# Sichuan takin (*Budorcas taxicolor tibetana*) The Sichuan takin is a big, furry animal that looks like a mix between a goat and a cow! They live in the mountains and have thick fur to keep them warm in the cold. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Sichuan takin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sichuan_Takin%252C_Lincoln_Park_Zoo%252C_Chicago.jpg&width=800) Photo: Valerie Everett from Indianapolis, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sichuan_Takin%252C_Lincoln_Park_Zoo%252C_Chicago.jpg) ## Appearance The Sichuan takin has a striking, shaggy golden-yellow to cream-colored coat, making it stand out among other takin subspecies. It possesses a large head with a distinctive 'Roman nose', stout legs, and powerful horns that curve upwards and back. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Budorcas ## Interesting facts - A Sichuan takin's strong musky smell helps it recognize family members! - Takin herds can sometimes include over 100 animals, especially in winter! - These big animals love salt, traveling far for natural mineral licks! - They can make a loud 'cough-grunt' sound to warn their herd about danger. ## Special abilities - **Mountain Grip Hooves:** Sichuan takin has strong, cloven hooves with a rough underside that helps them climb steep, rocky mountain slopes safely. - **Weatherproof Coat:** Sichuan takin has a thick, oily, and dense double coat that keeps them warm and dry in cold, wet mountain weather. - **Air Warmer Nose:** Sichuan takin has a large, moose-like nose with special air passages that help them warm cold, thin mountain air before breathing it. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 170-220 cm - **Weight:** 150-350 kg - **Lifespan:** 12-18 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 210-240 days ## Diet & Feeding These mountain dwellers munch on various plants, leaves, and bamboo for energy. - **Primary Foods:** bamboo shoots, leaves, grasses, tree bark, rhododendron, lichens - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Snow leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-leopard) (*Panthera uncia*) — Main predator, especially of young or sick takin. - **Eats:** Red panda bamboo (*Fargesia rufa*) — A common food source in their bamboo forest habitat. ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sichuan takin? 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 Sichuan takin? 170-220 cm ### How much does Sichuan takin weigh? 150-350 kg ### How long does Sichuan takin live? 12-18 years ### How fast can Sichuan takin move? 35 km/h ### What does Sichuan takin eat? These mountain dwellers munch on various plants, leaves, and bamboo for energy. ### Where is Sichuan takin usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Sichuan takin hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Peoria Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peoria-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Potawatomi Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/potawatomi-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Dakota Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dakota-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Red River Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Rosamond Gifford Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosamond-gifford-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [The Wilds](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-wilds) — Ohio, US · Zoo [View all places to see Sichuan takin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sichuan-takin) ## 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: [Sichuan takin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sichuan-takin)