Distinctive hook-shaped horns distinguish chamois.
Remarkably agile, it can gallop on uneven, rocky ground and jump up to six feet (2 m) high.
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Its nimbleness and acrobatics give it access to hard-to-reach areas, easing competition for the grasses, herbs, and flowers it prefers to eat.
In winter when food is scarce, it dines on pine shoots, lichens, and mosses.
Males live a solitary life; they are territorial and fight for a harem at mating time.
Females and young usually form herds of five to thirty members.
A posted sentinel warns the others of danger by stamping its feet and emitting a high-pitched whistle through its nose.
Animal Facts
Name: Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)
Family: Bovidae (Cattle and Relatives)
Range: Europe and western Asia
Habitat: Alpine rocky areas and meadows at 3,300 to 11,500 feet (1,000 to 3,500 m)
Diet: Herbs, flowers, mosses, lichens and shoots
Head and Body Length: 35 to 51 inches (90 to 130 cm)
Tail Length: 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm)
Shoulder Height: 28 to 31.5 inches (70 to 80 cm)
Weight: 48 to 136 pounds (22 to 62 kg)
Life Cycle: Mating October to November; gestation 170 to 180 days, one (rarely two or three) kids born
Description: Tawny brown fur in summer; chocolate brown in winter; slender, black horns that curve at the tips; white patch on throat; flexible hoof pads
Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN
Related Content: Corwin's Carnival — Massive Mammals
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