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30-399: The remains were discovered in 1938 by A. P. Okladnikov . They were found in a shallow pit, reported to be associated with five pairs of Siberian ibex horn cores. Through dental analysis the skull was said to have been an 8 to 11-year-old child. The horn cores were found around the perimeter of the grave surrounding the cranial remains. This has led a number of researchers to believe the child

60-602: A common ancestor ) or paraphyletic (excluding some descendants), these concepts do not apply to monotypic taxa because they contain only a single member. Monotypic taxa are part of a broader challenge in biological classification known as aphyly – situations where evolutionary relationships are poorly supported by evidence. This includes both monotypic groups and cases where traditional groupings are found to be artificial. Understanding how monotypic taxa fit into this bigger picture helps identify areas needing further research. The German lichenologist Robert Lücking suggests that

90-482: A hierarchical system. When taxonomists identify a monotypic taxon, this often reflects uncertainty about its relationships rather than true evolutionary isolation . This uncertainty is evident in many cases across different species. For instance, the diatom Licmophora juergensii is placed in a monotypic genus because scientists have not yet found clear evidence of its relationships to other species. Some taxonomists argue against monotypic taxa because they reduce

120-553: A natural classification. From a cladistic perspective, which focuses on shared derived characteristics to determine evolutionary relationships, the theoretical status of monotypic taxa is complex. Some argue they can only be justified when relationships cannot be resolved through synapomorphies (shared derived characteristics); otherwise, they would necessarily exclude related species and thus be paraphyletic. However, others contend that while most taxonomic groups can be classified as either monophyletic (containing all descendants of

150-459: Is a polytypic species of ibex , a wild relative of goats and sheep . It lives in Central Asia , and is, by far, the most widely-distributed species in the genus Capra . In terms of population stability, Siberian ibex are currently ranked as Near Threatened , mostly due to over-hunting (mainly by wealthy, foreign hunters), low densities (in most areas) and overall decline; still, reliable data

180-402: Is known as "Gregg's Paradox": if a single species is the only member of multiple hierarchical levels (for example, being the only species in its genus, which is the only genus in its family), then each level needs a distinct definition to maintain logical structure. Otherwise, the different taxonomic ranks become effectively identical, which creates problems for organizing biological diversity in

210-465: Is minimal and difficult to come by, in addition to the animals’ expansive natural range, so accurate observations are still scant. The Siberian ibex has, formerly, been treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian Alpine ibex , and whether or not it is a single species or a complex of distinct units that stand out as genetically-distinct (at species level) is still not entirely clear. The Siberian ibex

240-461: Is no burial at all. The remains are not dated. Based on the archaeology, fauna, and skeleton itself, it is thought to come from the Middle Palaeolithic (300,000 to 40,000 years ago). The Teshik-Tash skull was reconstructed from 150 bone fragments. The skull was crushed due to the several layers of sediment that lay on top of it. The Teshik-Tash skull’s dental analysis placed the age of

270-421: Is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera , the term "unispecific" or "monospecific" is sometimes preferred. In botanical nomenclature , a monotypic genus is a genus in the special case where a genus and a single species are simultaneously described. Monotypic taxa present several important theoretical challenges in biological classification . One key issue

300-407: Is particularly associated with island species. Among 25 documented extinct monotypic genera studied, 22 occurred on islands, with flightless animals being particularly vulnerable to human impacts. Just as the term monotypic is used to describe a taxon including only one subdivision, the contained taxon can also be referred to as monotypic within the higher-level taxon, e.g. a genus monotypic within

330-790: Is straight in profile, the neck short, and the back straight. The neck is also particularly thick and muscular in males, but much less so in females. Both sexes have beards, although the male's beard is more pronounced, and those of females are sometimes absent altogether. Both sexes also possess a large scent gland, about 3 cm (1.2 in) across, beneath the tail. The female's horns are relatively small, and grey-brown in colour, measuring an average of 27 cm (11 in) long. Those of fully-grown males are black and typically measure about 115 cm (45 in), although in extreme cases they can grow to 148 cm (58 in). Both sexes have circular rings around their horns that represent annual growth, but males also have large transverse ridges along

