Of the four subspecies of Siberian Ibex recognised by Fedosenko and Blank (2001) the Altai Ibex is the most northerly occurring.

Names

English common name: Altai Ibex

German: Altaischer sibirischer Steinbock [2] – it seems appropriate to derive from English and name it Altai Steinbock

In other languages it seems not common to combine the species name with the region (Altai).

Taxonomy

Capra sibirica sibirica, Pallas 1776

Numerous subspecies have been described for the Asiatic Ibex, resulting in a confusing array of names. There is a need for a taxonomic revision of this species. Four subspecies are tentatively recognised. [5] The Altai Ibex is one of them.

Other putative scientific names and synonyms

Capra sibiricus, Pallas 1776 [1] 

Capra sibirica, Pallas 1776 [5]

Ibex sibiricus, Pallas 1776 [2]

Capra sibirica, Meyer 1794 [1] 

Capra pallasii, Schinz 1838 [1, 2] 

Capra sibirica lydekkeri, Rothschild 1900 [1, 2] 

Capra fasciata, Noak 1902 [1, 2] 

Capra altaica, Noak 1902 [1, 2] 

Capra sibirica lorenzi, Satunin 1905 [1, 2] 

Capra sibirica typica, Lorenz 1906 [1, 2] 

Distribution

Generally speaking this subspecies inhabits the Altai Mountains in Russia and Mongolia [4] and regions northeast of the Altai, almost ranging as far east as Lake Baikal [3]. 

On the side of the Russian Federation, the Altai Ibex occurs along the border with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China in the Russian Altai Range, the Tannu Ola Range further northeast, and still further east in the Eastern and Western Sayan Ranges. The easternmost tip of the distribution range reaches Southern Buryatia [1, 4], located west of the southern tip of Lake Baikal. 

In Mongolia – according to Damm and Franco (2014) –  C. s. sibirica occurs in the High Altai Mountains (Uvs, Bayan-Ölgiy and Hovd aimags), the Khangai Mountains (questionable! – see below), the Khuvsgul Mountains (Khuvsgul aimag), and probably also in the Bulgan and Selenge aimags. [1]

Unfortunately the Khangai or Changai Mountains are mentioned in the text part, but they are not incorporated in the associated map. Instead the distribution map for the the Gobi Ibex on page 279 includes the Khangai Mountains. Furthermore the same authors seem not to comprise the „Gobi Altai“ as part of the Altai Mountains as such. Accordingly ibexes from the Gobi Altai are not considered „Altai Ibex“, but „Gobi Ibex“. Consequently subspecies and areas are mixed up in the public.

„New“ range areas?

Not confirmed by IUCN (2020 assessment) are quoted occurrences of Altai Ibex by Damm and Franco (2014):  in the Kuznetzk Alatau, probably in the southern part. Kuznetzk Alatau is the northern continuation of the Abakan Range in Krasnoryask Krai and Irkutsk Oblast.

The mountains west and north of Dood Tsagaan Lake, Mongolia, close to the Russian border are surrounded by Altai Ibex distribution range beyond the border. It seems obvious that ibex should also occur on the Mongolian side.

Separation from other subspecies

The range of the Altai Ibex is separated from the range of the Central Asian Ibex (C. s. alaiana) by Lake Zaysan and the path of the Irtysh, Burqin and Ulungur Rivers. Altai Ibex occur north of that line. [1]

According to Damm and Franco (2014) the Altai Ibex is separated from the Gobi Ibex (C. s. hagenbecki) by a depression north of the Chinese oasis town of Hami / Kumul. Their distribution map for the Altai Ibex shows an intergrading zone of Altai and Gobi Ibex south of Hovd / Chowd. To place this area there, seems to be rather arbitrary. According to biogeographical insights the mixing zone should be in an area of reduced interchange, hence the depression north of Hami.

In the United States several introduced populations of Altai Ibex exist und free-range conditions in the Canadian River Canyon, New Mexiko. [1]

Description

The Altai Ibex is reported to be smaller in general than other more southern subspecies [1, 2] – with less longer heads, shorter nasals and shorter horns. [2] The pelage of the Altai Ibex is highly variable. Across the range, there are pelage colour variations between individual populations. [1]

Generally one may say males in winter are „relatively light“ [1] to „very light“ [2]. Winter pelage colour is either „dirty yellowish white“, „light dirty white with a rufous tinge“ or „umber-brown“.  (Lydekker, 1913)

Saddle patch: Damm and Franco (2014) mention that „usually there is a large purer white saddle patch“. [1] Confusingly their „mature Altai ibex“ on page 273 (photo taken on 12th November) shows an animal with a dark-brown saddle. Tsalkin (1950) mentions a dirty or creamy-white saddle patch.

Neck patch: Noteworthy is also a „light-coloured field on top of the neck“ (Tsalkin, 1950 in Damm and Franco, 2014). As shown in photos presented by Damm and Franco (2014, page 274 and 276) these bright neck patches can be the lightest areas on the upper body. It would be worthwhile to investigate if the individuals within a male herd with the most pronounced neck patches are the most mature ones.

