What the sources say
Nubian IbexCapra nubiana
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Nubian Ibex profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 67 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Tomsen, J. 2007
Tomsen, J. (2007). Capra nubiana (Nubian ibex). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysGenerally keeps to the most remote, highest, and steepest cliffs
- The source says
Generally, Nubian ibex inhabit the most remote, highest, and steepest cliffs.
- The page sayswhere staying near the edge lowers the risk of predation
- The source says
Proximity to cliff edges directly reduces the risk of predation, and Nubian ibex therefore spends much of their time on rock faces.
- The page saysHerbs, shrubs, and tree foliage (especially acacia), with a preference for cadaba and camphorweed, and occasionally grass
- The source says
The main diet includes herbs, shrubs, tree foliage (especially Acacia), buds, fruits, and occasionally grass. Nubian ibex especially prefer cadaba (Cadaba spp.) and camphorweed (Pluchea spp.).
- The page saysIn Israel's Avedat Canyon, Nubian ibex mothers have been seen doing something that a 2007 Animal Diversity Web account calls unique among caprines, the group that holds the wild goats and sheep
- The source says
A grouping pattern unique to Nubian ibex among all other caprines has been observed in herds in the Avedat Canyon in Israel.
Note: 2007 is the ADW reference's year (Tomsen 2007). Old-page absolute kept only with its source, date and scope (observed in Avedat Canyon herds). Caprinae is the goat-antelope subfamily that includes wild goats and sheep. - The page saysthey leave their kids together in a canyon and come back often to feed them
- The source says
Females leave their kids unattended in nursery groups in a steep-walled canyon with many other kids. ... Mothers visit the nursery often to feed the kids
- The page saysMales average about 62.5 kilograms and stand roughly 75 centimeters at the shoulder
- The source says
Males have an average weight of 62.5 kg, females average 26.5 kg. Shoulder height averages 75 cm in males and 65 cm in females.
Note: Averages only in ADW; both sit inside SDZ's current ranges (25 to 66 kg, 61 to 76 cm). - The page saysmore than twice the weight of females, which average 26.5 kilograms
- The source says
females average 26.5 kg
Note: 62.5 / 26.5 = 2.36. - The page saysBoth sexes carry horns
- The source says
Both males and females have horns, which are used for fighting, sexual selection, and territorial defense.
- The page saysFemales leave their kids unattended in nursery groups with many other kids in a steep-walled canyon, and visit often to feed them.
- The source says
Females leave their kids unattended in nursery groups in a steep-walled canyon with many other kids. ... Mothers visit the nursery often to feed the kids
- The page saysThe same account says the nursery is most likely an accidental trap: the kids have fallen in and cannot climb its walls.
- The source says
The nursery is most likely an accidental trap that the kids have fallen into and cannot surmount the cliff walls to climb out.
- The page saysThey stay until they are mature enough to follow along on the steep cliffs.
- The source says
which stay in the nursery until they are mature enough to follow along on the steep cliffs.
- The page saysBoth sexes use their horns for fighting, for sexual selection, and to defend territory
- The source says
Both males and females have horns, which are used for fighting, sexual selection, and territorial defense.
- The page saysthey fight by ramming rather than puncturing
- The source says
Horns are used for fighting, specifically for ramming rather than puncturing.
- The page saysoften in forceful fights where they crash their horns together and try to overpower their opponents
- The source says
Males often engage in forceful fights, whereby they crash against one another with their horns and try to overpower their opponents.
- The page saysSparring to settle dominance seldom results in serious injury.
- The source says
Typically two males will spar, clashing their horns together to establish dominance. ... Sparring between individuals seldom results in serious damage or bodily injury.
Note: ADW's 'typically' qualifies who spars (two males), not the injury rate. - The page saysOlder males are solitary for most of the year, then join the females during the rut and try to drive off other males.
- The source says
Throughout most of the year older males are solitary. They join females during the rut and try to drive off other males.
- The page saysgenerally on the most remote, highest, and steepest cliffs, from sea level up to 3,000 meters
- The source says
They occur at varying elevations, from sea level to 3,000 meters. Generally, Nubian ibex inhabit the most remote, highest, and steepest cliffs.
- The page saysStaying close to a cliff edge lowers the risk of predation
- The source says
Proximity to cliff edges directly reduces the risk of predation, and Nubian ibex therefore spends much of their time on rock faces.
- The page saysThe main diet is herbs, shrubs, and tree foliage, especially acacia, with a preference for cadaba and camphorweed
- The source says
The main diet includes herbs, shrubs, tree foliage (especially Acacia), buds, fruits, and occasionally grass. Nubian ibex especially prefer cadaba (Cadaba spp.) and camphorweed (Pluchea spp.).
Note: ADW's 'occasionally' belongs to grass, which the body leaves out. - The page saysthey drink water every day if it is available
- The source says
They drink water every day if available.
- The page saysand have been known to groom them in a way that benefits both, eating insects and parasites on their skin
- The source says
Grackles (Quiscalus sp.) have been known to groom Nubian ibex in a reciprocally beneficial act. They eat insects and parasites on skin of the ibexes.