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360-715: Is suggested through consistent low levels of gene flow between Neanderthals and modern humans in the Near East. Prior to the discovery of the Teshik-Tash skull in 1938, it was thought that Neanderthals had not spread east enough to reach Central Asia. 37°57′57″N 67°09′23″E  /  37.96583°N 67.15639°E  / 37.96583; 67.15639 Siberian ibex The Siberian ibex ( Capra sibirica ), also known using regionalized names including Altai ibex, Asian ibex , Central Asian ibex , Gobi ibex , Himalayan ibex , Mongolian ibex or Tian Shan ibex ,

390-516: Is the longest and heaviest member of the genus Capra , though its shoulder height is slightly surpassed by the markhor . Siberian ibexes are large and heavily built goats, although individual sizes vary greatly. Males are between 88 and 110 cm (35 and 43 in) in shoulder height, and weigh between 60 and 130 kg (130 and 290 lb). Females are noticeably smaller, with heights between 67 and 92 cm (26 and 36 in), and weights between 34 and 56 kg (75 and 123 lb). The nose

420-664: The Canadian River canyon of New Mexico in the United States and a small population has been established. The Ladakh Scouts regiment of the Indian Army has the ibex as its mascot. The Ashina Dynasty of the Turkic Khaganate , had a Siberian ibex on their tamga . Monotypic In biology , a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group ( taxon ) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species

450-476: The tree line , in areas of steep slopes and rocky scree. Their habitat consists of a mixture of high altitude steppe, alpine meadows, and regions of semidesert . In the Gobi Desert , they may be found on hills as low as 700 m (2,300 ft), but they are more commonly found between about 2,000 and 5,000 metres (6,600 and 16,400 ft) in summer, descending to lower, sometimes sparsely forested, slopes during

480-530: The Teshik-Tash skull and mandible outside the variation of the Neanderthals and associated it with Upper Paleolithic humans. mtDNA analysis was conducted on the Teshik-Tash skull which confirmed that the skull was Neanderthal. Further genetic research concluded that near-eastern Neanderthals were somewhat segregated from northwestern European Neanderthals and early Neanderthals along the Mediterranean. This data

510-445: The absence of a strong chin. Other midfacial features of the skull such as the lingual of the mandibular foramen were said to be more characteristic of modern humans than Neanderthals. The morphological features of the Teshik-Tash skull lead researchers to question the classification as some argued that it was closer in morphological association with Upper Paleolithic Homo sapiens . Statistical analysis of 27 linear measurements placed

540-535: The adult males, and do not always have the stripe down the back. Siberian ibexes typically moult between April and July, developing their paler summer coat, which continues to grow and become darker as the year progresses, reaching the full winter condition around December. Though some recent authorities treat the species as monotypic , others have recognized four subspecies , based mainly on differences in total size, size of horns and colour of pelage : The rut takes place from late October to early January. During

570-610: The birth of a single kid, although twins occur in up to 14% of births, and triplets are born on rare occasions. Newborn kids weigh about 3 kg (6.6 lb), and grow rapidly during their first year. The horns are visible after about three to four weeks. They begin to eat grass as little as eight days after birth, but do not do so regularly until they are about one month old, and are not fully weaned until six months. Males are sexually mature at eighteen months, but do not reach their full adult size for nine years. Females first breed in their second year. Males typically live for ten years in

600-745: The common application of the term monotypic is frequently misleading, "since each taxon by definition contains exactly one type and is hence "monotypic", regardless of the total number of units", and suggests using "monospecific" for a genus with a single species, and "monotaxonomic" for a taxon containing only one unit. Species in monotypic genera tend to be more threatened with extinction than average species. Studies have found this pattern particularly pronounced in amphibians , where about 6.56% of monotypic genera are critically endangered , compared to birds and mammals where around 4.54% and 4.02% of monotypic genera face critical endangerment respectively. Studies have found that extinction of monotypic genera

