| Himalayan Goral[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Genus: | Naemorhedus |
| Species: | N. goral |
| Binomial name | |
| Naemorhedus goral (Hardwicke, 1825) |
|
The Himalayan Goral (Naemorhedus goral), also known as the Gray Goral, is a small, rough-haired, cylindrical-horned ruminant native to the Himalayas. In the past, it was also known as Urotragus goral. The IUCN classifies the Himalayan Goral as "Near Threatened".
The Himalayan Goral is typically 95-130 cm (37"-53") in length and weighs 35-42 kg (77-92 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") 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.
The Himalayan Goral is found in the forests of the Himalayas and Hindukush, usually between 1000 and 4000 m in elevation. Groups of animals typically occupy a territory of about 100 acres (0.40 km2). The 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.
The Himalayan Goral often forms small bands of four to twelve individuals, although it is also known to pair off or, especially in the case of older males, be solitary. The animal is crepuscular, 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[3]
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. When threatened, the Himalayan Goral will vocalize with hissing or sneezing sounds.