Common name: Nubian Ibex
Scientific name: Capra nubiana
Family: Bovidae

Size:
Body length: 100–140 cm
Shoulder height: 65–75 cm
Weight: 40–70 kg

Identification:
A medium-sized wild goat with a slender build and long, curved horns. Males have impressive, backward-arching horns with pronounced ridges, while females have shorter, thinner horns. The coat is sandy to light brown, helping it blend into rocky desert landscapes. Males often show darker markings on the chest, shoulders, and legs, especially during the breeding season.

Habitat:
Steep rocky mountains, cliffs, and arid highland environments. Strongly associated with rugged terrain that provides escape routes from predators.

Status in Lebanon:
Historically native but now extinct. Once inhabited mountainous regions but disappeared due to hunting and habitat pressure.

Diet:
Herbivorous — feeds on grasses, leaves, shrubs, and other vegetation.

Behavior:
Diurnal and highly agile. Excellent climber, capable of navigating steep cliffs with ease. Lives in small groups, often separated by sex outside the breeding season. Males compete during rut by clashing horns. Relies on elevation and terrain for safety.

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)