Arabitragus jayakari (Thomas, 1894)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2011, Bovidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 2 Hoofed Mammals, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 444-779 : 671-672

174.

Arabian Tahr

Arabitragus jayakari

French: Aoudad d'Oman / German: Arabien-Tahr / Spanish: Tahr de Oman

Taxonomy. Hemitragus jayakari Thomas, 1894 ,

Oman (Jebel Taw, Jebel Akhdar Range).

This species is more closely related to Ammotragus lervia than to the other two tahr species ( Hemitragus jemlahicus and Nilgiritragus hylocrius ). Formerly classified in the genus Hemitragus but now classified in a separate genus, Arabitragus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Endemic to the Hajjar Mts in N Oman and extreme NE United Arab Emirates.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 93-95 cm, tail 8:4-10 cm, shoulder height 61-64 cm, hindfoot 20 cm; weight 38-45 kg (males) and 17-20 kg (females). This is the smallest of the three tahr species. The horns are close at the base, slender, and laterally compressed; they diverge at about 45° and curve backward, narrowing rapidly to the tips, with a relatively smooth anterior keel. The longest recorded male horn measured 32 cm. Female horns are shorter and with less curvature. Male winter coat is shaggy, with ruffs on the legs and tufts at the angle of the jaws. Pelage is tawny-brown with whitish underparts, dark markings on front of lower legs, and a black tail with a terminal tuft. Female pelage is paler. Males lack a beard. The head has two distinct black facial markings, one covering the dorsal aspect of the muzzle and another extending from the lower margin of the eyes toward the angle of the mouth. There is a pale brown narrow stripe between the black facial markings. There is a dark mid-dorsalstripe from the nape to near the base of the tail, and a mid-dorsal tuft of hairs, which is better developed in males than in females. The diploid chromosome numberis 58.

Habitat. They occur in precipitous, boulderstrewn, rugged terrain principally at elevations of 900-1800 m, in stark desert surroundings characterized by low rainfall and poor forage production. They prefer north and north-western-facing slopes and areas less used by domestic livestock.

Food and Feeding. Arabian Tahrs are probably primarily browsers, but feed on a variety offruits, leaves, and grasses.

Breeding. Births in captivity occur throughout the year but in the wild, young are born principally in March-April and the mating season is from September to November. Gestation period is ¢.150 days. Usually give birth to one young; twinning is rare.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but probably both diurnal and nocturnal, depending on the season and temperature.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Probably have daily elevational movements, but detailed studies are lacking. Long-range movements probably occur to find areas with green forage resulting from localized rainfall. Usually live in small groups composed of two adults or two adults and young, but solitary animals are common. Largest groups consisted of 4-11 animals. They do not form spatially segregated all male or all female groups, but this could be a consequence of the low population numbers. They are purported to be territorial but this has not been confirmed.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Because most populations are unmonitored, their status and numbers are unknown. Total population estimates range from less than 2000 to less than 5000. Arabian Tahrs occur in small, scattered populations that are vulnerable to extirpation because of poaching and competition with feral and domestic livestock, primarily domestic goats, resulting in degraded habitats and vulnerability to domestic livestock diseases. An increasing network of graded secondary roads is further fragmenting populations. A captive breeding population has been established in Oman. There is a need to establish a widespread network of protected areas with minimal intrusion of livestock; it should allow for metapopulation processes, including maintaining genetic variability. Populations should be monitored annually and ecological studies initiated. Cooperative tahr conservation and management programs should be developed between the governments of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Bibliography. Daly et al. (1997), Groves & Grubb (2011), Grubb (2005), Harrison (1968a, 1968b), Harrison & Bates (1991), Insall (2008), Munton (1985), Reza Khan & Shackleton (1997), Robinson (2005), Robinson et al. (2004), Ropiquet & Hassanin (2005).

Figures

167. Chiru (Pantholops hodgsonii), 168. Rocky Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus), 169. Mishmi Takin (Budorcas taxicolor), 170. Bhutan Takin (Budorcas whitei), 171. Sichuan Takin (Budorcas tibetana), 172. Golden Takin (Budorcas bedfordi), 173. Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), 174. Arabian Tahr (Avabitragus jayakari), 175. Himalayan Tahr (Hemutragus jemlahicus), 176. Greater Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayawr), 177. Dwarf Blue Sheep (Pseudois schaeferi)

Distribution. Endemic to the Hajjar Mts in N Oman and extreme NE United Arab Emirates .