhibit the population dynamics typical of a recently reintroduced population with high reproductive potential. Priority conservation actions for this newly established population need to include increased monitoring, and reinforcement of the population with individuals from elsewhere. Effective conservation will require collaboration between staff of both Portuguese and Spanish protected areas and an integrated Spanish-Portuguese conservation plan. (Published Online September 4 2006)" Capra pyrenaica are strong mountainous animals characterized by their large and flexible hooves and short legs. These physical adaptations allow them to be able to run and leap on bare, rocky, rough, and steep slopes.[4] This gives them an advantage over potential predators that possibly cannot reach them because of the terrain. The Iberian ibex also shows remarkable sexual dimorphism, with males being greater in size and weight and also having larger horns as the females.[4] The horns of the ibexes are different among wild caprids as they curve out and up and then back, inward, and, depending on subspecies, either up again or down. The annual horn growth is influenced principally by age but can also be contributed by environmental factors and the growth made in the previous year.[4] Even though the female ibexes are smaller, they have a faster ossification process and typically finish full bone development nearly two years before males

Notes:

spotted in Vila Nova de gaia biological Park