棲息(xi)在海拔(ba)2100—6300米之間的高山裸巖地帶,不同地區棲息(xi)的高度有(you)所變(bian)化(hua),但不見于森林及灌木叢中,有(you)較強的耐寒(han)性。
分(fen)布于中(zhong)國(guo)青藏高原、四(si)川西(xi)部(bu)(bu)、云南(nan)北(bei)部(bu)(bu)、內蒙古西(xi)部(bu)(bu)、甘肅(su)、寧夏北(bei)部(bu)(bu)、新(xin)疆南(nan)部(bu)(bu)、陜西(xi)等地,以(yi)及毗鄰的尼泊(bo)爾(er)、錫(xi)金、克什米爾(er)地區。
巖(yan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)又叫(jiao)崖(ya)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)、石羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)、青(qing)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)等,形態介于綿(mian)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)與山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)之(zhi)(zhi)間,外貌也確實(shi)兼(jian)有(you)這兩類(lei)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)些特征。就體(ti)(ti)形而(er)(er)(er)(er)言,巖(yan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)很(hen)象綿(mian)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang),不(bu)過它的(de)(de)(de)角不(bu)盤(pan)旋,而(er)(er)(er)(er)近(jin)似山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang),但雄(xiong)獸(shou)的(de)(de)(de)下頜又沒有(you)胡須,也沒有(you)膻味。它的(de)(de)(de)體(ti)(ti)形中等,體(ti)(ti)長(chang)(chang)120—140厘(li)米(mi)(mi),尾長(chang)(chang)13—20厘(li)米(mi)(mi),肩高70—90厘(li)米(mi)(mi),體(ti)(ti)重為(wei)(wei)(wei)60—75千克。頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)長(chang)(chang)而(er)(er)(er)(er)狹,耳朵短(duan)(duan)小。通身均為(wei)(wei)(wei)青(qing)灰色(se),吻(wen)部(bu)(bu)(bu)和(he)顏面部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)灰白色(se)與黑(hei)色(se)相混(hun),胸(xiong)部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)黑(hei)褐色(se),向(xiang)下延伸到(dao)前肢(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)前面,轉為(wei)(wei)(wei)明顯(xian)的(de)(de)(de)黑(hei)紋(wen),直(zhi)達蹄(ti)部(bu)(bu)(bu)。腹部(bu)(bu)(bu)和(he)四肢(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)內側則呈白色(se)或黃(huang)白色(se)。體(ti)(ti)側的(de)(de)(de)下緣(yuan)從腋下開(kai)始,經腰部(bu)(bu)(bu)、鼠鼷(xi)部(bu)(bu)(bu),一(yi)(yi)(yi)直(zhi)到(dao)后(hou)肢(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)前面蹄(ti)子上(shang)邊,有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)條明顯(xian)的(de)(de)(de)黑(hei)紋(wen)。臀部(bu)(bu)(bu)和(he)尾巴的(de)(de)(de)底部(bu)(bu)(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)白色(se),尾巴背面末端(duan)(duan)的(de)(de)(de)三分之(zhi)(zhi)二為(wei)(wei)(wei)黑(hei)色(se)。冬(dong)季體(ti)(ti)毛(mao)比夏(xia)季長(chang)(chang)而(er)(er)(er)(er)色(se)淡。雄(xiong)獸(shou)的(de)(de)(de)四肢(zhi)前緣(yuan)有(you)黑(hei)紋(wen),而(er)(er)(er)(er)雌獸(shou)則沒有(you)。雄(xiong)獸(shou)和(he)雌獸(shou)都有(you)角,但雌獸(shou)的(de)(de)(de)角很(hen)短(duan)(duan),僅有(you)13厘(li)米(mi)(mi)左右,基(ji)部(bu)(bu)(bu)扁,角形直(zhi),往上(shang)逐漸(jian)變得尖細(xi),橫切面幾乎(hu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)圓形。雄(xiong)獸(shou)的(de)(de)(de)角的(de)(de)(de)長(chang)(chang)度為(wei)(wei)(wei)60厘(li)米(mi)(mi)左右,最(zui)高記錄為(wei)(wei)(wei)84.4厘(li)米(mi)(mi),既不(bu)像盤(pan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)那(nei)樣(yang)盤(pan)成螺旋形,而(er)(er)(er)(er)且有(you)很(hen)多褶皺(zhou)和(he)顆粒,也不(bu)象北(bei)山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)那(nei)樣(yang)朝(chao)后(hou)呈彎刀形,而(er)(er)(er)(er)且具橫棱(leng),而(er)(er)(er)(er)是(shi)先(xian)向(xiang)上(shang),再向(xiang)兩側分開(kai)外展(zhan),然后(hou)在一(yi)(yi)(yi)半處稍向(xiang)后(hou)彎,角尖略(lve)微偏向(xiang)上(shang)方,整個(ge)角的(de)(de)(de)表面都比較光(guang)滑,末端(duan)(duan)尖細(xi),角基(ji)略(lve)有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)些粗而(er)(er)(er)(er)模(mo)糊的(de)(de)(de)橫棱(leng),橫切面為(wei)(wei)(wei)圓形或鈍三角形,雖然沒有(you)盤(pan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)和(he)北(bei)山(shan)(shan)羊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)角那(nei)樣(yang)奇(qi)特,但也因為(wei)(wei)(wei)特別粗大,顯(xian)得十分雄(xiong)偉(wei)。
