Gray Goral
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| Nemorhaedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825) |
The Gray Goral, Nemorhaedus goral, is a small, rough-haired, cylindrical-horned ruminant native to the Himalayas. In the past, it was also known as Urotragus goral.
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[edit] Appearance
Gray gorals are typically 95-130 cm (37"-53") in length and weigh 35-42 kg (77-92 lb.). They have gray or gray-brown coats with tan legs, lighter patches on their throats, and single dark strips along their spines. Males have short manes on their necks. Both males and females have backward-curving horns which can grow up to 18 cm (7") in length.
In addition to certain peculiarities in the form of the skull, gorals are chiefly distinguished from the closely-related serows in that they do not possess a gland below the eye, nor a corresponding depression in the skull.
[edit] Life cycle
Gray gorals can live for 14 or 15 years. The female gives birth, usually to a single offspring, after a gestation period of 170-218 days. The young are weaned at 7 or 8 months of age and reach sexual maturity at around age 3.
[edit] Habitat and distribution
The gray goral is found in the forests of the Himalayas, usually between 1000 and 4000 m in elevation. Groups of animals typically occupy a territory of about 100 acres.
The IUCN classifies the gray goral as low risk, near threatened.
[edit] Behavior
Gray gorals 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 animals are crepuscular, being most active in the early morning and late evening. After a morning meal, they often drink and then rest on a rock ledge through the day.
Gray gorals are very agile and can run quickly, and their coloration provides them with camouflage which, especially since they spend much of the day lying still, can make them extremely difficult to see. However, they are hunted by various predators. When threatened, the gray goral will vocalize with hissing or sneezing sounds.
