| Himalayan goral | |
|---|---|
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| Male and female Himalayan gorals inPangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary,India | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Genus: | Naemorhedus |
| Species: | N. goral[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Naemorhedus goral[1] (Hardwicke, 1825) | |
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| Range map | |
TheHimalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) orgray goral is abovidspecies native to theHimalayas. It is listed asNear Threatened on theIUCN Red List because the population is thought to be declining significantly due tohabitat loss and hunting for meat.[2]
The Himalayan goral is 95 to 130 cm (37 to 51 in) in length and weighs 35–42 kg (77–93 lb). It has a gray or gray-brown coat with tan legs, lighter patches on its throat, and a single dark stripe along its spine. Males have short manes on their necks. Both males and females have backward-curving horns which can grow up to 18 cm (7.1 in) in length.In addition to certain peculiarities in the form of theskull, gorals are chiefly distinguished from the closely relatedserows in that they do not possesspreorbital glands below theireyes, nor corresponding depressions in their skulls.[citation needed]
The Himalayan goral occurs in the Himalayas fromPakistan,Nepal,Bhutan, southernTibet, and the states ofSikkim andArunachal Pradesh in India to possibly westernMyanmar. It most commonly occurs from 900 to 2,750 m (2,950 to 9,020 ft) above sea level, but has been recorded inPakistan at elevations of 1,000 to 4,000 m (3,300 to 13,100 ft). Approximately 370–1017 Himalayan goral were present in Pakistan As of 2004[update], occurring in seven isolated populations.[3] It is most likely absent from thePunjab Province of Pakistan.[2]
Himalayan goral grouphome range size is typically around 40 ha (0.40 km2), with males occupying marked territories of 22–25 ha (0.22–0.25 km2) during the mating season.[2]Himalayan goral often form small bands of four to twelve individuals, although they are also known to pair off or, especially in the case of older males, be solitary. The animal iscrepuscular, being most active in the early morning and late evening. After a morning meal, it often drinks and then rests on a rock ledge through the day. It feeds on leaves and associated softer parts of plants, mainly grasses.[4]The Himalayan goral is very agile and can run quickly. Due to its coloration it is very well camouflaged, so that it is extremely difficult to sight it, especially since it spends much of the day lying still. However, it is hunted by various predators, notably theHimalayan wolf.[5]
Himalayan goral can live for 14 or 15 years. The female gives birth after a gestation period of 170–218 days, usually to a single offspring. The young are weaned at 7 or 8 months of age and reach sexual maturity at around 3 years.[citation needed]
During the Pleistocene, the Himalayan goral's range stretched intomainland Southeast Asia;fossil remains from the site of Tham Kra Duk in Thailand possess highδ18O values, likely reflectinggrazing in open habitats.[6]
Naemorhedus goral is listed inCITES Appendix I.[2]
