Today, we're talking about takins. Also known as Gnu Goat, antelope goat, and a dozen other things, this is the national animal of Bhutan--which is what brought it to my attention.
These guys live in Southern Asia, up in the mountains. They're a form of goat, but they really look weird. They've got a secondary coat that gives them thicker fur and keeps them warmer than most, and they secrete an oily black substance that acts like a rain jacket to keep them from getting wet. They've also got giant nostrils so that they can heat air up before inhaling it, meaning they don't lose as much heat from just breathing. None of these are things we'd really expect from a goat, but DNA evidence came in that this is one, unlike what we thought.
This picture is from the Animal Diversity Web link below. Because of their size and strangeness, most people would think twice before figuring out that Takins are goats, and instead might consider them to be more closely related to cows, antelope, or something else entirely. The thing that says 'goat' most to me is their habit of climbing mountains and being up high, so I don't blame anyone that thinks this isn't a goat.
This pair of pictures comes from iNaturalist below, and are part of their large collection of pictures of them, if you want more.
In case there is any concern, these guys are herbivores and are more likely to steal your salad than hurt you. They spend a lot of time trying to find food in the mountains they call home, and in conditions most humans would avoid if they had the choice. They're also more likely to be your dinner, because they're hunted by natives some. Not a lot, since there aren't a ton of them left and we want to keep them around, but still some.
There are four subspecies of Takin that are different colors and live in slightly different ranges, known are the Mishmi Takin, Bhutan Takin, Sichuan Takin, and Golden Takin. That last is actually up for consideration as one of the possible sources of the mythical golden fleece from Greek Mythology. It would make sense that it was hard for Jason and the Argonauts to get the fleece if they were having to get it from the middle of Asia, and it would be rather unique in Greece. The picture below is of a Gold Takin, taken from the Live Science link below.
So, now you know about Takin, the national animal of Bhutan, and possibly tied to Greek mythology, who looks like they could belong to any of a half dozen different families more than the one they're actually part of. I hope you enjoyed that. Sources are below if you want to look into them more. They're cool, so go for it. Either way, I'll see you tomorrow ish.
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