Ibex
| Ibex | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nubian Ibex | ||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
|
Capra ibex Capra nubiana Capra pyrenaica Capra sibiria Capra walie |
An ibex, also called steinbok, is a type of wild mountain goat with large recurved horns that are transversely ridged in front. Ibex are found in Eurasia and North Africa. The five species of ibex are grouped with four other species in the genus Capra.
The Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) is the best known. The Spanish, or Pyrenean Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) has smoother and more spreading horns.
Legend had it that the ibex's spine was rigid, so that the goat could not look back. If threatened from behind, it would jump off a precipice and land unharmed on its horns.
This article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.