Japanese Serow - Definition

The Japanese Serow, or Kamoshika (Nemorhaedus crispus) is a goat-antelope found in dense woodland on Honshu, Japan.

Japanese Serow stand 60 to 90 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 30 to 130 kilograms. Japanese Serow are mottled brown and white and black underneath. Their fur is very bushy, their tails especially. Both sexes have short 10 centimetre horns, which curve backwards.

Japanese Serow are found in dense hillside forests where they eat leaves, and acorns. Japanese Serow are diurnal, feeding in the mornings and evenings and resting under rock ledges for the remainder of the day. Japanese Serow are solitary, or gather in couples, sometimes with kids as well. Generally they live in small ranges, around 2 hectares for individuals and up to 20 hectares for larger groups. Ranges are marked with a substance similar to vinegar that is secreted from the Serow's pre-orbital gland, which is just in front of the eye.