Topic > The extinction of the Pyrenean ibex

The Pyrenean ibex was a wild goat that lived in the mountainous areas of Europe, north-central Asia and northern Africa. According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, there are five species of ibex (Bradford, 2014). These species were one of two subspecies of Spanish ibex that became extinct. The scientific name of the Pyrenean ibex is Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica. Male and female ibex are distinguished by fur color and horn differences. Males were greyish-brown with black spots on the forelimbs in summer and dull gray with faded spots in winter. On the other hand, the female ibex had brown fur color. The Pyrenean ibex had fur that grew longer and thicker in the colder winter months. In the summer it was shorter and less thick. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The male ibex had huge, thick horns, which curved outwards and backwards. Females had short, circular horns. Horns were very important for ibexes because they used them for sexual selection and territory defense. The ibex measured 1 to 5.5 feet from hooves to withers (Bradford, 2014). They weighed 65 to 265 pounds. Ibex were related to antelope, buffalo, bison, bison, cattle, goats, and sheep. Ibexes had a fair population on the Iberian Peninsula. They have been found most commonly in the Cantabrian Mountains located in Spain, the Pyrenees and southern France (Bove, 2017). They lived on rocky slopes and cliffs and were known to be very fast and could jump more than 6 feet without running. This would allow them to climb mountains effortlessly. Their habitats were also known as Boreal Biomes. Pyrenean ibexes were herbivores and their meals included shrubs, bushes and grasses. Since vegetation is available, species live there easily. Out of fear of the predators around, the ibex built their homes on the cliffs to be safe. The Pyrenean ibex was commonly eaten by wolves, foxes, snow leopards, lynxes and bears. They lived in groups called herds, and the herds were segregated by sex. The males had a separate herd called the bachelor herd, while the female and her offspring had a separate herd consisting of 10 to 20 members (Bradford, 2014). They met only during the breeding season. The male ibex used scent to communicate with his mate during the breeding season. The ibex breeding season is known as the rut. Pyrenean ibex have been hunted by humans for thousands of years. People hunted them for their meat to eat and for their fur to use as clothing. Humans began domesticating wild goats about 8,000 years ago in southwest Asia and the Middle East. Ibex were also hunted for trophies and medicinal purposes. Researchers don't know exactly why the Pyrenean ibex became extinct, but they hypothesize that it became extinct due to hunting, disease, overpopulation, and loss of food and habitat (Bove, 2017). These factors led the species to go from 50,000 animals to fewer than 100 in the 20th century. In 2000, scientists were able to collect skin cells from one last naturally born Pyrenean ibex. Her name was Celia and she was 13 years old when she died trapped under a fallen tree. They collected skin cells from the ibex's ear so they could clone the animal (Connor, 2009). Please note: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document now come on 2000.