Arabian tahr
The Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) is a species of tahr native to eastern Arabia. Until recently, it was placed in the genus Hemitragus, but genetic evidence supports its removal to a separate monotypic genus.
| Arabian tahr | |
|---|---|
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| Stuffed tahr at the Natural History Museum of the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture in Al-Khuwair, Muscat, Oman | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Genus: | Arabitragus Ropiquet & Hassanin, 2005 |
| Species: | A. jayakari |
| Binomial name | |
| Arabitragus jayakari (Thomas, 1894) | |
 | |
| Distribution of the tahr in the region of Al Hajar Mountains of Oman and the UAE in Eastern Arabia | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Hemitragus jayakari | |
The Arabian tahr is the smallest species of tahr. The animal is of stocky build with backward-arching horns in both sexes. Males are much more robust than females. Their coats consist of a long, reddish-brown hair, with a dark stripe running down the back. Males possess the most impressive manes which extend right down the back and grow longer, based on the age. In the oldest males the muzzle darkens to black and the eye stripes also darken. As with most mountain goats and sheep, they have rubber-like hooves to provide balance and traction on the steep, rocky slopes.
Habitat and range
The Arabian tahr lives on steep rocky slopes of Al Hajar Mountains in the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, at altitudes up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level. It is also found in the area of Jebel Hafeet.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and etymology
The species was first described from specimens obtained by Dr. A.S.G. Jayakar from Jebel Taw and originally given the name Hemitragus jayakari.[6] It was separated into the newly created genus Arabitragus on the basis of a study on the molecular phylogeny of the group in 2005.[7]
The genus name Arabitragus is derived from the Greek words aravikós meaning "Arabian" and trágos meaning "goat".[8][9]
Biology
Unlike other species of tahr, the Arabian tahr is solitary or lives in small groups consisting of a female and a kid, or a male. Instead of forming herds during seasonal ruts, reproduction occurs in small, dispersed family units. Births have been reported as occurring throughout the year, and gestation lasts from 140–145 days.
Diet and predation
These animals are usually browsers, feeding on grasses, shrubs, leaves, and fruits of most trees. They are highly dependent on water and need to drink every two to three days during summer. They descend from their point of elevation to drink from river courses known as wadis, and travel to new areas when water dries up.
The goat was likely preyed upon by the Arabian leopard.[10]
Threats
The Arabian tahr is endangered due to intense overgrazing, poaching, and habitat destruction.[10] In Oman, a recent increase of human migration to urban areas has resulted in domestic goats becoming feral and foraging in places that were once strictly the tahr's home. Habitat degradation is also another major threat, due to construction of roads, buildings, and mineral extraction. Also, poaching often occurs when the animals descend down from the mountains for water.
Conservation
In 1973, efforts were planned to protect the Arabian tahr, and in 1975, it was granted in the Hajar Mountains. In 1980, a captive-breeding program was set up at the Omani Mammal Breeding Center to reintroduce captive-bred individuals back into the wild. Three institutions are now involved, one in Oman and two in the United Arab Emirates, but many people seem to be unaware about the tahr's grave situations, leading to other conservation initiatives to focus on the publicity and educational campaigns to raise the animals' profile. In April 2009, the Wadi Wurayah preserve in the Emirate of Fujairah was set aside by royal decree in the Emirates for the protection of the tahr.[4][11] Another place in the UAE, Sir Bani Yas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, was also set up for its conservation.[4][12]
References
- Ross, S.; Al-Rawahi, H.; Al-Jahdhami, M.H.; Spalton, J.A.; Mallon, D.; Al-Shukali, A.S.; Al-Rasbi, A.; Al-Fazari, W.; Chreiki, M.K. (2019). "Arabitragus jayakari". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T9918A128770408. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T9918A128770408.en.
- WAM (2017-09-13). "EAD raises awareness on Abu Dhabi's natural heritage at ADIHEX 2017". The Gulf Today. Archived from the original on 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- De Leon, J. P. (2014-05-26). "100th Arabian tahr, and twin tahrs welcomed in Al Ain". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
- "Newborn Arabian tahr discovered on Jebel Hafeet". The National. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. The Zoological Society of London. 1894. p. 534.
- Thomas, Oldfield (1894). "On some specimens of mammals from Oman, S.E.Arabia": 448–455. Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - Ropiquet, A. & Hassanin, A. 2005. Molecular evidence for the polyphyly of the genus Hemitragus (Mammalia, Bovidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36(1):154-168
- Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). "ραβία". A Greek–English Lexicon (Ninth ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). "τράγος". A Greek–English Lexicon (Ninth ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Edmonds, J.-A.; Budd, K. J.; Al Midfa, A. & Gross, C. (2006). "Status of the Arabian Leopard in United Arab Emirates" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 1): 33–39.
- "Arabian Tahr gets royal protection". WWF. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
- "Endangered Arabian tahr born on Sir Bani Yas Island". Gulf News. 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
External links
