| Kouprey | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Aliases | Khmer: គោព្រៃ (Koŭprey) Forest ox Kouproh Grey ox | ||
| Classification | Bos sauveli | ||
| Species type | Bovine | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Environment | Forests | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Lifespan | 20 years | ||
| Reproduction | Sexual, viviparous | ||
| Average height | 1.7-1.9 m (5'6.93"-6'2.8") at shoulder | ||
| Average weight | 680-910 kg (1,500-2,010 lb) 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) (unverified) | ||
| Average length | Head-body: 2.1-2.3 m (6'10.68"-7'6.56") Tail: 1 m (3'3.37") | ||
| Locomotion | Quadrupedal | ||
| Feeding behavior | Herbivorous | ||
| Prey | Bamboo Ploong Koom | ||
| Predators | Humans (illegally) | ||
| Eye color | Black | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Related species | Aurochs† Gaur Banteng Cattle Domestic yak Gayal Miltank Tauros | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Deuterostomia | ||
| Phylum | Chordata | ||
| Subphylum | Vertebrata | ||
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata | ||
| Superclass | Tetrapoda | ||
| Class | Mammalia | ||
| Subclass | Theria | ||
| Infraclass | Placentalia | ||
| Superorder | Laurasiatheria | ||
| Order | Artiodactyla | ||
| Suborder | Ruminantia | ||
| Infraorder | Pecora | ||
| Family | Bovidae | ||
| Subfamily | Bovinae | ||
| Tribe | Bovini | ||
| Genus | Bos | ||
| Species | B. sauveli | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Critically Endangered | ||
| Creator | God (debated) | ||
| Possible population | <250 | ||
The kouprey (Bos sauveli) is a lesser-known forest-dwelling bovine native to Southeast Asia.
Description[]
The kouprey is believed to be a close relative of the aurochs (Bos primigenius), gaur (B. gaurus), and banteng (B. javanicus). A very large ungulate, the kouprey can approach similar sizes to the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee). These bovids measure 2.1 to 2.3 m (6.9 to 7.5 ft) along the head and body, not counting a 1 m (3.3 ft) tail and stand 1.7–1.9 m (5.6–6.2 ft) high at the shoulder. Their weight is reportedly from 680 to 910 kg (1,500 to 2,010 lb). Unverified reports of a body mass up to 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) from Vietnam are considered dubious, since they far exceed other recorded weights for the species.
Kouprey have tall, narrow, bodies, long legs and humped backs. They can be grey, dark brown or black. The horns of the female are lyre-shaped with antelope-like upward spirals. The horns of the male are wide and arch forward and upward; they begin to fray at the tips at about three years of age. Both sexes have notched nostrils and long tails.
Habitat and distribution[]
Historical distribution of this species included Cambodia, southern Laos, east Thailand, and western Vietnam. They are thought to be extinct in all areas outside of Cambodia. If still extant, it likely exists in Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary, Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Mondulkiri Protected Forest, and/or Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kouprey live in low, partially forested hills, where they eat mainly grass. Their preferred habitat is open forest and savannas often near thick monsoon forests. They are diurnal, eating in the open at night and under the forest cover during the day. They usually travel up to 15 km in a night.
They live in herds of up to 20 and are usually led by a single female. These herds generally consist of cows and calves but have bulls during the dry season. Older males form bachelor herds. Many herds are known to break up and rejoin as they travel and have been found to be mixed in with herds of banteng or wild buffalo.
Diet[]
The Kouprey graze on grasses, including bamboo, ploong, and koom. They also spend a lot of time around salt licks and water holes.
Status[]
There are estimated to be fewer than 250 kouprey left in the world. There is some speculation on whether or not they are already extinct.
These low numbers are attributed to uncontrolled hunting by locals and soldiers for meat, horns and skulls for use in traditional Chinese medicine, in conjunction with diseases introduced from cattle and loss of habitat due to agriculture and logging activity.