Note: ADW's genus Quiscalus is a New World genus and is not repeated on the page; the species is Tristram's grackle (yosef-1991). - The page saysLeopards, wolves, striped hyenas, and humans are its probable predators, and young ibex may also be taken by golden eagles and eagle owls.
- The source says
Probable predators of Nubian ibex include leopards (Panthera pardus), wolves (Canis lupus), striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) and humans. Young ibex may also be preyed on by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and eagle owls (Bubo bubo).
- The page saysStaying near a cliff edge lowers its risk of being caught.
- The source says
Proximity to cliff edges directly reduces the risk of predation, and Nubian ibex therefore spends much of their time on rock faces.
- The page saysRoughly. A male's horns carry annual rings on the back, one ring a year.
- The source says
A male’s horns are large, dark, and semi-circular, with annual rings on the back.
Note: 'One ring a year' restates 'annual rings'. 'Roughly' because the source's own caveat follows (rings shortened by drought or disease). - The page saysThe rings grow 12 to 20 centimeters during the first five years of life, then 2 to 4 centimeters a year after that.
- The source says
The annuli grow twelve to twenty centimeters during the first five years of life, and then grow between two to four centimeters per year thereafter.
Note: The source spells the figures out as words (twelve, twenty, two, four); 'after that' is 'thereafter'. The page keeps the source's ambiguous 'during the first five years' rather than guessing per year or in total. - The page saysDrought or disease can leave an individual with shorter rings.
- The source says
The horns on an individual may have shorter annuli because of physical hardships during periods of drought or disease.
- The page saysmales often crash their horns together
- The source says
Males often engage in forceful fights, whereby they crash against one another with their horns and try to overpower their opponents.
Note: vibe.reason (#760) - The page saysramming rather than stabbing, to overpower a rival
- The source says
Horns are used for fighting, specifically for ramming rather than puncturing.
Note: vibe.reason (#760)
Source
02
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Nubian Ibex. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysRelatively small desert ibex of the Middle East and northeast Africa
- The source says
This relatively small ibex is distinguished by the striking, backward-arching horns of the male, which are long, slender, and ridged, casting a brilliant silhouette against the rocky, mountainous terrain of its surroundings.
Note: 'Desert' is sdz's 'rocky, desert mountains'. Range countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman) are sdz's range list, claimed in the body. - The page saysa true cliff dweller
- The source says
They are true cliff dwellers
- The page sayswhose males carry ridged, backward-arching horns
- The source says
This relatively small ibex is distinguished by the striking, backward-arching horns of the male, which are long, slender, and ridged, casting a brilliant silhouette against the rocky, mountainous terrain of its surroundings.
- The page saysup to 122 centimeters long
- The source says
Horn length: Females 14 inches (36 centimeters); males 48 inches (122 centimeters)
Note: SDZ (current page) wins over ADW 2007's 120 cm. 'Up to' follows SDZ's own 'The impressive horns of males (up to 4 feet!)'. - The page saystypically comes down only to graze
- The source says
They are true cliff dwellers, typically only coming down the mountain to graze on grasses and leaves.
Note: ADW 2007's night/twilight feeding is contradicted by SDZ's 'Nubian ibex are diurnal' and 'graze during the day', so the timing is cut and only the descent both agree on is kept. - The page saysSteep, rocky desert mountains, gorges, and canyons from Egypt and Sudan to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman
- The source says
Nubian ibex live on rocky, desert mountains with steep slopes and associated hills, plateaus, canyons, and wadis. They are located in small pockets over a vast geographical range, including Egypt east of the Nile, northeast Sudan, northern Ethiopia and western Eritrea, Israel, west Jordan, scattered locations in western and central Saudi Arabia, scattered locations in Yemen, and in southern Oman.
Note: 'Gorges' is adw-nubian-ibex: 'mountainous regions including gorges, outcrops, and scree areas'. - The page saysis a relatively small ibex and a true cliff dweller
- The source says
This relatively small ibex is distinguished by the striking, backward-arching horns of the male ... They are true cliff dwellers
- The page saysfound in small pockets of the Middle East and northeast Africa
- The source says
They are located in small pockets over a vast geographical range, including Egypt east of the Nile, northeast Sudan, northern Ethiopia and western Eritrea, Israel, west Jordan, scattered locations in western and central Saudi Arabia, scattered locations in Yemen, and in southern Oman.
- The page saysbut a male's are long, slender, ridged, and backward-arching
- The source says
This relatively small ibex is distinguished by the striking, backward-arching horns of the male, which are long, slender, and ridged, casting a brilliant silhouette against the rocky, mountainous terrain of its surroundings.
- The page saysand can reach up to 122 centimeters, more than three times the 36 centimeters of a female's
- The source says
Horn length: Females 14 inches (36 centimeters); males 48 inches (122 centimeters)
Note: SDZ (current) wins over ADW 2007's 120 cm and 35 cm. 122 / 36 = 3.4. - The page saysIn the care of humans, Nubian ibex have a median life expectancy of about nine years.
- The source says
Nubian ibex in the care of humans have a median life expectancy of about 9 years.
