The post Why the Golden Takin’s Jurassic Roar Is So Unforgettable appeared first on A-Z Animals.
The golden takin is a unique animal, not just for its striking appearance but also for its peculiar vocalizations. As seen in this YouTube video, the takin’s low, rumbling bellow is like something straight out of a Jurassic Park movie and can send shivers up your spine!
Nature’s Golden Enigma
Takin are threatened with extinction due to overhunting and loss of habitat.
©coffeehuman/Shutterstock.com
The golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) is a peculiar animal that is often described as a mix of different creatures. It has split hooves, curved horns like a wildebeest, a large moose-like snout, and a small, hidden tail. Its body shape is similar to a bison or musk ox, and some people call it a “goat antelope.” However, despite these similarities, the takin’s closest relative is actually the sheep.
Takin are surprisingly large and robust for being relatives of sheep. They can stand 3.3 to 4.5 feet tall at the shoulder and measure 5 to 7.3 feet long. Female takin can weigh up to 616 pounds, while males are even heavier, reaching up to 770 pounds. They have short legs and large hooves that support a large, bulky body. Their moose-like heads feature a long, curved nose, and both males and females have distinct horns that curve upwards.
The golden takin, in particular, has stunning “golden” fur, which can range from a golden hue to off-white. Interestingly, takin calves are born with a brownish or grayish coat that gradually changes to this iconic golden color as they mature. Some even believe that the legendary “golden fleece” of Ancient Greece may have been inspired by the golden takin’s striking coat.
Where Do Takin Live?
The IUCN lists the takin species as Vulnerable.
©Hugh Lansdown/Shutterstock.com
Takin call the Himalayan Mountains their home, but golden takin specifically live in China’s Qin Mountains within the southern Shaanxi province. They have long, shaggy coats, and in winter, they grow a secondary coat for extra protection against the cold. Their skin secretes a special oil that helps to waterproof their bodies and keep them dry. Takin also have large sinus cavities in their snouts, which warm the air they breathe before it reaches their lungs. This unique adaptation helps the animals conserve a lot of body heat that would otherwise be lost from inhaling cold air.
In their mountain habitats, takin enjoy a diverse diet of plants, including evergreens, deciduous plants, and alpine vegetation. They are not especially picky eaters and are quite resourceful when it comes to obtaining food. They can stand on their hind legs and brace themselves with their front legs on trees to reach higher leaves. Sometimes, they’ll even push over smaller trees to get to the tastiest leaves at the very top.
Like their sheep relatives, takin are ruminants, meaning they have a specialized digestive system. When a takin swallows food, it goes into the rumen, the first part of its stomach. Here, tiny microbes begin to break the food down into smaller portions. Any larger pieces move into a second stomach chamber, then return to the takin’s mouth as “cud.” The takin chews this cud again until it’s small enough for proper digestion.
Decoding the Takin’s Deep Bellow
Between seasons, takin sometimes migrate up and down slopes.
©YouTube/Anton Shcherbinin – Original
Takin are social animals that live in herds, but their group size changes with the seasons. When food is plentiful in the summer, takin gather in large groups that can number up to 300. As food becomes scarcer in the winter, these large herds split into smaller groups of 10 to 35 animals.
Takin use various methods to communicate with each other, including scent marking, body language, and unique vocalizations. For example, if a takin senses danger, it will let out a loud cough to warn the rest of the herd. They also produce sounds such as loud whistling through their noses, snorts, and deep, bugle-like notes. However, one of the most interesting is a takin’s low, rumbling bellow, a sound that feels like it belongs in a Jurassic Park movie.
Takin use rumbling bellows for two main purposes. During the rut (mating season), male takin use low bellows and rumbling sounds to attract females and warn off rival males. Takin may also emit these bellows as a warning or challenge when they feel threatened or perceive a potential threat.
When making these sounds, takin can look like they have something stuck in their throat, with their tongues sticking straight out, as seen in the YouTube video. However, these low bellows are serious signals and can lead to aggressive behavior if ignored. Takin are powerful, strong animals and are not to be underestimated! They have few natural predators, though they are hunted by leopards, bears, wolves, and dholes.
The post Why the Golden Takin’s Jurassic Roar Is So Unforgettable appeared first on A-Z Animals.
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