Capricornis maritimus, Heude, 1888

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 : 703-704

223.

Indochinese Serow

Capricornis maritimus

French: Serow d'Indochine / German: Indochina-Serau / Spanish: Sirao de Indochina

Taxonomy. Capricornis maritimus Heude, 1888 ,

Tonkin ( Vietnam).

Previously classified as C. sumatraensis maritimus or C. milneedwardsi maritimus . Monotypic.

Distribution. From about 26° N in N Myanmar and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to Kra Isthmus.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 140-155 cm, tail 11-16 cm, shoulder height 85-94 cm; weight 85-140 kg. The Indochinese Serow is black or dark brown, but it appears gray or brindled because of white hair bases. It has a dark mid-dorsal stripe and a mane that is often predominantly white because of mixed black and white or pale yellow-buff hairs. Throat white or golden brown, sometimes forming a large patch, and with white lips and a white moustache mark. The upper half of the legs arejet black and the lower half are reddish tan or creamy.

Habitat. The Indochinese Serow occurs in rugged limestone mountains and cliffs. In Vietnam, it is usually found above 1500 m in steep montane scrub, evergreen hill forests, and grassland slopes, but it also occurs in lowland forest.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but in general, serows are browsers that consume shoots, leaves, and perhaps some grass on occasion.

Breeding. Gestation period probably 210 days; twins are rare.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but usually serows are crepuscular, with most activity at dawn and at dusk.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but other serows can be found living alone or in small groups.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix I (under C. milneedwardsii ). Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List (under C. milneedwardsii ). Status of populations is unknown but declining. The Indochinese Serow is extensively hunted for meat, bones, and live specimens and is relegated to small, fragmented populations.

Bibliography. Duc (1997), Duckworth etal. (2008), Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1966), Francis (2008), Groves & Grubb (1985, 2011), Grubb (2005), Lekagul & McNeely (1988), Lovari (1997), MacKinnon (2008), Salter & Phanthavong (1997), Salter & Shackleton (1997), Sarun (1997).

Figures

220. Sumatran Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis), 221. Himalayan Serow (Capricornis thar), 222. White-maned Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsi), 223. Indochinese Serow (Capricornis maritimus), 224. Burmese Red Serow (Capricornis rubidus), 225. Japanese Serow (Capricornis crispus), 226. Formosan Serow (Capricornis swinhoei), 227. Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)

Distribution. From about 26° N in N Myanmar and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam through Myanmar , Thailand , Cambodia , Laos , and Vietnam to Kra Isthmus.