Golden Takin

The golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) is an endangered goat-antelope native to the Peoples Republic of China & Bhutan. Takins are adapted to staying warm and dry during winters in the Himalayan Mountain regions they inhabit. A thick, secondary coat is grown to keep out the cold. Their large, moose-like snout has large sinus cavities that warm up the air a takin inhales which prevents the loss of body heat by breathing. Although they have no skin glands, their skin secretes an oily substance that provides a water barrier that protects takins from the elements. They are around the same size as a cow and are very aggressive. Its skin is also said to be the source of the legend of the Golden Fleece. With horns like a wildebeest, a nose like a moose, a tail like a bear, and a body like a bison, the takin (rhymes with rockin') looks like a character from Dr. Seuss! This large, muscular, hoofed mammal is sometimes referred to as a goat antelope, because it has things in common with both goats and antelope. But the takin is most closely related to sheep and to the goat-like aoudad, or Barbary sheep, of North Africa. Takins have some neat adaptations that help them stay warm and dry during the bitter cold of winter in the rugged Himalayan Mountains. A thick, secondary coat is grown to keep out the chill, which they shed for the summer. They also have a very noteworthy nose! The large, moose-like snout has big sinus cavities to warm up the air inhaled before it gets to the lungs. Without this adaptation, takins would lose a large amount of body heat just by breathing. Yet another protection is their oily skin. Although takins have no skin glands, their skin secretes an oily, bitter-tasting substance that acts as a natural raincoat in storms and fog. Streaks of this oily stuff can be seen where takins rub up against the walls of their enclosures at the San Diego Zoo! Split hooves help takins move around easily in their rocky habitat. They also have an odor that smells like a strange combination of horse and musk. Both males and females have shiny black, crescent-shaped horns that grow from the center of their massive head and can reach up to 35 inches (90 centimeters) in length.