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If you wanted to see a takin in the wild , where could you go?

The Himalayas in the Tibet region of China. Takin can be found in Tibet, Bhutan, and the southcentral and western regions of China at elevations of 6500-15000 feet. They prefer densely wooded areas and are very comfortable on rocky slopes and cliffs.

Which sexes of takin have horns?

Both sexes of takin have horns. This is a common occurence in the Family Bovidae, to which takins belong. All bovids who carry "head ornamentation" have horns, never antlers. Horns are permanent, whereas antlers are shed periodically and regrown. Cervids (true deer) are animals which carry antlers rather than horns.

What is the scientific name of the takin?

Budorcas taxicolor. The scientific name of the takin is Budorcas taxicolor. "Budorcas" comes from the Greek "bu" meaning ox and "dorkas" meaning gazelle. "Taxicolor" comes from the Latin "taxi" meaning badger and "color" meaning (you guessed it!) color. Badger color is meant here to be a yellowish gray. Put it all together and you get a yellowish gray ox-like gazelle. Taurotragus oryx is the name for the common eland. Capra nubiana is the name for the Nubian ibex. Hippotragus niger is the name for the sable antelope. (Name meaning information from The Ultimate Ungulate website authored by Brent Huffman.)

Takins belong to this subfamily which includes turs, tahrs, serows, gorals, and chamois.

Subfamily Caprinae. Takin belong to the Subfamily Caprinae, which includes not only the animals listed in the question, but goats, sheep, and musk oxen as well. Aepycerotinae is the subfamily of the impala. Antilopinae is a subfamily containing many of the more well-known gazelles, including klipspringers, dik-diks, Thompson's gazelles, and gerenuk. Hippotraginae is the subfamily of the addax and all oryx species.

As a species, takin are considered by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) to be what status?

Vulnerable. The takin, as a species, is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. Two subspecies of takin, Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi and Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor are considered endangered.

One subspecies of takin, often called the Shensi takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi), has a uniquely colored coat of hair. What color is it?

Yellowish gold. The Shensi takin is also called the golden takin. The Mishmi takin (Budorcas taxicolor taxicolor) has a straw brown colored coat. Other takin subspecies (B.t. tibetana, the Tibetan takin, and B.t. whitei, the Bhutan takin) have coats that are reddish-brown to brownish-black. Want to see a golden takin? You may have a long way to go! No U.S. zoos currently exhibit golden takin (or Bhutan takin, for that matter). The Mishmi takin can be seen at Denver Zoo and the San Diego Zoo. The Tibetan (Sichuan) takin can be seen at 11 zoos across the United States.

The young of the takin are referred to as what?

Kids. Like their relatives, the goats, takin babies are called kids. Many antelope have babies called calves, as do cattle. Foals are baby horses, zebras, and other equines. I made up "takette".

Some scholars believe the takin had a role in one of the most well-known ancient Greek myths. How do they think the takin might figure in?

The takin supplied the golden fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts.. Some scholars think that the Shensi takin's (golden takin's) golden coat of woolly hair helped inspire the golden fleece myth.

Takin are mountain dwelling ungulates. What are they likely to eat?

Leaves and twigs. The takin is a browser and eats mostly the leaves and twigs of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees.

Considering the habitat and region in which takin reside, what predators might prey on them?

Bears and wolves. Bears and wolves are considered the main predators of takin. I hope you've enjoyed learning about the takin! For more information on takin and where you can see them, try the following resources: Walker's Mammals of the World: Volume II Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals The Smithsonian Institution's Mammal Species of the World (available online at http://nmnhwwww.si.edu/msw/) The Ultimate Ungulate Page (www.ultimateungulate.com) The International Species Information System (www.isis.org) Animal Diversity Web (http://animaldiversity.unmz.umich.edu)