Chamois

Chamois, mammal, hoofed, cud-chewing goat that inhabits the Alps and other high mountains of central and southern Europe. It stands about 80 cm (31 in) at the shoulder and weighs about 23 to 50 kg (50 to 110 lb). The horns of both sexes, which are seldom more than 17cm (7 in) long, are black and rise straight up from the forehead, bending back at the tip to form a hook. The coat colour is variable, but all chamois have a dark dorsal band and a dark band extending forwards from the eye along each cheek. The tail is short and black.

The usual summer habitat of the chamois is in the higher mountains, not far from the snow line, where it feeds on plants. In winter it descends to the higher forests and eats pine shoots. The keen-sensed, nimble-footed animals usually live in small herds of 5 to 30 individuals. One of them keeps watch as the others feed, announcing danger with a whistling sound. During the rutting season a male may lay claim to a territory by marking it with a secretion from a gland behind the horn and will then try to retain a female that wanders into its area, fighting other males if necessary. One offspring is produced after a gestation period of 24 weeks. The animals have been overhunted for sport, meat, and the soft, pliant leather (also called chamois, or shammy) made from their skins, and certain subspecies of chamois are now classified as endangered species. They are now protected in the Swiss National Park.

Scientific classification: The chamois belongs to the subfamily Caprinae in the family Bovidae. It is classified as Rupicapra rupicapra.