躺臥在(zai)草地(di)(di)上時(shi)(shi),身體(ti)的(de)(de)(de)(de)顏(yan)色與草地(di)(di)上的(de)(de)(de)(de)裸露巖(yan)(yan)石極難分辨(bian),因而有(you)保護作用。雖然經常(chang)出(chu)現(xian)于(yu)(yu)比較開闊(kuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)方,但其(qi)攀登山巒的(de)(de)(de)(de)本領在(zai)動物(wu)中(zhong)是無與倫比的(de)(de)(de)(de)。受驚時(shi)(shi)能(neng)在(zai)亂石間迅(xun)速跳躍(yue),并攀上險峻(jun)陡峭(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)山崖。但也有(you)一(yi)個(ge)致命的(de)(de)(de)(de)弱點,逃到(dao)山脊上以后,總(zong)要(yao)回(hui)過頭來看一(yi)看,再飛奔而逃,而往(wang)往(wang)在(zai)這(zhe)個(ge)時(shi)(shi)候喪生(sheng)。它有(you)遷移習性,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)生(sheng)活在(zai)大約海拔(ba)2400米處,春夏常(chang)棲于(yu)(yu)海拔(ba)3500—6000米之間,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)和(he)夏季(ji)(ji)都不(bu)(bu)(bu)下(xia)降(jiang)到(dao)林線以下(xia)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)方活動。性喜群(qun)居,常(chang)十(shi)多只(zhi)或幾十(shi)只(zhi)在(zai)一(yi)起活動,有(you)時(shi)(shi)也可結成(cheng)數(shu)百(bai)只(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)大群(qun)。群(qun)體(ti)成(cheng)員(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)依戀性很強,如果有(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)成(cheng)員(yuan)不(bu)(bu)(bu)幸死亡,其(qi)他(ta)成(cheng)員(yuan)常(chang)將死尸圍住,不(bu)(bu)(bu)讓兀(wu)鷲等食(shi)腐動物(wu)叼走。夏季(ji)(ji)雄獸有(you)時(shi)(shi)五六只(zhi)在(zai)一(yi)起,爬上最高的(de)(de)(de)(de)頂峰(feng)上棲息(xi)(xi),到(dao)秋季(ji)(ji)發情期時(shi)(shi)才下(xia)來加入大群(qun)中(zhong)同居。有(you)時(shi)(shi),巖(yan)(yan)羊(yang)(yang)與北山羊(yang)(yang)也會在(zai)同一(yi)處棲息(xi)(xi),但不(bu)(bu)(bu)混群(qun),也不(bu)(bu)(bu)發生(sheng)沖突。
主要以(yi)蒿草、苔草、針茅等(deng)高山荒漠植物和杜鵑、繡線(xian)菊、金(jin)露梅等(deng)灌木的枝葉(xie)為食,取食時(shi)間(jian)不十分固(gu)定(ding),白天常時(shi)而取食時(shi)而休息。
巖(yan)羊(yang)每年冬季12月(yue)(yue)至(zhi)翌年1月(yue)(yue)發情交配。雄獸之間的爭偶形式(shi)于其(qi)(qi)他(ta)(ta)羊(yang)類(lei)相似,但沒有其(qi)(qi)他(ta)(ta)羊(yang)類(lei)激烈。雌(ci)獸的懷孕期為5—6個月(yue)(yue),6—7月(yue)(yue)生(sheng)產(chan)(chan),每胎產(chan)(chan)1仔(zi)。幼仔(zi)出生(sheng)10天后就(jiu)能在巖(yan)石(shi)上攀(pan)登,1.5—2歲時(shi)性成熟。壽命為18—20年。
巖羊在動(dong)物(wu)園中比較(jiao)(jiao)容易繁殖。交配期在秋末冬初(chu),孕后(hou)將公羊分(fen)開(kai),以免追逐雌獸導致流(liu)產(chan)。6、7月(yue)產(chan)仔。產(chan)后(hou)2小時(shi)身上毛干即可站立活動(dong)。如果(guo)初(chu)產(chan),不(bu)善哺(bu)乳,可輔助吸乳。幼羔生長較(jiao)(jiao)快(kuai),3個月(yue)后(hou)即可斷奶。半歲后(hou)開(kai)始(shi)長角,2歲性成熟(shu)。
邱明江在(zai)(zai)(zai)青(qing)(qing)(qing)海(hai)(hai)唐古拉山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)對有(you)(you)(you)蹄類(lei)作路線統計,巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊每平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)有(you)(you)(you)0.17只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。在(zai)(zai)(zai)四川石渠和(he)(he)白玉(yu)等(deng)地(di)(di),百只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)以(yi)上的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大群經常(chang)可見(jian)(jian)。