Wildlife
Nubian ibex are extremely well-adapted to the steep, rocky and mountainous regions that they inhabit in northeast Africa and parts of Arabia. To cope with the hot, arid conditions they have a light-coloured shiny coat that reflects sunlight. They move up and down the precipitous cliffs with ease, and their agility in this hostile environment plays a big part in predator avoidance. Along with some impressive horns the males also have long dark beards used during scent marking and to excite the females.
Scientific name: Capra nubiana
Rank: Species
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Head-to-head
A strong skull is essential as a male nubian ibex defends a pool of water.
A strong skull is essential as a male nubian ibex defends a pool of water.
Sure footing
A young ibex kid turns the sheer cliffs to advantage.
Barely a week old, a young ibex gives a breathtaking display of balance, agility and sheer fearlessness as it descends a perilously steep cliff face. But can it escape the fox that is waiting to meet it? Talk about a cliff hanger...
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Nubian ibex can be found in a number of locations including: Africa. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Nubian ibex distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Vulnerable
Population trend: Decreasing
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) is a desert-dwelling goat species found in mountainous areas of Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, and Sudan. It is generally considered to be a subspecies of Alpine ibex, but is sometimes considered specifically distinct (Capra nubiana). The wild population is estimated at 1,200 individuals.
Nubian ibexes stand around 65–75 cm (2.1-2.6 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh around 50 kilograms (110 lb). Nubian ibexes are a light tan colour, with a white underbelly, in males there is also a dark brown stripe down the back. Nubian ibexes have long thin horns which extend up and then backwards and down. In males these reach around a metre in length while in females they are much smaller (around 30 cm or 12 in).
Nubian ibexes live in rough dry mountainous terrain where they eat mainly grasses and leaves and are preyed upon by leopards, eagles and bearded vultures. Nubian ibexes live in herds composed solely of males or females. They are diurnal, they are active during the day and rest during the night. On 16 March 1959, the British established the Yob Wildlife Reserve in northern Eritrea specifically to protect significant populations of Nubian ibex in the area.
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Adapted to climbing
Colonial
Dry tolerant
Hierarchical
Herbivorous
Polygynous
Active at birth
Social
Chemical communication
Sexual dimorphism
Territorial
Viviparous