Mountain goat

From Freepedia

"Mountain Goats" redirects here. For the band, see The Mountain Goats.

Rocky Mountain Goat
Image:Mountain-Goat.jpeg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Artiodactyla
Family:Bovidae
Genus:Oreamnos
Rafinesque, 1817
Species: O. americanus
Binomial name
Oreamnos americanus
(Blainville, 1816)

The Rocky Mountain goat, (Oreamnos americanus) often called simply mountain goat, is a large hoofed mammal found only in North America, in the Rocky Mountains and Coast Mountains regions, from northern Washington, Idaho and Montana through British Columbia and Alberta into the southern Yukon and southwestern Alaska. Its northernmost range is said to be along the northern fringe of the Chugach Mountains in southcentral Alaska. Although it resembles a goat, it is actually more closely related to the antelope family. It resides at high elevations, protected from the elements by its woolly coat. A billy (male) stands about 1 meter (3'3") at the shoulder and weighs about 90 kg (200 lbs.). It has longer horns and a longer beard than the nanny (female). The animal is a sure-footed climber and often rests on rocky cliffs that predators cannot reach.

References

  • A.W.F. Banfield (1974). The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802021379

See also



Views
Personal tools
In other languages
Similar Links