Taiwan Serow

The Taiwanese serow, Capricornis swinhoei, also known as the Formosan serow, is a small species of bovid endemic to Taiwan and the only native bovid of the island. Its torso is 80 to 114 centimetres long, it weighs 25 to 35 kilograms, and its tail is short, about 6.5 centimetres. The coat is dark tan with yellow spots on the jaw, throat and nape. Both sexes bear conical horns that curve slightly backward, measure 10 to 20 centimetres and are never shed. The animals are highly vigilant and not easy to observe, although their feces are commonly found in Yushan National Park. At dawn and dusk they graze and browse in the woods alone or in small numbers, eating leaves, vines, ferns, shrubs and herbs, and they lick deposited minerals to absorb salt.