More winter pelage features of C. s. sibirica

Lydekker (1913) Tsalkin (1950)
shoulder darker or less dark brownish-cinnamon of varying intensity; isolating the light-coloured field on top of the neck; but this band varies greatly, sometimes it is absent; the dark of the shoulders may extend down the front of the limbs
flanks dark band along the lower part, from the shoulders to the thighs, a dark band occurs which varies greatly in coloration
abdomen much lighter, brownish or yellowish-gray;  the groins (Leisten) are yellowish-white
underparts browner than general colour of body (not comprehensible, when looking at available photos)
neck lower part and chest are dark, brownish-cinnamon; the lighter upper part of the neck gradually darkens toward the head
face in general darker or less dark
dorsal stripe narrow dark fairly dark and vivid brownish-cinnamon, continues onto the upper surface of the tail, where it appears even darker
shoulder stripe faint
hind legs brown in front; outer side whitish; above hocks dirty or creamy white
forelegs some white; broad horizontal black band on lower part of forelegs (but not clear if in summer or  winter pelage) dark may extend down along the front of the limbs right up  to the hooves; rear part very light, yellowish or dirty white

Damm and Franco (2014) further state (probably quoting Lydekker, 1913) that „old males become nearly white“. And: „The similarity of winter colouration of adult Altai and Sayan males with the Bezoar Goat is striking.“ Photos to underline these findings are unfortunately not available.

In summer the animals are  uniformly brown [1, 2] – greyish brown or café-au-lait (Lydekker, 1913), grey brown or cinnamon brown to brown (Heptner and Naumov, 1966) or yellowish or greyish brown (Damm and Franco, 2014). A saddle patch is absent during the summer. [1]

Mature male Altai Ibex in summer in Jargalant Hayrhan (mountain) near the city of Chowd, Mongolia. Note that the pelage colour of this specimen is best of all matching the description of Heptner and Naumov (1966): cinnamon brown. A dark dorsal stripe is also visible. Photo: Otgonbayar Baatargal

Horns

Rowland Ward’s record-class head from Mongolia (Shosh Khon) shows a length of 138,4 cm with a base circumference of 26,7 cm [1]

mean length (n=304): 106,7 cm [1]

mean base circumference (n=304): 25,7 cm [1]

mean tip-to-tip (N=49): 73 cm [1]

Similar taxa

C. s. alaiana is said to be bigger, has longer sculls, nasals and horns. The winter pelage is supposed to be dark cinnamon brown to brown. A light saddle patch is sometimes non-existent at all. [2]

In comparison with Asiatic Ibex from the Himalayas or the Tian Shan, the Altai Ibex has on average somewhat shorter horns with a lesser girth. [1]

Population

As reported by Weinberg et al. (1997) the number of ibex in southern Siberia is as follows: 3000 to 3500 in the Altai;  2500 in the Tannu Ola Mountains of Tuva;  1500 in Western Sayan and 2000 to 2500 in Eastern Sayan. [4] The population in the Republic of Buryatia (occurring probably west of the southern tip of Lake Baikal) is said to hold 2400 to 3000 animals. [1] In 1989, in a 200 km² study area west of Tsogt, Mongolian Altai, Schaller et al(1994) counted 337 ibex, and estimated there may have been a total of up to 450 animals. [4] Exact numbers for Mongolia and China are not available.

Hunting

Altai Ibex may be hunted in Mongolia and Russia, and both countries offer organised hunts. In Russia however, large numbers are shot illegally. In Mongolia, illegal and unsustainable hunting remains a threat (Wingard and Zahler, 2006). China put a moratorium on all hunting in 2006 and, despite recommendations by Gao et al. (2011) that the Forestry Departement of Xinjiang take measures to ensure the rational use of Capra sibirica, hunting is closed. [1]

Trophy hunting can be important for conserving species, as it can provide incentives to prevent poaching, but usually only if implemented as community-based programs. Most such operations in the former Soviet Union involve former poachers and the income they provide encourages these people to refrain from poaching and to prevent others from poaching (Michel and Rosen 2016). [4]

Literature

[1] Damm, Gerhard R. and Franco, Nicolás, 2014: The CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World – CIC International Coucil for Game and Wildlife Conservation, Budakeszi, Hungary in cooperation with Rowland Ward Publications RSA (Pty) Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa.

[2] Heptner, V. G. and Naumov, N. P. (editors), 1966: Die Säugetiere der Sowjetunion. Band 1: Paarhufer und Unpaarhufer. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.

[3] Lydekker, R., 1898: Wild oxen, sheep and goats of all lands – living and extinct. Rowland Ward, London.

[4] Reading, R., Michel, S., Suryawanshi, K. & Bhatnagar, Y.V.2020. Capra sibirica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T42398A22148720. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T42398A22148720.en. Downloaded on 22 November 2021.

[5] Wilson, D. E. and Mittermeier, R. A. [eds], 2011: Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 2. Hoofed Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.