Identification

It is a small sized  ungulate  ( ♀︎head-body length 120 to ♂︎150 cm; height at the cross section of 75-90 cm) with great sexual dimorphism. The coat is of tan ochre tones, darker in winter. Males are a bit larger than females and have black spots on the neck, legs and flanks. These spots are less visible in summer. The tail is very short. The young specimens fur is more reddish than older males one, which is rather greyish or dark brown. The horns are permanent, rough and with knots representing the age of the animal; they have a semicircle shape and are directed backwards. Females and young specimens are smaller (less than 40 cm); whereas adult males grow with age until they reach a certain size and thickness (75-135 cm). Old males also have a beard.

Where does it live?

It is a rocky species, linked to mountain areas. They are present from the sea level in coastal saws to inland high peak areas. It prefers grassland and rocky areas, scrub with shrubs and scattered Quercinea. It uses pine areas, although to a lesser extent and as long as there are a mixed vegetation. Males use areas at higher altitudes than females. They only meet during the mating period, when the males descend to the areas used by the females. Once matings end, the males rise again and separate from the females.

How does it live?

Goats are ruminants. They feed on all types of plant material (buds, fruits, leaves, bark and branches): they browse and graze. They need water, especially in summer and after the effort of the reproductive period. They also require salt, so they usually lick stones. They are active all day long but especially at dusk. The size of their territory is very variable, male ones can range from 2 to 7 km2 .

How does it reproduce?

They mate only once a year, giving birth to only one offspring (rarely two). They are polygamous. The males compete (they fight crashing their horns) to woo and cover several females. They are very territorial during the mating period (in winter) and gregarious the rest of the year, so we can observe subadult and adult male groups on the one hand, and females groups with offspring and young specimens on the other. During the birth period (at spring) females become solitary and use more isolated and sunny areas at dawn (grassy and rocky lands).

Where can we seee it in Málaga?

It is a common species in the province, present in the majority of both limestone and peridotite Malaga mountain ranges. It can be observed from the sea level (Acantilados de Maro) up to Sierra de las Nieves, the whole Ronda mountain range, the Calcareous Central Arc saws (Torcal, Camarolos ...), Sierra Bermeja or Sierra Tejeda. In the Great Path, we can find it in stages 4 to 8, 10, 11, 20 to 23, 25, 28, 29, 31 to 34.

Curious facts

The goats’ hooves have the perfect design of some mountain boots. They have a non-slip surface preventing them from slipping; and sharp points that grip perfectly rocky cracks and crevices. Of course they are waterproof. Thanks to this design, the goats can move easily by all types of rocks and even by walls and almost vertical cuts.

Similar species

It can be confused with the mouflon, the roe deer as well as with the deer and fallow deer females and young specimens. In the case of the mouflon, males have a spiral horn very different from the goats’ ones. In addition, in all cases, the fur is darker with a lighter belly. The roe deer is a forest and solitary animal, which rarely coincides with the goats in the same habitat. The roe deer males have branched antlers, shorter than goats horns. The female and young deer are more slender and larger than the goats.