Bharal
A species of Blue sheep, Also known as Chinese blue sheep, Blue sheep Scientific name : Pseudois nayaur Genus : Blue sheep
Bharal, A species of Blue sheep
Also known as:
Chinese blue sheep, Blue sheep
Scientific name: Pseudois nayaur
Genus: Blue sheep
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Dibendu Nandi , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
This medium-sized caprid is 115 to 165 cm (45 to 65 in) long along the head-and-body, with a tail of 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in). They stand 69 to 91 cm (27 to 36 in) high at the shoulder. Body mass can range from 35 to 75 kg (77 to 165 lb). Males are slightly larger than females. The short, dense coat is slate grey in colour, sometimes with a bluish sheen. The underparts and backs of the legs are white, while the chest and fronts of the legs are black. Separating the grey back and white belly is a charcoal colored stripe. The ears are small, and the bridge of the nose is dark. The horns are found in both sexes and are ridged on the upper surface. In males, they grow upwards, then turn sideways and curve backward, looking somewhat like an upside-down mustache. They may grow to a length of 80 cm (31 in). In females, the horns are much shorter and straighter, growing up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long.
General Info
Lifespan
12-15 years
Diet
Bharal are predominantly herbivores, mainly feeding on grasses, herbs, and lichens. They also consume flowers and leaves, and occasionally turn to moss and even twigs to satiate their dietary needs.
Appearance
The bharal is a medium-sized ungulate with a sturdy build. It sports a thick, woolly fur, mainly white on its underparts and dark brown to black on its upper body, fading towards its turned-back tail. Notably, it has a muscular hump over the shoulders and spiral horns that curve outward, upward, and backward, larger in males. Its young have lighter fur, while females are slightly smaller than males.
Behavior
Bharal is largely solitary, displaying unusual bipedal stance when alarmed. Despite their stout build, bharal are adept climbers and swimmers. They remain innately agile and exhibit a TRAP mechanism for survival in harsh terrain. Although not highly territorial, they may display signs of territoriality through scent marking such as urinating, defecating, or rubbing their preorbital gland.
Photo By Dibendu Nandi , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original