- The page saysDuring the rut, usually in October, the strongest males compete for the right to breed
- The source says
The "rut" (breeding season) occurs during the late summer or early fall, usually in October. The strongest males fight and compete for the right to breed by pushing against each other with their horns.
Note: SDZ (current) timing; ADW 2007's 'may continue into December' dropped. - The page saysNubian ibex live in small pockets from Egypt east of the Nile through Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman
- The source says
They are located in small pockets over a vast geographical range, including Egypt east of the Nile, northeast Sudan, northern Ethiopia and western Eritrea, Israel, west Jordan, scattered locations in western and central Saudi Arabia, scattered locations in Yemen, and in southern Oman.
- The page saysthey typically come down the mountain only to graze
- The source says
They are true cliff dwellers, typically only coming down the mountain to graze on grasses and leaves.
- The page sayscompetition with livestock and feral camels in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
- The source says
Competition with livestock and feral camels poses a threat in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
- The page saysThe threats vary by place
- The source says
The Nubian ibex faces numerous threats , although they vary depending on geographic location.
- The page sayshabitat loss and degradation
- The source says
Habitat loss and degradation provides significant cause for concern.
- The page sayshunting, which probably poses the greatest threat in Yemen
- The source says
Hunting is an additional threat. In Yemen, automatic weapons are owned by many people throughout the country; this is where hunting probably poses the greatest threat to the ibex.
- The page saysIf a predator gets close anyway, the ibex rises onto its hind legs and points its horns at the threat.
- The source says
If threatened, an ibex rises up on its very strong hind legs and points its intimidating horns toward the predator.
- The page sayswhich gives the ibex an unusual way of getting groomed
- The source says
The Nubian ibex has an unusual grooming technique.
Note: faq 2; SDZ - The page saysSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance says fewer than 5,000 mature ibex likely live in their native habitat
- The source says
It is likely that fewer than 5,000 mature ibex live in their native habitat.
Note: A population count: kept attributed to the current SDZ page, with its 'likely'. - The page saysin small pockets from Egypt and Sudan to Oman
- The source says
They are located in small pockets over a vast geographical range, including Egypt east of the Nile, northeast Sudan, northern Ethiopia and western Eritrea, Israel, west Jordan, scattered locations in western and central Saudi Arabia, scattered locations in Yemen, and in southern Oman.
- The page saysHabitat loss and degradation
- The source says
Habitat loss and degradation provides significant cause for concern.
- The page sayscompetition with livestock and feral camels
- The source says
Competition with livestock and feral camels poses a threat in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
- The page saysshifting waterholes are likely a major influence in Egypt
- The source says
The fluctuation in availability and distribution of waterholes in Egypt is also likely to be a major influence on ibex populations.
- The page saysand hunting are among its threats
- The source says
Hunting is an additional threat.
- The page saysBecause the range includes so many countries, protecting it takes a cooperative effort between them.
- The source says
Because the Nubian ibex’s range includes so many countries, it is difficult to coordinate the same policies and conservation efforts throughout. However, it is essential that there is a cooperative effort between countries to maintain adjacent tracts of habitat and protect Nubian ibex.
- The page saysthe rut, usually in October
- The source says
The "rut" (breeding season) occurs during the late summer or early fall, usually in October.
Note: vibe.reason (#760)
Source
03
Ross et al. 2020
Ross et al. (2020). Capra nubiana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T3796A22143385.
- The page saysVulnerable
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
- The page saysThe IUCN's 2020 assessment lists the Nubian ibex as Vulnerable.
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
Note: GBIF's current copy of the Red List reports this category; the latest assessment DOI is 2020. - The page saysThe IUCN lists it as Vulnerable
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
Source
04
Yosef & Yosef 1991
Yosef & Yosef (1991). Tristram's Grackles Groom Nubian Ibex. The Wilson Bulletin.
- The page saysTristram's grackles peck at the hides of Nubian ibex
- The source says
Only then would it start to groom and peck at the hide of the ibex.
Note: body; species named by the paper (Onycognathus tristramii); ADW's Quiscalus is a New World genus - The page saysTristram's grackles
- The source says
a flock of Tristram's grackles (Onycognathus tristramii)
Note: faq 2 - The page saysbirds about the size of a blackbird
- The source says
Tristram's Grackle resembles the Blackbird (Turdus merula) in size.
- The page saysland on an ibex's back
- The source says
a single Tristram's Grackle would fly to it and land on its back
- The page sayspick at its hide
- The source says
Only then would it start to groom and peck at the hide of the ibex.
- The page saysIn a two-year study in Israel
- The source says
During two years, we visited the area at dawn on 17 occasions
Note: study site Ein-Gedi, Israel: 'In Israel, along the western bank of the Great Rift valley' - The page saysonly one bird at a time cleaned an ibex
- The source says
In all instances, only one bird at a time was seen to clean an ibex.
- The page saysno competition for an ibex was seen
- The source says
No aggression or competition for the cleaning of an ibex was observed.
Note: contradicts SDZ's 'often compete for their ibex', which is cut
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.