Serow

Serow is a goat-like mammal comprised of four main species of a medium-sized goat is classified as Japanese serow (Capriconis crispus), mainland serow (Capricornis Sumatraensis), Red serow (Capricornis rubidus) and Taiwan serow (Capricornis swinhoei). The Japanese serow is generally distributed in Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku in Japan. The mainland serows are mostly found in Eastern Himalayas, Eastern and Southeastern Bangladesh, China, Southeast Asia and on the Indonesian island and Sumantra. The Red serows are mostly found in southern Bangladesh and northern Myanmar whereas the Taiwan serows are native to Taiwan and are not seen in any other part of the world. They are most widespread throughout the Asian continent that ranges from Japan and Taiwan to Western India, the Himalayan range to eastern China and southeast Asia. The mainland serows have a wide range of habitats that stretch from sea level in the Malayan peninsula to 4000 meters above the sea level in the Himalayan mountain range. They mostly prefer to live in the thick tree trunks hanging from the cliff that makes them feel safe. They are an antelope-like mammal that belongs to the family of Bovidae and subfamily Caprinae. The genus shared by all the serow species is Capricornis of order Artiodactyla.

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Image: Illustration of Mainland Serow

Characteristics of Serow

Mainland serows are known for their wide range of colouration. They usually have a grizzled black neck, mane and long head. Although their fur sometimes turns rusty red around the shoulders, flank and lower thigh, their muzzle, throat, chest and mane has varying shades of white. The average weight of serow is about 90 kg (40 pounds) and their height is about 110cms (40 inches). Both male and female serow are of similar size. The mainland serows are solidarity forest dwellers and territorial by nature (an adult individual is intolerant of the other individual of a similar gender in the same territory or area it inhabits). The serow animal is nocturnal and elusive in nature and that is why it becomes difficult to acquire very reliable information about their biology.

The Formosan serow is a very small species that weigh 25 to 30 kgs (55 to 65 pounds) with its native habitat in Taiwan. It has much woollier and much softer fur as compared to mainland serow. It has brown to reddish body colouration with a yellowish hue on the chin, throat and neck and this species is vulnerable with very little information about its biology as well.   

Types of Serow

Four main species of serow has been described in the introduction with few subspecies that are of much importance in terms of the biology study. Thus the major species along with their subspecies is discussed below:-

1. Himalayan Serow

It is a subspecies of the mainland serow described as a goat-antelope that is native to the Himalayan range and eastern to southeastern Bangladesh. The scientific name given to the Himalayan serow is Capricornis sumatraensis thar that was earlier considered as its own species named Capricornis thar. It is an official state animal of Mizoram situated in the eastern part of India. The Himalayan serow was first sighted in the coldest desert region of Himalaya known as the Spiti valley situated in Himachal Pradesh. 

Description

The Himalayan serow is mostly black in colour with a majority black face but its flank, hindquarters and upper legs are mostly rusty red in hue but its lower leg is whitish in colour. They mostly have a resemblance of a cross-breed between a goat, donkey, cow and pig. This mammal is medium-sized with a large head and a thick neck with long mule-like ears but short limbs. Its whole body is covered with a uniform coat of small dark hair. They are herbivorous in nature and are solitary and terrestrial animals. It just possesses one horn unlike other species of serows and is situated at the centre of its forehead.

Habitat and Distribution

They are mostly distributed throughout the southeastern range of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and in north-eastern India including Sikkim, province of east Bangladesh, Tibet and probably into western Myanmar. They are mostly found in the elevation of about 2000 to 4000 meters above sea level in the Himalayan range of eastern, western and central Himalayas but are not seen in the trans-Himalayan regions that are to the north of the Tibetian range that includes Karakoram, Ladakh, Zakar and Kailash mountain ranges. They were first seen in the Spiti valley that is the cold desert region of the western Himalaya at an altitude of 4270 meters. That was recorded for the first human sighting of a serow in that region at such a high altitude. It is also often seen in the Rupi Bhaba Wildlife Century that is at the higher altitude of Chamba.

Conservation Status

It is an endangered species and IUCN have red-listed it as “vulnerable”

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Image: Illustration of Himalayan serow

2. Japanese Serow

Japanese serow which is scientifically termed as Capriconis crispus is a Japanese goat antelope who put their entire weight on two toes out of the five toes. Thus they are referred to as even-toed ungulate mammals. Japanese serow is considered the national symbol of Japan and is endangered. Thus it is subjected to the protection of its entire habitats. These serows are native to Japan and are inhabitants of the dense woodlands primarily in central and northern Honshu. 

Description 

The Japanese serow has similar physical characteristics to that of a goat. The serows stand at a length that ranges from 70 to 85 cm that is 28 to 33 inches and its length up to the shoulder is around 70 to 75 cm which is 28 to 30 inches and its average weight is 30 to 50 kgs. They are not distinctively sexually dimorphic. Unlike the mainland serow, Japanese serow have shorter ears and are woollier with long coats which is about 10 cm on the body. They have a bushier tail compared to the mainland serow that measures around 6 to 6.5 cm with a split or divided hoof. They have black fur on the body with a whitish coat on the neck. The colouration of the fur varies as black with white dorsal spots, dark brown or whitish. But the coat lightens in summer and therefore the northern range inhabitants generally have a lighter coat.

Behaviour and Food Habit

They generally like to stand on the high elevated area either to look out for the terrestrial rivals or to detect the approaching predators. The Japanese serows are diurnal as they are as active at night as they are in the daytime. They have intraorbital glands that are so large that they can be seen easily on them and used for scent-marking their territories. Their average territory ranges between 105 to 166 Km2 area. They generally found gazing on broad leaves and buds of the deciduous trees. They also love to feed on the leaves of coniferous trees and fallen acorns. Sometimes they even feed on flowers and fruits.

