source of the photo above: https://www.voyagesphotosmanu.com/faune_pyrenees.html
The « Izard » or « Isard » is the Pyrenean chamois in English. It is from the family « Rupicabra » and forms also a sub-family of of the bovine « Caprinae » just like goats and sheeps. It is considered a genre of goat-antelope.
The « Izard » roams mainly in the Pyrenees mountains in Spain and France, the Cantabrian mountains in Spain and the Appenine mountains in Italy.
The female « Isard » can weigh anywhere between 25-32 kg (55-71 pounds) while the male can weigh between 25-40 kg (55-88 pounds). Their heights can be anywhere between 70 to 80 cm (2 feet 30 inches to 2 feet 60 inches), thus they are rather small. Their horns which both male and female have can measure up to 30 cm (.98 inches). The males, though, have a thicker horn with an anterior-posterior axis which presents a stronger and more pointed arch towards the back. The females’ horn are more brittle and less arqued toward the back and have a more rounded edge at the back. Below you can see a picture of what looks like a male’s horn.
Just like lions or some other animals, the male « Izard » lives a solitary life until it is time to mate in October and November while the female lives within a group of other females and their youngsters. The male « Isard » also is differentiated from the female by his stronger and more massive neck and by his horns being more spaced, more curved and shorter than the female’s horns.
The « Izards » have suffered throughout due to man’s encroachment on their territory and hunting until parks have been created and re-introduction of the « Isards » to the parks. They now number anywhere between 4000 to 8000 in all the Pyrenees.
The etymology of the word « Izard » or « Isard » seems to be contested. Some say that it comes from its pyrennean or Iberian word « Izardo » while other say it comes from the Basque langage « Izzara » meaning star.
The pronunciation of the word « Izard » or « Isard » is the same. The I is pronounced like the English letter « e » and the « zard » or « sard » is pronounces just like the « zard » of « lizard ».
So this was the letter I and next week will be the letter J. See you next week.
Lovely animal and interesting name…
Yes it is a nice looking animal. Thanks for visiting and commenting and up voting.
I hear about this animal for the first time so all the information is new to me. Thank you so much for sharing the interesting info
I am honored by your beautiful comment. Thank you for dropping in, reading, commenting and up voting.
I have never heard of the animal. Thanks for the information. You’ve expanded my knowledge of another animal I didn’t know.
Again I am elated you enjoyed my post. The Izard is only found in Europe but it was easy to research. Thanks for reading, commenting and up voting.
You are welcome and I am glad you enjoyed this presentation. Thanks for visiting, reading, commenting and up voting.
I have never heard of the animal. Thanks for the information. You’ve expanded my knowledge of another animal.
I love your twist, it makes the challenge interesting!
Great information on a very interesting animal!
Thanks Doc. I appreciate your comment, your visit and up vote.
I have never heard of the izard before . I thought you were going to talk about the lizard. LOL. Thanks for the info, nice to learn new things.
Ha Ha! I guess my mention of the lizard at the end might be confusing. Thanks for visiting, commenting and up voting.
This is a first for me too. I enjoy writing these posts as I love almost all animals (except for creepy crawlers, sorry). Thanks for reading, commenting and up voting.
You are very good at writing these, of course. Never doubted that for once.
Sorry I have missed your posts. This is so cool to read about an animal I have never seen.
Sorry Carol. See the above for a reply on your comment…