估(gu)(gu)計它們(men)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)數(shu)(shu)量(liang)會超過10萬只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)以(yi)上(盛和(he)(he)林(lin),1958)。以(yi)下為(wei)幾(ji)位作者(zhe)對部(bu)分(fen)地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種群數(shu)(shu)量(liang)調(diao)查(cha)結果(guo):鹽池(chi)灣自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(甘(gan)肅(su))3.301只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li),總(zong)數(shu)(shu)為(wei)469只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/4248平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Zhen, et. al., 1989);阿爾(er)(er)(er)泰(tai)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(新疆(jiang))4.5只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Gu, et. al., 1990);塔什庫爾(er)(er)(er)干(gan)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(新疆(jiang))2.5只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li),總(zong)數(shu)(shu)為(wei)260只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/120平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Schaller, et. al., 1987);塔什庫爾(er)(er)(er)干(gan)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(新疆(jiang))0.2只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/ 平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li),總(zong)數(shu)(shu)為(wei)31只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/150 平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Schaller, et. al., 1987);阿爾(er)(er)(er)金(jin)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)為(wei)50只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/391平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Luo, et. al., 1991);阿爾(er)(er)(er)泰(tai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)為(wei)9.4只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li),總(zong)數(shu)(shu)為(wei) 307只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/312 平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Luo, et. al., 1991);阿爾(er)(er)(er)泰(tai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)部(bu)0.5-9.2只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)/平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(Gu, et. al. 1991)。Luo等(deng)1991年(nian)估(gu)(gu)計阿爾(er)(er)(er)泰(tai)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)部(bu)703平(ping)(ping)方(fang)(fang)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)里(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)面積上有(you)(you)(you)西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊357只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi);谷景(jing)和(he)(he)等(deng)(1991)估(gu)(gu)計新疆(jiang)界內西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)高原(yuan)北部(bu)有(you)(you)(you)8000-10000只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi);1990年(nian)估(gu)(gu)計阿爾(er)(er)(er)金(jin)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)自然(ran)(ran)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(新疆(jiang))有(you)(you)(you)10000只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。然(ran)(ran)而,Achuff和(he)(he)Petocz(1988)認為(wei)這些估(gu)(gu)計數(shu)(shu)據過于樂觀。