Spanish Ibex

About the Spanish Ibex

The Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), also known as the Spanish ibex, Spanish wild goat and Iberian wild goat, is a species of ibex endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Four subspecies have been described; two are now extinct. The Portuguese ibex became extinct in 1892, and the Pyrenean ibex became extinct in 2000 and in 2003. A project to clone the Pyrenean ibex resulted in one clone being born alive in July 2003, making it the first taxon to become "un-extinct", although the clone died a few minutes after birth due to physical defects in its left lung.

Southeastern Iberian ibex or Beceite ibex – Capra pyrenaica hispanica Schimper, 1848 Western Iberian ibex or Gredos ibex – C. p. victoriae Cabrera, 1911 Portuguese ibex – C. p. lusitanica Schlegel, 1872 (extinct) Pyrenean ibex – C. p. pyrenaica Schinz, 1838 (extinct)

The Iberian ibex is characterized by its large and flexible hooves and short legs. These physical adaptations allow it to run and leap on bare, rocky, rough and steep slopes out of reach of potential predators. The horns of the Iberian ibex curve out and up and then back, inward, and, depending on subspecies, either up again or down. The... Wikipedia →