Ibex

Ibex

An ibex, commonly called by its French name: bouquetin also called Steinbock in German [ [http://dict.leo.org/frde?lp=frde&lang=de&searchLoc=0&cmpType=relaxed&sectHdr=on&spellToler=on&search=bouquetin&relink=on : Translation] ] , an individual of any of several species of wild mountain goats (genus "Capra"), distinguished by the male's large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia, North Africa, and East Africa. The name "ibex" comes from Latin, borrowed from Iberian or Aquitanian, akin to Old Spanish "bezerro" "bull", modern Spanish "becerro" "yearling". Ranging in height from 27 to 43 inches and weighing 200 to 270 pounds (90 to 120 kg), the ibex can live 20 years. (The two species of wild goats that are usually not called ibex are the markhor and the wild goat.)

Male ibex are commonly larger and heavier than females, and their most noticeable difference is the large size of their horns. Females grow a pair of smaller, thinner horns which develop considerably more slowly than the males'. The ibex's horns appear at sexual maturity and continue to grow through the rest of its life. Species of wild goats that are called ibex are:

* The Alpine Ibex ("Capra ibex") is found in the European Alps. Alpine ibex are found in Bulgaria, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Slovenia, and have been introduced to ranches in the United States, Canada, and Argentina.

* The Nubian ibex ("Capra nubiana") occurs in the Middle East. Occurs in the Red Sea hills of Sudan as well as the highlands in Egypt.

* The Walia or Ethiopian ibex ("Capra walie") is found in the Semien Mountains of the Ethiopian Highlands, where it is critically endangered. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of Alpine Ibex. The Ibex is also a national emblem of the great ancient Axum empire.

* The Spanish or Iberian ibex ("Capra pyrenaica") is now restricted to the Pyrenees and other mountainous enclaves in Spain. There are approximately 50,000 Spanish ibex on the Iberian Peninsula.

* The Asiatic or Siberian ibex ("Capra sibirica") is found in central Asia and southern Siberia.

* The West Caucasian ibex ("Capra caucasica") is found in the western Caucasus.

* The East Caucasian ibex ("Capra caucasica") is found in the eastern Caucasus.

In ancient history

Evidence of the ibex is present in the archaeological record, particularly in the Near East and Mediterranean regions. Excavations from Minoan Crete at Knossos, for example, have yielded specimens from about 1800 BC, including one cylinder seal with an ibex defending himself from a hunting dog. [ [http://letmespeaktothedriver.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes C. Michael Hogan, "Knossos fieldnotes", Modern Antiquarian (2007)] ] From the similar age a gold jewelry ibex image was found at the Akrotiri archaeological site [M. Uda, G. Demortier, I. Nakai, "X-rays for archaeology", 2005, Springer, 308 pagesISBN:1402035802] on Santorini in present day Greece.

An Iron Age capra ibex specimen was recovered at the Aq Kupruk archaeological site in present day Afghanistan, illustrating either domestication or hunting of the ibex by these early peoples. [Pam J. Crabtree, Douglas V. Campana, Kathleen Ryan, "Early Animal Domestication and Its Cultural Context", 1989, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology ISBN:0924171960]

References


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Synonyms:
(Capra ibex)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • IBEX 35 — Stammdaten Staat Spanien Börse Bolsa de Madrid ISIN ES0SI0000005 WKN 969223 Symbol I35 RIC ^I …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • IBEX — (Heb. יָעֵל, ya el; AV, JPS wild goat ), the wild goat Capra ibex nubiana, a wild animal permitted for food. Only the ibex and the gazelle have survived from over ten species of cloven hoofed ruminants which inhabited Ereẓ Israel in former times …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • ibex — ⇒IBEX, subst. masc. ZOOL. Synon. sc. de bouquetin. Ibex des Alpes, ibex espagnol. Timopht s élança avec la rapidité de l ibex pour exécuter les ordres du pharaon (GAUTIER, Rom. momie, 1858, p. 282). Prononc. : [ ]. Étymol. et Hist. 1561 (A.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Ibex — puede referirse a: IBEX 35, índice bursátil español. Capra ibex, nombre científico del íbice o cabra salvaje de los Alpes. Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), sonda espacial de la NASA. Intrepid Ibex, el nombre clave de la versión 8.10 de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • IBEX 35 — Дата начала расчёта 14 января 1992 года …   Википедия

  • ibex — ÍBEX, ibecşi, s.m. Varietate de capră sălbatică cu coarne mari şi curbate (Capra ibex). – Din lat. [Capra] ibex, numele ştiinţific al animalului. Trimis de gall, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  ibex s. m., pl. ibecşi Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004.… …   Dicționar Român

  • IBEX-35 — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ibex. L Ibex 35 est le principal indice boursier de la Bourse de Madrid élaboré par Bolsas y Mercados Españoles. Il est composé de 35 entreprises dont le poids est pondéré par leur capitalisation boursière.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ibex — I bex ([imac] b[e^]ks), n.; pl. E. {Ibexes} ([imac] b[e^]ks*[e^]z), L. {Ibices} ([imac]b [i^]*s[=e]z). [L., a kind of goat, the chamois.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of several species of wild goats having very large, recurved horns, transversely ridged in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • IBEX — steht für: IBEX 35, spanischer Aktienindex Interstellar Boundary Explorer, Forschungssatellit Ibex steht für: Capra ibex, der Alpensteinbock oder Gemeine Steinbock eine Rockband, bei der 1969 Freddie Mercury gesungen hat …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ibex — (Steinbock), Untergattung der Gattung Ziege, ausgezeichnet durch knotige Hörner. Dahin gehört der Gemeine Steinbock (Capra Ibex) u. der Kaukasische Steinbock (I. caueasica) …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • ibex — (n.) c.1600, from L. ibex wild goat of the Alps and Apennines, from a pre Latin Alpine language. The German steinbock …   Etymology dictionary

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