# Ibex (*Capra ibex*) The Ibex is a wild mountain goat known for its long, curved horns. It is an excellent climber, often seen scaling steep cliffs with ease. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions - **Also known as:** Siberian Ibex ![Ibex](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424578/objects/6168.jpg) ## Appearance The Ibex has a stocky build and a short brownish-grey coat, often with a lighter belly. Males boast impressive, thick, ridged horns that curve backward, sometimes reaching over a meter long. Its distinctive horns and powerful legs make it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Capra ## Interesting facts - A male ibex's magnificent curved horns can weigh more than 15 kilograms, quite a heavy crown! - Ibex eyes have horizontal pupils, giving them a super-wide panoramic view of their mountain home. - Ibex horns grow yearly rings, so you can count them to tell their age, like a tree! - They love licking mineral-rich rocks for salts, sometimes wearing deep grooves into the mountainside. ## Special abilities - **Mountain Climber:** Ibex can scale incredibly steep rock faces using their specially adapted hooves, which gives them amazing grip. - **Horned Protector:** Ibex has massive, ridged horns that help them defend against predators and battle rivals during mating season. - **Keen Lookout:** Ibex has excellent eyesight and balance, which helps them spot distant threats and navigate treacherous mountain paths. - **Cold Resistor:** Ibex can survive harsh, freezing mountain winters thanks to their thick double coat that provides insulation. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-170 cm - **Weight:** 30-100 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-17 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 150-180 days ## Diet & Feeding Ibex are plant-eaters, nibbling on grasses, herbs, and small shrubs found in their mountain homes. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, lichens, mosses, leaves, shrubs, herbs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Golden Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Preys on young or sick ibex. - **Eaten by:** Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Hunts ibex, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Snow Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-leopard) (*Panthera uncia*) — A primary predator in Asian ranges. - **Eats:** Alpine Meadow-grass (*Poa alpina*) — A common food source for ibex. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Horned](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/horned): Characterized by having one or more hard, permanent, pointed projections on the head. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not approach wild ibexes. Admire them from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ibex? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ibex? 120-170 cm ### How much does Ibex weigh? 30-100 kg ### How long does Ibex live? 10-17 years ### How fast can Ibex move? 55 km/h ### What does Ibex eat? Ibex are plant-eaters, nibbling on grasses, herbs, and small shrubs found in their mountain homes. ### Where is Ibex usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Ibex hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Ibex: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ibex)