Reproduction

The male serows are generally monogamous but in some cases, it has been seen that they act as polygamous mammals. Usually, the two sexes have separate territories and they tend to aggressively defend it from the other individuals of the same sex. But the territories of the males almost overlap with females. Also in some cases, the territory of one male overlaps with the territory of two or three females. In that case, they act as polygamous mammals and mate with two or three females during the mating season. The mating pairs usually remain together throughout the year, maybe because they share the same territorial zone.

Their mating season is from September to November and the young are born in May and June. The young and their mothers live together for a year. Though the young serows become independent as yearlings they prefer to stay in their natal territory. They reach the age of sexual maturity at 2.5 to 3 years. Though the male yearlings may displace after 2 to 3 years the females may inherit their mother’s territory. The males live for 20 to 21 years whereas the females live for 22 to 23 years. 

Conservation Status

Earlier massive hunting of the serows have led to endangering the species to extinction but now they are conserved and protected as natural heritage and hunting have been strictly prohibited. They are listed as low risk by IUCN. 

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Image: Illustration of Japanese serow

3. Sumatran Serow

The Sumatran serow that is scientifically named Capriconis Sumatraensis and commonly termed as southern serows are the subspecies of the mainland serows.

They are native to Thai-Malaya Peninsula and its mountain forests. The other subspecies that was considered under mainland species were red, Himalayan and Chinese serow. But because of massive hunting and loss of habitat, this species is under threat and IUCN have evaluated it as vulnerable.

Description 

It resembles more of a goat and an antelope. They have generally black or dark grey coats with horns that are arched backwards and become pointed at the tips. The horns are a little curvature in shape. The length of the species is measured from the nose to tail is around 152.4cms or 60 inches. They do not show any sexual dimorphism and both males and females weigh between 30 to 45kgs. The average horn length ranges from 12 to 16 cm. The average weight of Capricornis swinhoei is approximately 30 kgs and are native to Taiwan are a little smaller than the Capricornis Sumatraensis. 

Behaviour and Food Habit

They are generally very shy and often prefer to live in solitary. Sometimes they are seen in a small group but that view is very rare. The trails they left in their habitat indicates the route they have taken to reach a specific area or region. They spend most of their time on land but they are also good swimmers as well.  Although very aggressive encounters have not been witnessed among the mammals of this specific species, a close relative of the species named C.swinhoei is often seen stamping its forelegs on the ground and using its horns for attacking and defending. If the Sumatran serows are not able to kick with their front legs then they prefer to bite as a last resort.

They prefer to eat nutrition-rich vegetation but they can eat almost all the vegetation available nearby and they are massive forest gazers. Most often in a rich vegetation area, the species are found gazing together in small groups. A close relative of this species is called Taiwan serows that are seen feeding mostly at evening hours and at nights when they are kept in captivity.

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Image: Illustration of Sumatran serow 

4. Red Serow

They are the goat-antelope that is native to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Earlier and even now according to some reports they are considered as the subspecies of Capricornis Sumatraensis. These species are widely seen in the northeastern hills of India that lie along the southern part of the river Brahmaputra. IUCN has confirmed the existence of the red serows in the Kachi state of Myanmar but similar species that are found in the Himalayan mountain range are considered Himalayan serows. 

Physical Characteristics

The average body length of the species from head to tail ranges from 140 to 155 cm and the average shoulder height of an adult ranges from 85 to 95 cm. The tail length measured approximately 8 to 16 cm with an average adult body weight is measured around 110 to 160 kg. The fur of the red serow is distinctively red in colour but their underpart is whitish. There are dark and thin dorsal strips that can be seen running along the whole body from head to tail. They possess a mane of long hair on their neck that becomes erect as they get excited. Though their face has no distinctive features like marking or spots, they have two large preorbital glands that are attached close to their eyes. The white patch that is present beneath the jaws runs up to a whitish coat on the throat. They have long ears and pointed horns that are curved backwards and are found in both sexes with equal lengths of 15 to 25 cm. 

Ecology and Behaviour

No specific ecology is known about the species but it is quite similar to the other species of serow. They are seen to be most active in the evening too late afternoon and in the early evening. They use overhanging cliffs or towers to take shelter. They are solitary mammals that use their scent-releasing glands to mark their territories. They vocalize by making loud whistling noises or snorting to alarm others of danger. They mostly gaze alone and feed in with grass, shoots and leaves, although they are sometimes seen gazing in a small family group of 3 to 4 in a rich habitation.

Habitat and Distribution

They are found in the northeastern hill ranges with tropical forests in India which lie in the south of the Brahmaputra river, in Bangladesh in the east of the Jamuna River and in northern Myanmar. Though the species in India and Bangladesh are red in colour, they are considered as C. rubidus or C. thar.

Conservation Status

According to the IUCN ranking, it is listed as near threatened in 2008 due to primary reasons of habitat loss and massive hunting in the past.

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Image: Illustration of red serow

Fun Facts About Serow

1. Japanese serows are the national animal symbol of Japan and are now protected and conserved by the various government and non-government organizations and it is stated as the “ Living National Treasure of Forests”.

2. Serows are very sensitive to hearing and smell with a very strong eye-sight. As it can see well in the low light, it reacts very fast from a distance by sensing threats.

3. Japanese serows have the strongest smelling sensation and they often raise their head to smell the air around them.