The Himalayan serow ( Capricornis sumatraensis thar), also known as the thar ( , ),
Taxonomy
In 1831, Brian Houghton Hodgson first described a goat-like animal with short annulated horns occurring in montane regions between the
Sutlej and
under the name "Bubaline Antelope".
As "Bubaline" was preoccupied, he gave it the
scientific name Antelope thar a few months later.
When
William Ogilby described the genus
Capricornis in 1838, he determined the Himalayan serow as
type species of this genus.
Description
The Himalayan serow is mostly blackish, with flanks, hindquarters, and upper legs that are a rusty red; its lower legs are whitish.
Distribution and habitat
The Himalayan serow inhabits hilly forests above an elevation of , but descends to in winter.
It prefers elevations of in the
Himalayas.
Conservation
Capricornis sumatraensis is listed in CITES Appendix I.
Notes
