Japanese Serow
Capricornis crispus
WILD STATUS
Least Threatened.
DISTRIBUTION
Honshu, Shikoku Island and Kyushu in Japan.
SIZE
Length: .8 to 1.m m (2.6 to 6 ft)
Height at shoulder: 50 to 94 cm (1.6 to 3.1 ft)
Weight: 25 to 140 kilograms (55 to 308 lbs).
HABITAT
Steep, wooded hillsides in subalpine forest from 1,000-8,000 feet above sea level.
REPRODUCTION
One and occasionally two young born after a gestation of 200-230 days. Average birth weight is approximately 3.5 kg. The young reached sexual maturity by 3 years. Their life span is up to 20 years.
DIET
Japanese Serow are grazers existing on a herbivore diet of leaves, grasses and twigs. In the wild, they feed primarily at dawn and dusk.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Japanese Serow are a bovid subfamily of goat antelopes known as Caprinae.
- They are the most primitive living Caprinae. Their fossils date back as far as 2 million years.
- They are herbivores and ruminants, and have teeth and tongues which are specially modified to grind vegetation for digestion.
- They are usually solitary but can sometimes be found in pairs or small family groups.
- Both sexes mark their territory by rubbing a vinegar scented secretion from their preorbital glands (in front of their eyes) onto branches and rocks.
- While slower moving than goats, they are sure-footed and very adept at travelling along steep rocky slopes and well-established mountain trails.
- Japanese Serow have acute hearing, vision and sense of smell.
- They are also adept swimmers.
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
To download the information from this page and also get a full page photo of the Japanese Serow click here for a PDF.
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Home