Gaur
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| Bos gaurus H. Smith, 1827 |
- This article is about the animal Gaur, also known as Mithun. For the actor by the same name, click here.
The Gaur (Bos gaurus, previously Bibos gauris) is a large, dark-coated ox of the hilly areas of India and Southeast Asia, which may be found wild or domesticated. It is also called the seladang or "Indian bison". The wild group and the domesticated group are sometimes considered separate species, with the wild gaur called Bibos gauris or Bos gaurus, and the domesticated gayal, mithan or mithun called Bos frontalis.
Gaur are said to look like the front of a water buffalo with the back of a domestic cow. They stand 1.7-2.2 m tall and weigh 700-1000 kg. In the wild they live in small herds of up to 40 individuals and graze on grasses. They fall prey to tigers and leopards.
Previously thought to be closer to bison, genetic analysis has found that they are closer to cattle with which they can produce fertile hybrids. They are thought to be most closely related to banteng and said to produce fertile hybrids.
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General Characteristics
Body Length: 250-330 cm / 8.3-11 ft. Shoulder Height: 170-220 cm / 5.6-7.2 ft. Tail Length: 70-100 cm / 28-40 in. Weight: 700-1000 kg / 1540-2200 lb. The dark brown coat is short and dense, while the lower legs are white to tan in colour. There is a dewlap under the chin which extends between the front legs. There is a shoulder hump which is especially pronounced in adult males. The horns are found in both sexes, and grow from the sides of the head, curving upwards. Yellow at the base and turning black at the tips, they grow to a length of 80 cm / 32 inches. A bulging grey-tan ridge connects the horns on the forehead.
Ontogeny and Reproduction
Gestation Period: 275 days. Young per Birth: 1, rarely 2 Weaning: 7-9 months. Sexual Maturity: In the 2nd and 3rd year. Life span: About 30 years. Breeding takes place throughout the year, though there is a peak between December and June.
Ecology and Behavior
Where gaurs have not been disturbed, they are basically diurnal, being most active in the morning and late afternoon and resting during the hottest time of the day. However, where populations have been molested by human populations, the gaur has become largely nocturnal, rarely seen in the open after 8:00 in the morning. During the dry season, herds congregate and remain in small areas, dispersing into the hills with the arrival of the monsoon. While gaurs are dependent on water for drinking, they do not seem to bathe or wallow. When alarmed, gaurs crash into the jungle at a surprising speed. Gaurs live in herds led by a single adult male. During the peak of the breeding season, unattached males wander widely in search of receptive females. No serious fighting has been recorded between males, with size being the major factor in determining dominance. Males make a mating call of clear, resonant tones which may carry for more than 1.6 kilometers. Gaurs have also been known to make a whistling snort as an alarm call, and a low, cow-like moo. The average population density is about 0.6 animals per square kilometer, with herds having home ranges of around 80 square kilometers. Family group: Small mixed herds of 2-40 individuals. Adult males may be solitary. Diet: Grasses, shoots and fruit. Main Predators: Tiger, leopard.
Distribution
Tropical woodlands in India, Indochina, and the Malay Peninsula. Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia), Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Viet Nam (IUCN, 2002).
Subspecies
- Bos gaurus laosiensis (Myanmar to China)
- Bos gaurus gaurus (India, Nepal) also called "Indian bison"
- Bos gaurus readei
- Bos gaurus hubbacki(Thailand, Malaysia)
- Bos gaurus frontalis, domestic gaur, probably a gaur-cattle hybrid breed
