Mammals of the WorldNorthern Chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Rupicapra
- IUCN status
- LC
- Distribution
- France|Switzerland|Austria|Italy|Germany|Poland|Slovakia|Slovenia|Croatia|Bosnia and Herzegovina|Montenegro|Serbia|Kosovo|Albania|North Macedonia|Greece|Bulgaria|Romania|Russia|Georgia|Azerbaijan|Turkey
- Realm
- Palearctic
Other names: Alpine Chamois|Balkan Chamois|Chartreuse Chamois|Tatra Chamois|Carpathian Chamois|Asia Minor Chamois|Anatolian Chamois|Turkish Chamois
About this species
- Size
- Length 1.1–1.4 m
- Habitat
- Alpine grassland, scree and rocky slopes
- Range
- South Island
Rupicapra rupicapra is an introduced goat-antelope of the South Island high country. It differs from Himalayan tahr through its slimmer build, facial stripes and short hook-tipped horns in both sexes. The coat is tan in summer and darker in winter, with dark facial bands. Its narrow black horns curve sharply backward at their tips.
Chamois range widely along the Southern Alps and adjoining ranges. They occupy steep rock, scree and alpine grassland. They graze grasses and herbs and browse shrubs. Sure-footed animals move rapidly across broken slopes, often in small groups.
New Zealand treats chamois as Introduced. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and the upper Hooker Valley offer possible distant sightings.
Description: Wildlife of New Zealand guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com)