ARTIODACTYLA

Artiodactyla Id code: amd153

Bovidae
Capra nubiana

F. Cuvier, 1825

(Eng) Nubian ibex

(Fre) Bouquetin de Nubie

Taxonomic notes

Although treated by some authors as a subspecies of C. ibex, there is no general agreement (Wilson & Reder, 1993; Shackleton, 1997).

IUCN threat category

Endangered (EN: criteria C2a).

Available information

Literature available on this species mainly concerns its status and distribution; a few studies on its ecology were carried out in Israel (Alkon & Kohlmann, 1987; Kotler et al., 1994), and no literature on the subject is available for the African continent. Locations of specimens collected in Egypt are reported by Osborn & Helmy (1980); the authors also report some information on its habitat, diet, and habits. Its presence in Egypt is also documented in Krausman & Shaw (1986). Status and distribution in Saudi Arabia are analysed in Habibi & Grainger (1990), while some information on its presence in Ethiopia and Eritrea are reported by Yalden et al. (1996). General notes on its ecology and distribution are found in Kingdon (1997) and Stuart & Stuart (1997). Status and distribution throughout its range are discussed in Shackleton (1997).

Known extent of occurrence

This species ranges in Egypt east of Nile, Eritrea and north-east Sudan. There have been no recent systematic surveys except for the Sinai Peninsula, so most information comes from casual observations and secondhand reports. The map (8.6.45.a) is based on Shackleton (1997) and was reviewed by Dr. D. M. Schackleton (2 April '97).

Categorical-discrete (CD) distribution model

The species occurs in rocky mountains, gorges, outcrops and wadis; preference for arid rough terrain (Kingdon ,1997; Osborn & Helmy, 1980).

Based on these environmental preferences, the following scores were assigned: (Fig. 8.6.45.b) (8.6.45.a):

Score
1	Regs, hamadas, wadis; afromontane bushlands and grasslands; semi-desert vegetation.
2	Lowland East-African bushlands; absolute desert.
3	Croplands.

	suitable		moderately suitable		unsuitable		Total
OCCURRENCE	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%	km²	%
certain	22 501	36	446	1	4	0	22 951	37
possible	25 278	41	13 579	22	8	0	38 865	63
Total	47 779	77	14 025	23	12	0	61 816	100

Tab 8.6.45.a: Cumulative size (km²) of areas pertaining to each environmental suitability class within the Extent of Occurrence.

	Number Patches (NP)	Mean Patch Size (MPS) km²	Patch Size SD (PSSD) km²	Largest Patch Index (LPI) %	Mean Shape Index (MSI)	Area-Weighted Mean Shape Index (AWMSI)
suitable	11	4 359	7 289	39.83	1.48	2.33
moderately suitable	3	4 667	3 203	13.32	2.73	3.76
Total AO	10	6 195	9 588	53.15	1.37	2.15

Tab 8.6.45.b: Area of Occupancy fragmentation indexes.

Probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model

The output of the probabilistic-continuous (PC) distribution model is shown in Fig. 8.6.45.c.

Validation

No occurrence of the species within the four sample areas.

Comments and conservation issues

This species’ presence in Africa is uncertain and the range from Egypt to Eritrea can only be marked as "possible". The areas included in the suspected EO would all be suitable, but hunting and poaching have reduced the population to the present endangered status. Even if a few individuals were still present in the various pockets of suitable land in Africa, the obvious fragmentation would decrease their possibilities of survival. As shown by the models, suitable areas are still available, mainly in Sudan. However, virtually none of the current EO (and obviously of the AO) is included in any protected area.

OCCURRENCE	SUITABILITY CLASS	inside	outside	Total
certain	suitable	0.17	36.23	36.40
	moderately suitable	0	0.72	0.72
	unsuitable	0	0.01	0.01
possible	suitable	0.22	40.67	40.89
	moderately suitable	5.21	16.76	21.97
	unsuitable	0.01	0	0.01
Total		5.61	94.39	100

Tab 8.6.45.c: Percent of environmental suitability classes within EO (as obtained from the categorical-discrete distribution model) inside and outside the protected areas.

References

Alkon P.U., Kohlmann S.G. (1987). Nubian ibex in Israel: status, management, and research. World Conference on Mountain Ungulates. Università di Camerino, 4.

Habibi K., Grainger J. (1990). Distribution and status of Nubian ibex in Saudi Arabia. Oryx: 24(3), 138-142.

Kingdon J. (1997). The Kingdon field guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, London and New York: Natural World.

Kotler B.P., Gross J.E., Mitchell W.A. (1994). Applying patch use to assess aspects of foraging behaviour in Nubian ibex. J. Wildl. Mgmt.: 58(2), 299-307.

Krausman P.R., Shaw K. (1986). Nubian ibex in the Eastern Desert, Egypt. Oryx: 20(3), 176-177.

Osborn D.J., Helmy I. (1980). The contemporary land mammals of Egypt (including Sinai). Fieldiana: Zoology: 1309, 1-579.

Shackleton D.M. (Ed.) (1997). Wild sheep and goats and their relatives. IUCN/SSC Caprinae Specialist Group.

Stuart C., Stuart T. (1997). Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa. Struik Publishers.

Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) (1993). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

Yalden D.W., Largen M.J., Kock D., Hillman J.C. (1996). Catalogue of the mammals of Ethiopia and Eritrea. 7. Revised checklist, zoogeography and conservation. Tropical Zoology: 9, 73-164.