The Golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) is a threatened subspecies of takin, native to China's. Takins have unique adaptations that help them stay warm and dry during cold Himalayan winters. Their large snout has sinus cavities that heat inhaled air, preventing the loss of body heat during respiration. A thick, secondary coat is grown to keep out the cold of the winters and provide protection from the weather. Another protection is their oily skin. Although golden takins do not have skin glands, their skin secretes an oily, bitter-tasting substance that protects their body from rain in storms and fog.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GraminivoreIn zoology, a graminivore (not to be confused with a granivore) is an herbivorous animal that feeds primarily on grass. Graminivory is a form of g...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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HerdingA herd is a social grouping of certain animals of the same species, either wild or domestic. The form of collective animal behavior associated with...
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Altitudinal MigrantAltitudinal migration is a short-distance animal migration from lower altitudes to higher altitudes and back. Altitudinal migrants change their ele...
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starts withThe Golden takin is characterized by its golden-yellow to creamy-white coat. Its fur is white or off-white, in adult males the fur on the neck and fore-chest are golden. The horns, hooves, and hairless areas of the nostrils are black. The ears are short, narrow, and pointed; the tail is short, triangular, and hairless on the underside. Calves are easily identified by their smaller body size and brown-gray coat, as well as a dark-brown line of longer fur that extends from the base of their head to their tail. The horns of the calf do not appear until it is six months old.
Golden takins live in forests in the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province of China.
Golden takins are social animals. Their herd sizes change with the seasons: during spring and early summer, herds can number up to 300 animals; during cooler months, when food is less plentiful, the large herds break up into smaller groups of 10 to 35 Golden takins as they head up the mountain. Herds are made up of adult females (cows), juveniles (kids), subadults, and young males. Older males (bulls) are generally solitary except during the mating season. Group sizes are highly variable, influenced, among other things, by subadults gradually breaking off contact with their mother in the course of maturing. Each spring, Golden takins gather in large herds and migrate up the mountains to the tree line. As cooler weather approaches and food becomes scarce, they move down to forested valleys. Golden takins use the same routes during movement throughout the mountains despite where they are going. This creates a series of well-worn paths through the dense growths of bamboo and rhododendrons that lead to their natural salt licks and grazing areas. Takins feed in the early morning and late afternoon. When disturbed, they give a 'cough' alarm call and the herd retreats into thick bamboo thickets and lies on the ground for camouflage.
Golden takins are herbivores (graminivores, folivores). They feed on a variety of leaves and grasses, as well as bamboo shoots, and leaves of shrubs and trees. Salt is also an important part of their diets, and groups may stay at a mineral deposit for several days.
The rutting season for Golden takins occurs between early June and the end of July. During this time, bulls meet up with herds for a short time. They bellow loudly to attract cows and notify other bulls of their presence. They may find takin cows by tracking their scent. Takin cows seek out areas of dense vegetation to give birth to a single kid in early spring (twins are rare). Within 3 days of its birth, a takin kid is able to follow its mother through most types of terrain. This is very important if bears or wolves are nearby or if the herd needs to travel a long distance for food. If a young takin is separated from its mother, it lets out a noise to alarm the mother, and the mother answers with a low, guttural call that allows for them to reunite. A takin kid eats solid food and stops nursing at around 2 months old, although it may continue to stay near its mother until after her next calf is born. Horns begin to grow when the takin kid is about 6 months old. Young females become reproductively mature at 4.5 years of age, while males start to breed when they are 5.5 years old.
The main threats to takins include overhunting and the destruction of their natural habitat. Timber harvesting, farming, pasture burning, cane and bamboo cutting, and road construction, all have destroyed large areas of takin habitat. Disturbance from tourism, competition, and diseases from domestic livestock pose another serious threat to these animals.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Golden takin is 5,069 individuals. In general, the takin species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...