[click Mephala]

The Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a species of antelope native to open alpine and steppe habitats of the Tibetan Plateau. Initially members of Antilopinae, they are currently placed in their own subfamily, Pantholopinae, based on both morphological and molecular data, though this has been disputed with naysayers placing them in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. One of their most distinguishing characteristics is their coat, with long guard hairs and a silky undercoat. The guard hairs are particularly notable as they have several unique structural features. Their fur is thus highly prized and is used to create a luxurious wool known as shahtoosh. Though this wool can be obtained without killing the animal, as is done with sheep, poachers continue to kill them which has led to their endangerment. 75,000 exist today, a steep drop from over a million in 1950. Fortunately, microscopic analysis of wool seized from poachers makes it easy to land convictions thanks to those unique guard hairs. Another interesting characteristic is that of their long, slender horns, the tips of which curve forward. These horns do not grow continuously as found in Caprinae. Tibetan antelope feed chiefly on forbs, sedges, and grasses, and will dig through the winter snow in search for food. Typically, they graze in small groups of around 20, but these groups swell into the hundreds when migrating between seasonal pastureland. Males compete for mates in November and December, forming harems of usually around 1-4, but up to 12. Females carry young for around six months, giving birth June or July. Calves reach sexual maturity between the second and third year. Female calves will remain with their mothers until they have their own calf, but males will become independent at about a year of age when they begin growing horns. Horn length is the determining factor for social status among males.

The Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a species of antelope native to open alpine and steppe habitats of the Tibetan Plateau. Initially members of Antilopinae, they are currently placed in their own subfamily, Pantholopinae, based on both morphological and molecular data, though this has been disputed with naysayers placing them in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. One of their most distinguishing characteristics is their coat, with long guard hairs and a silky undercoat. The guard hairs are particularly notable as they have several unique structural features. Their fur is thus highly prized and is used to create a luxurious wool known as shahtoosh. Though this wool can be obtained without killing the animal, as is done with sheep, poachers continue to kill them which has led to their endangerment. 75,000 exist today, a steep drop from over a million in 1950. Fortunately, microscopic analysis of wool seized from poachers makes it easy to land convictions thanks to those unique guard hairs.

Another interesting characteristic is that of their long, slender horns, the tips of which curve forward. These horns do not grow continuously as found in Caprinae.

Tibetan antelope feed chiefly on forbs, sedges, and grasses, and will dig through the winter snow in search for food. Typically, they graze in small groups of around 20, but these groups swell into the hundreds when migrating between seasonal pastureland. Males compete for mates in November and December, forming harems of usually around 1-4, but up to 12. Females carry young for around six months, giving birth June or July. Calves reach sexual maturity between the second and third year. Female calves will remain with their mothers until they have their own calf, but males will become independent at about a year of age when they begin growing horns. Horn length is the determining factor for social status among males.

8 months ago

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