Mainland serow
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SPECIES
Capricornis sumatraensis

The mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis ) is a serow species native to the Himalayas, Southeast Asia and China.

Appearance

The mainland serow possesses guard hairs on its coat that are bristly or coarse and cover the layer of fur closest to its skin to varying degrees. The animal has a mane that runs from the horns to the middle of the dorsal aspect of the animal between the scapulae covering the skin. The horns are only characteristic of the males and are light-colored, approximately six inches in length, and curve slightly towards the animal's back. The mainland serow is quite large and has been known to grow to be six feet long and three feet high at the shoulder, and an adult typically weighs over 150 kg.

Distribution

Geography

The Himalayan serow inhabits hilly forests above an elevation of 300 m (980 ft), but descends to 100 m (330 ft) in winter. It prefers elevations of 2,500–3,500 m (8,200–11,500 ft) in the Himalayas.

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The mainland serow is found in central and southern China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and in Indonesian Islands of Sumatra. Its distribution follows forested mountain ranges.

The mainland serow inhabits steep, rugged hills up to an elevation of 4,500 m (14,800 ft). It prefers rocky terrain but is also found in forests and flat areas. It is able to swim to small offshore islands. This species has a moderate level of tolerance to human disturbance, and could persist well in habitat fragments and secondary forests, though avoiding farmlands.

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Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

The mainland serow is territorial and lives alone or in small groups. It usually stays in a small area of only a few square miles where it grazes on grass, shoots and leaves from along beaten paths. It marks its territory with droppings and markings. It is most active at dawn and dusk, and spends the rest of the day in thick vegetation.

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The mainland serow gives birth to a single young usually in September or October. The gestation period is about eight months.

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Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

PREGNANCY DURATION
7 months
BABY CARRYING
1

Population

Conservation

The mainland serow is protected under CITES Appendix I.

References

1. Mainland serow Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainland_serow
2. Mainland serow on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162916735/162916910

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