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Capra falconeri
Marjor (Sp), Schraubenzeige, Markhor (G), Markhor (F).
DESCRIPTION (male) Shoulder height 34-40 inches (86-100 cm). Weight 150-200 pounds (68-91 kg), sometimes more.
The markhor has the most striking appearance of any wild goat, with its vertically spiraling horns and the long, shaggy hair on its neck and forequarters. It is a sturdy animal with thick legs and broad hoofs. The general coloration is reddish-brown in summer, turning gray in winter, with older males tending to be whitish, but there is much individual variation. There is a dark-brown dorsal stripe. Tail is black. Underparts and small rump patch are white. Males have a grayish-white ruff that contrasts with a large black beard. The spiral horns (both sexes) are laterally compressed, with sharp, strong keels in front and back. In its native Asian habitat, there is great regional variation in horn flare, tightness of spiral and body size. Females are smaller than males and are colored a light yellowish-brown in summer, becoming reddish-gray in winter. They grow very small horns with one to 1-1/2 twists near the tip.
DISTRIBUTION Private properties, mainly in Texas.
REMARKS Native to a limited area in the mountains of central Asia, mainly in Pakistan, but also in nearby parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and India. In its native habitat, the markhor is considered the top game animal among goats, and one of the very top game animals of the world. A number of subspecies are recognized in Asia. We do not separate them here, but it is believed that introduced markhor in North America are mainly of the Bukharan subspecies (C. f. heptneri), as that is the one commonly seen in zoos and game parks.
HYBRIDIZATION The markhor is either known or believed to crossbreed, or to be the result of hybridization, when in a game ranch environment.
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