630-501: The front surface. The exact shape of the horns varies considerably between individuals. The colouration is also variable, from dark brown to light tan, with some reddish individuals. There is usually a stripe of darker hair down the centre of the back and onto the tail, and some males have saddle-like patches on the back in the winter. The undersides are paler, and, in the winter, mature males becoming much darker with white patches. Females and infants are generally more bland in colour than

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660-459: The hominid between 8–9 years old at the time of death. The size of the skull was relatively larger than that of a modern child’s skull of the same age. Archaeologists suggested that this was because Neanderthals have a faster rate of growth than modern Homo sapiens adolescences. The skull is larger and taller and exhibited typical Neanderthal traits such as an occipital bun, oval-shaped foramen magnum, shovel-shaped incisors, supraorbital ridge, and

690-427: The information content of biological classifications. As taxonomists Backlund and Bremer explain in their critique, "'Monotypic' taxa do not provide any information about the relationships of the immediately subordinate taxon". When monotypic taxa are sister to a single larger group, they might be merged into that group; however, when they are sister to multiple other groups, they may need to remain separate to maintain

720-672: The local population; about 5-30 is most common, although they can become much larger during the rut. Outside of the rut, most herds are single-sex, although some mixed-sex herds persist throughout the year. Herds spend much of the day grazing, spending an hour or more at each location before moving on. Males and female exhibit different behaviors in choosing feeding grounds, herd size, and protection. Although there are several herds consisting of both, herds can be divided by sex and food availability. In times of high vegetation, groups are larger with less competition for resources. Diet overlap between females and males and mixed-sex herds increase during

750-422: The rut, the males spend considerable effort courting females, and they are often emaciated from lack of grazing by the time it ends. Courtship lasts for over 30 minutes, and consists of licking, ritualised postures, and flehmen if the female urinates. Males compete for dominance during the rut, rearing up on their hind legs and clashing their horns together. Gestation lasts 170 to 180 days, and usually results in

780-453: The weather has cooled. When snow is heavy, they have to paw away snow to reach the vegetation below. Their diet primarily consists of alpine grasses and herbs . During spring and summer, grasses and sedges form the bulk of their diet, while during winter they eat more tall herbs, and the twigs and needles of trees such as aspen , spruce , juniper , and willow . During the summer, they often visit salt licks . Herds vary in size depending on

810-441: The wild, and females for up to seventeen years. They have been reported to live for up to 22 years in captivity. Usually living at high elevations, sometimes at the vegetation line and well above the tree line , Siberian ibexes seek out lower slopes during the winter in search of food. They have also been known to seek out tree lines on hot days, but they do not enter forested areas, preferring to return to their alpine habitat when

840-485: The winter, but decrease in the summer. Since females prioritize health and safety of their offspring, they are more frequently near water sources and spread around elevations with the most nutrient-rich vegetation, as well as increasing their vigilance towards predators. The main predators of Siberian ibex are Himalayan wolves , dholes , snow leopards , and brown bears ; young ibex may also fall prey to lynxes , foxes , and eagles . Siberian ibexes live mostly above

870-496: The winter. In Tajikistan, the ibex distribution is controlled by climatic variables such as seasonal temperature and precipitation of warmest quarter. Most Siberian ibexes are seen in central and northern Asia, Afghanistan , western and northern China (primarily Xinjiang ), north-western India , south-eastern Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , eastern Uzbekistan , Mongolia , northern Pakistan , and south-central Russia . In 1978, 40 Siberian ibexes were introduced into

900-404: Was ritually buried. The site was excavated in five cultural layers of sediment with Mousterian artifacts. Lack of adequate published material on the excavation and the numerous Ibex bones (761) found led to this interpretation being questioned. Paul Mellars , questioning the ritual interpretation suggested that the bones may not have been deliberately placed. Others (e.g., Gargett) believe it

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