Capra caucasica cylindricornis
East Caucasian tur

East Caucasian turs (Capra caucasica cylindricornis) are found along the Greater Caucasus mountain range. The eastern part of their range is well defined by Babadagh Mountain in Azerbaijan, but the western boundary is less definite. The southern portion of their range extends to the area of the headwaters of the Inguri River. In the north, the species ranges to Bezengi Cherek River or perhaps to the headwaters of the Malka River in the Elbrus Mountain massif. The total length of the range of the East Caucasian turs is about 500 km, if measured to Benzengi Cherek River. The distribution has changed little since the 19th century, when it was slightly wider, encompassing peripheral mountain ranges, more distant from the Main Watershed Range and the Side Range. (Weinberg, 2002)

Capra caucasica cylindricornis is found at elevations from 1,000 to 4,000 m, in forest, and alpine areas. However areas over 3,500 m are rarely visited. East Caucasian turs migrate from lower elevations during the winter into higher elevations during the summer. Females prefer to live in the forests whereas males prefer to live in the open grasslands. (Conservation International, 2002)

Capra caucasica cylindricornis displays marked sexual dimorphism in size, pelage and horn development. Females have a body length of 138 cm, shoulder height of 85 cm, and, weight of 56 kg. Males have a body length of 190 cm, shoulder height of 104 cm, and weight of 140 kg. The tail length is 11 to 15cm for both sexes. (Blue water big game, 2001)

The coat in males varies seasonally, from chestnut-brown with lighter underparts in the winter to an overall lighter rusty-brown color in the summer. The coat of females, juveniles, and yearlings is the same year round. (Blue water big game, 2001)

East Caucasian turs have a body that is thick and stout and supported by short legs. Like most goats, a beard is found on males and is most noticeable when these animals display their winter pelage. Unlike other goats, the skull of East Caucasian turs does not have a bulge on the forehead below the horns. The horn base is cyndrical, and the horns curve up and out from the forehead and then slightly down and inward curling at the tips. Female horns grow to 20 to 22 cm whereas males grow to 70 to 90 cm in length. (Blue water big game, 2001)

East Caucasian turs differ from other species of Caprids by having much shorter beards. They also lack the stripes on their forelegs that are typical of Siberian ibex, Nubian ibex, and wild goat. (Blue water big game, 2001)

The winter color of male C. caucasica cylindricornis is brown, helping to distinguish them from males in other populations of Capra caucasica, which are grayish-yellow at that time of year. Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) are also similar to C. caucasica cylindricornis. These animals have a similar color coat and a short beard, but can be easily distinguished from C. caucasica cylindricornis by differences in their horns. West Caucasian turs (C. caucasica caucasica) are smaller and less massive than East Caucasian turs (C. caucasica cylindricornis). (Blue water big game, 2001)

East Caucasian turs live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 22 years in captivity. ()

East Caucasian turs have seasonal migrations in which they alter their elevation by 1,500 to 2,000 m. They move up the mountain slopes following retreating snow in March and descend to low slopes in August. Males generally are solitary and inhabit higher elevations with more open areas than do females. Females prefer lowland forest areas. (Nowak, 1991)

In summer feeding occurs at intervals in late afternoon, night, and morning with the goats spending the hot hours of the day resting in sheltered places. In winter, herds remain in open pastures throughout the day grazing and resting. (Nowak, 1991)

There are three basic types of social units in this species. Females are found in groups with young, but there are also young male groups, and solitary males. Males are found with females only during the rutting season. Group sizes are usually around ten individuals, but group size fluctuates with precipitation levels. (Nowak, 1991)

East Caucasian turs have a hierarchical order in which adult males dominate younger males during the rut. Young males dominate females year-round, and females dominate yearlings and juveniles. (Nowak, 1991)

Home Range

The size of home ranges is 4 to 6 square km for female groups. Males have a larger home range.

East Caucasian turs have a variety of vocalizations. They have an alarm call that is a sharp and hissing whistle. Also females and kids bleat to each other. Males mark areas during the rutting season by debarking trees by rubbing their horns on the trunk and marking by rub against the bare place with postcornal area. These markings do not appear to be territorial, but only for identification purposes. LIke other mammals, there is tactile communication during agonistic encounters, as well as between individuals in a reproductive context. (Weinberg, 2002)

East Caucasian turs graze primarily on grass and shrubs. Grasses are eaten in autumn and begining of winter. Low shrubs such as Vaccium myrtillus are essential to East Caucasian turs in winter. Euonymus, Pinus, Rosa, and Salix are preferred browse. (Parker and Parker, 1990)

Young East Caucasian turs mature quickly and are able to run soon after birth. East Caucasian turs live in groups to help protect them from predators. They do not appear to have a very good alarm call. The alarm call is a sharp hissing whistle that is hard to hear. Natural predators include wolves. (Zeitschriftenverlag, 2002)

East Caucasian turs are herbivores that change the floral composition and diminish productivity of their feeding areas. They also use mineral licks. East Caucasian turs share their range with Chamois and may be the limiting factor in this species range. They appear to be sympatric with red deer. (Weinberg, 2002)

As a prey species, C. caucasica cylindricornis is likely to influence populations of its predators.

Capra caucasica cylindricornis provides habitat for a variety of parasites. They are known to be infected by tapeworms, flukes, 29 species nematodes, lice, ticks, and larvae of gadfly.

East Caucasian turs compete with livestock raised by the local people. (Weinberg, 2002)

Traditional use of hide and wool has been abandoned, but horns of East Caucasian turs are still valuable and widely used. The horns are used for home decoration and are often mounted in silver as traditional cups for wine and beer. (Weinberg, 2002)

East Caucasian turs are listed as vulnerable in IUCN. This is due to habitat destruction, and over hunting. (IUCN, 2002)

Fossil remains of East Caucasian turs are mentioned, but not described, from Late Pleistocene deposits from Caucasus Minor. It is unlikely that these are actually of C. caucasica cylindricornis, since its range does not include Caucasus Minor. However, if they are of this species, it would indicate that historically the range of the species differed from the current range. (Weinberg, 2002)