West Caucasian tur

It is also known by the names "zebuder," "zac" and "Caucasian ibex." The East Caucasian tur is sometimes considered a subspecies of this species, though some separate the two out as different species. There is a third intermediate form that lives between the two called the Mid-Caucasian tur. ==Description==

West Caucasian turs stand up to tall at the shoulder and weigh around . They have large but narrow bodies and short legs. West Caucasian turs have a chestnut coat with a yellow underbelly and darker legs. Their horns are scimitar-shaped and heavily ridged. In males, these horns are around , while in females they are much smaller. They are sexually dimorphic, with the males larger than the females. ==Habitat==

West Caucasian turs live in rough mountainous terrain between above sea level, where they eat mainly grasses and leaves. They used to be found in much lower altitudes, have been forced upwards by humans and climate change. Their range is about , and likewise used to be much larger before the 20th century. ==Behaviour, ecology, and conservation status==

The West Caucasian tur is nocturnal, eating in the open at night, and sheltering during the day. They live in herds of around ten individuals in the summer, and herd sizes increase during the winter to about 20. The mating season is November to January, and the kids are born in May through July. They are sometimes poached, for meat, skin, or horns, which are used to make drinking horns called Kantsi. Many also die of avalanches. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, as the wild population is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000 individuals. This population has been declining due to livestock grazing in their habitat and poaching, as well as harsh winters. ==See also==