Schaller(1990)認為(wei)在(zai)(zai)(zai)西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)羌(qiang)塘的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)種群密度比估(gu)(gu)計的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)要低(di)得多(duo),因為(wei)他在(zai)(zai)(zai)沿該地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)7142km長的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)距離僅(jin)觀察到(dao)(dao)426只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊。但可以(yi)肯定(ding),西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊在(zai)(zai)(zai)西(xi)(xi)藏(zang)(zang)北部(bu)和(he)(he)昆侖山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)無人居住(zhu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)數(shu)(shu)量(liang)比較豐富(fu)。在(zai)(zai)(zai)昆侖山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)、喀拉昆侖和(he)(he)帕(pa)米(mi)爾(er)(er)(er)交匯處的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)塔什庫爾(er)(er)(er)干(gan)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)數(shu)(shu)量(liang)相對比較豐富(fu)(Schaller等(deng),1988)。還沒(mei)有(you)(you)(you)有(you)(you)(you)關四川巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)總(zong)數(shu)(shu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)報(bao)道。1986和(he)(he)1988年(nian)在(zai)(zai)(zai)青(qing)(qing)(qing)海(hai)(hai)東(dong)南部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)玉(yu)樹和(he)(he)果(guo)洛(luo)兩地(di)(di)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)調(diao)查(cha)表明有(you)(you)(you)144群,共4470只(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(Ren and Yu,1990)。1962年(nian),估(gu)(gu)計青(qing)(qing)(qing)海(hai)(hai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)四川巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊總(zong)數(shu)(shu)為(wei)120萬頭(tou),其中26.7萬頭(tou)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)部(bu)地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)。而1972年(nian)調(diao)查(cha),青(qing)(qing)(qing)海(hai)(hai)東(dong)部(bu)大約(yue)有(you)(you)(you)9.2萬頭(tou),可見(jian)(jian)種群數(shu)(shu)量(liang)在(zai)(zai)(zai)減少,而且種群常(chang)被分(fen)割。Harris (1998)就1997年(nian)在(zai)(zai)(zai)甘(gan)肅(su)西(xi)(xi)部(bu)阿克塞地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)考察報(bao)道稱:在(zai)(zai)(zai)甘(gan)肅(su)阿克塞地(di)(di)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)見(jian)(jian)到(dao)(dao)42頭(tou),在(zai)(zai)(zai)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)羊保(bao)護(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)(qu)見(jian)(jian)到(dao)(dao)70頭(tou)。
種群增(zeng)長影響(xiang)的主要因(yin)素(su)是(shi)普遍的任意(yi)獵殺。從1958年到(dao)1989年間,每年有(you)10萬(wan)到(dao)20萬(wan)kg的巖羊(yang)肉從青(qing)海(hai)出口到(dao)德國(guo)等地(di)。即每年大約有(you)5000到(dao)10000只巖羊(yang)被殺。該數(shu)據還不包括那些被當(dang)地(di)獵人捕殺的數(shu)量。
2014年12月12日,巖羊(yang)(yang)在(zai)山(shan)(shan)壁(bi)上活(huo)動。進入冬季,寧夏賀(he)蘭山(shan)(shan)標志性生物(wu)、國家二級保護動物(wu)巖羊(yang)(yang)開始有(you)規律地在(zai)山(shan)(shan)腳下活(huo)動,尋(xun)找水源和食物(wu)。近年來,由于(yu)封(feng)山(shan)(shan)禁(jin)牧、退(tui)耕還林(lin)等政策,寧夏賀(he)蘭山(shan)(shan)一帶生態系統逐步恢(hui)復(fu),巖羊(yang)(yang)數量穩中有(you)升,目前(qian)(qian)分布達到每平方公里14到17只,總量也由封(feng)山(shan)(shan)禁(jin)牧前(qian)(qian)的(de)1萬(wan)余只增加到現在(zai)的(de)2萬(wan)只以上。
列入中國(guo)國(guo)家二級重點保護野(ye)生動物名錄(lu)。
列入《世界自然保護聯盟》(IUCN) 2012年(nian)瀕危(wei)物(wu)種紅色(se)名錄ver 3.1——低危(wei)(LC)。