What animal is an Ibex?

Ibex are wild goats with cloven hoofs and very long horns that curve over their back. Males typically also have beards. The Alpine ibex is the most common type, and the Asiatic ibex is generally considered a subspecies.

The animal’s hooves are sharp with concave undersides to fit the curves of rocks, thus allowing them to climb sheer cliffs with a sense of support.

The Siberian ibex has the largest horns within the genus at 39-58 inches (100-148 cm).

Most males and females stay in gender-segregated herds for much of their lives.

Ibex herds stay close to “escape terrain” in tall cliffs.
As one of the main ancestors of the domestic goat, the ibex is a common sight in the mountains of Europe, western Asia, and northeastern Africa.