Budorcas tibetana (Milne-Edwards, 1874)
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6512484 |
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6636918 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F50713-9929-FF93-0676-F889FEA2FB15 |
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Conny |
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scientific name |
Budorcas tibetana |
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Sichuan Takin
French: Takin du Sichuan / German: Sichuan-Takin / Spanish: Takin de Sichuan
Taxonomy. Budorcas taxicola [sic] tibetana Milne-Edwards, 1874 ,
Moupin, Sichuan, China.
Usually classified as a subspecies of B. taxicolor . The four takin species are differentiated on the basis of body color and mtDNA analysis of Chinese populations. Based on a phylogentic study, takins are related to caprines and in particular to Ammotragus and Ovis . Monotypic.
Distribution. C China (W Sichuan, S Gansu). View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body ¢.170-220 cm,tail ¢.10-22 cm, shoulder height c.107-140 cm; weight ¢.150-350 kg. Horn basal girth 20-32 cm (males), horn tip-to-tip spread 58-91 cm (males). Males are significantly larger than females. Takins have large, bovine-like bodies, a shaggy coat including long hair on the jaws and chin, stout legs, prominent dew claws, and a greater height at the shoulder than hip. Horns grow slightly upward, then turn upward and backward with the horn tips upward. Older Sichuan Takin males are dark golden brown to dark brown on the lower flanks, hindquarters, and lower legs, and have paler hair on the neck and shoulders that forms a distinct saddle. Adults have a black tail and distinct muzzle that contrasts with the paler color of the face.
Habitat. Sichuan Takins usually inhabit elevations at 1500-3000 m. In the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, there are four principal vegetation zones, ranging from timberline above 3200-3300 m to mixed coniferous and broadleafed deciduous forest at 1700-2100 m; rhodendron and bamboos form an understory component at lower elevations. Vegetation communities below 2200 m have been modified by human activity.
Food and Feeding. Sichuan Takins are known to feed on 130 plant species, including 70 shrub and tree species. They are primarily browsers, but forbs are an important forage component in spring. They frequent salt licks. Their tall bodies allow them to reach browse unavailable to smaller ungulates and their broad, flexible lips enable efficient and selective foraging. Takins may push over or break smaller trees to obtain browse. They also rear up on their hindlegs to reach browse up to 2: 5 m above the ground.
Breeding. Takins attain reproductive maturity at c.3-5 years of age. Older males probably do most of the mating. Mating probably occurs in August-September and parturition is in March and April after a gestation period of ¢.210 days. Only singleton births have been recorded.
Activity patterns. Usually most active in early morning and late afternoon, but in winter they may feed intermittently throughout the day.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. Takins undertake seasonal movements from alpine meadows in summer to lower-elevation forested areas in winter. One male was observed to cover about 6 km when foraging along a valley in the autumn and winter. Based on 51 herds observed in the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, mean herd size was 39-6 animals with most herds composed of 10-45 animals. Estimated density of takins was 1:2-1-3 ind/km?®. In another study of group sizes in the same area, 85-7% of the males were solitary, 8:3% were groups of two males, and 4.2% consisted of three males. Most mixed herds, made up of females, young, subadults, and adult males, consisted of 10-35 individuals; one herd of 93-112 takins was recorded. Larger herds form in May after parturition and split into smaller groups by autumn. Young and yearlings each comprised 20% of the population in May and November, indicating low mortality in these age groups. The sex ratio was 50 males:100 females. Leopards (Panthera pardus) and Dholes (Cuon alpinus ) feed on takins, but these predators are scarce.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II (under B. taxicolor ). Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List (under B. taxicolor ). The total population is estimated to be several thousand, with uncertainty about actual numbers. Negative impacts include poaching, human disturbance from tourism, and habitat encroachment. Habitat loss is a continuing concern. Ecological studies and monitoring of populations are lacking.
Bibliography. Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1966), Ge Taoan et al. (1989), Groves & Grubb (2011), Grubb (2005), Li Ming, Meng Shijie et al. (2003), Li Ming, Wei Fuwen et al. (2003), MacKinnon (2008), Neas & Hoffmann (1987), Schaller (1977), Schaller et al. (1986), Song Yanling et al. (2008), Wang Sung et al. (1997), Wu Chunhua et al. (2010).
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