# Takins (*Budorcas*) Takins are large, furry animals that look a bit like a mix between a goat and a cow! They live in the mountains and love to munch on grass and leaves. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Takins](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Budorcas_taxicolor01.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. JoJan assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Budorcas_taxicolor01.jpg) ## Appearance The Takins is a large, sturdy mammal with a shaggy, thick coat that ranges from golden-yellow to reddish-brown. It has a robust, barrel-shaped body, short sturdy legs, and a distinctive large, deep face. Both males and females have unique ridged horns that grow outwards then sweep back. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Budorcas ## Interesting facts - Ancient legends describe takins as a mythical 'Golden Fleece' due to their shimmering coats! - Baby takins are born with darker coats that help them camouflage in shadowy forests. - Takins regularly visit natural salt licks, essential for getting their important minerals. - These huge mountain animals can navigate dense bamboo forests at high altitudes. ## Special abilities - **Scent Messaging:** Takins has special glands on their faces that produce a musky scent, helping them mark territory and communicate with other takins. - **Mountain Grip:** Takins can climb steep, rocky slopes using their specialized cloven hooves that provide excellent traction and balance. - **Extreme Cold Adapt:** Takins has a dense, waterproof coat and thick skin that helps them stay warm and dry in freezing, high-altitude environments. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 160-220 cm - **Weight:** 150-400 kg - **Lifespan:** 12-18 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 200-220 days ## Diet & Feeding Takins are plant-eaters that munch on leaves, bamboo, and shrubs found in their mountain homes. - **Primary Foods:** bamboo, leaves, grasses, shrubs, bark - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Snow Leopard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-leopard) (*Panthera uncia*) — Main predator in their high-altitude habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Dhole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dhole) (*Cuon alpinus*) — Wild dog packs can hunt takins, especially young ones. - **Eaten by:** Asiatic Black Bear (*Ursus thibetanus*) — May prey on takin calves or sick individuals. ## 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. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [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 like takins. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Takins? 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 Takins? 160-220 cm ### How much does Takins weigh? 150-400 kg ### How long does Takins live? 12-18 years ### How fast can Takins move? 25 km/h ### What does Takins eat? Takins are plant-eaters that munch on leaves, bamboo, and shrubs found in their mountain homes. ### Where is Takins usually found? Mountain regions ### How does Takins hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Metro Richmond Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metro-richmond-zoo) — Virginia, US · Zoo - [Tierpark Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Zoo ## 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: [Takins: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/takins)