Unicorn (Sefdaania)

Unicorn - Alcelaphus monoceros spp.

Scientific classification

• kingdom - Animalia
  • phylum - Chordata
    • subphylum - Vertebrata
      • class - Mammalia
        • subclass - Theria
          • infraclass - Eutheria (Placentalia)
            • order - Cetartiodactyla
              • suborder - Ruminantia
                • infraorder - Pecora
                  • superfamily - Bovoidea
                    • family - Bovidae
                      • subfamily - Alcelaphinae
                        • tribe - Alcelaphini
                          • genus - Alcelaphus
                            • species - monoceros
                              • subspecies campicultrix
                              • subspecies sylvicultrix
                              • subspecies nanus
                              • subspecies domesticus

Alcelaphus monoceros campicultrix - steppe unicorn - paṙĸę́ndes

General characteristics

• Body length: 4.5-5 ft.
• Shoulder height: 3-4 ft.
• Tail length: 1.5-2 ft.
• Weight: 100-120 lb.
• The color of A. m. campicultrix is a very light tan. The underparts, including the underside of the dark brown tail and the lower legs, are white. The water-resistant coat is composed of a wooly underlayer and a coarse set of bristly hairs which protect the unicorn from the elements. The all white winter coat is thicker and longer, although the tail does not become white in the winter. The shoulders are at approximately the same height as the hind-quarters. The legs are proportionately long and built for speed. The hooves are wide and splay for ease of walking on river banks. The second and fifth digits are reduced. The head is proportional to the body, looking much like that of a goat. The smooth horns arise from one pedicel set high, turn sharply inward, then upward and twist around each other so that there appears to be but one horn, having one very sharp tip. Horns are found in both sexes. In the male, they may grow to almost three feet in length, resulting in a neck thick with muscle. The horns of the female seldom grow longer than 1.5 feet. The mature male sports a beard which is of the same color as the underside.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

• Gestation period: About 8 months.
• Young per birth: 1, rarely twins.
• Weaning: After 4 months.
• Sexual Maturity: Females, after their second summer; males, after their fourth summer.
• Life span: 10-12 years.
• Breeding takes place in the fall of the year during a period of about 4 weeks. Lambing takes place in the springtime after the new growth has begun. The kids are without scent and are hidden in the tall grass for the first 4-5 days of life, after which time they join the herd. By this time they can outrun or outmaneuver their predators.

Ecology and Behavior

• Like many species of antelope, the A. m. campicultrix is primarily diurnal, grazing in the early morning and late afternoon, and resting in a shaded area during the hottest part of the day. During feeding periods, a sentry watches for predators. When fleeing, the herd can reach speeds of up to 80 km./50 mph., a speed they can maintain for close to 10 miles. At maturity, bucks attempt to attract and hold a harem of 6-8 does along prime sites near river banks. Females and males alike are generally non-aggressive, although they have been seen to attack a lone predator in defense of territory or of their young. Vocalization consists of grunts and bleats. Sight, smell and hearing are all highly developed. They are excellent swimmers.
• Family group: Outside of the breeding season the herds are sexually segregated, forming herds of 25-30 does and their non-weaned kids, and herds of 10-15 bucks, both immature and mature, which graze in proximity to the herds of does.
• Diet: Grasses, sedges, and water plants.
• Main predators: Lions, leopards, cave bears, and wolves. Cheetahs, hyenas, and eagles prey on the kids.

Distribution

• Open areas in tall and short grass from the plains of eastern Europe, through the steppes of Russia and Ukraine, north of the Caucasus Mountains to the edge of the Mongolian desert.

Alcelaphus monoceros sylvicultrix - forest unicorn - ĸaþĸę́ndes

General characteristics

• Body length cm./3.5-4 ft.
• Shoulder height cm./3-3.5 ft.
• Tail length /1-1.5 ft.
• Weight kg./90-100 lb.
• A. m. sylvicultrix is adapted to life in the forest. The body is of a smaller size for maneuverability in the dense forests. It is of a much darker brown than A. m. campicultrix. The underparts, including the underside of the dark brown tail and the lower legs, are a lighter shade of brown. The water-resistant coat is composed of a wooly underlayer and a coarse set of bristly hairs which protect the unicorn from the elements. The winter coat, brown with patches of white, is thicker and longer, although the tail does not become white in the winter. The shoulders are at approximately the same height as the hindquarters. The legs are proportionately short and built for maneuverability. The hooves are short with sharp edges for digging in forest litter and for gripping the ground when turning. The second and fifth digits are reduced. The head is proportional to the body, looking much like that of a goat. The smooth horns arise from one pedicel set high, turn sharply inward, then upward and twist around each other so that there appears to be but one horn, having one very sharp tip. Horns are found in both sexes. In both sexes they seldom grow longer than one foot. The mature male sports a beard which is of the same color as the underside.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

• Gestation period: About 8 months.
• Young per birth: 1, rarely twins.
• Weaning: After 4 months.
• Sexual Maturity: Females, after their second summer; males, after their fourth summer.
• Life span: 10-12 years.
• Breeding takes place in the fall of the year during a period of about 4 weeks, when the forest floor is littered with mast. Lambing takes place in the springtime after the new growth has begun. The kids are without scent and are hidden in the dense undergrowth for the first 4-5 days of life, after which time they join the herd. By this time they can outrun or outmaneuver their predators.

Ecology and Behavior

• Like many species of antelope, A. m. sylvicultrix is primarily diurnal, browsing in the early morning and late afternoon, and resting in dense underbrush during the hottest part of the day. When fleeing a predator, A. m. sylvicultrix is skilled at maneuvering throught the forest, dodging under and leaping over obstacles. At maturity, bucks attempt to attract and hold a harem of 2-3 does in an area heavy with mast. Females and males alike are generally non-aggressive, although when cornered by a lone predator in defense of territory or of their young, they use their horns effectively. Vocalization consists of grunts and bleats. The bleats are of a higher pitch than those of A. m. campicultrix so that the sound will carry in the forest. Smell and hearing are all highly developed. Sight is not as acute as it is in A. m. campicultrix.
• Family group: Outside of the breeding season the females form herds of 5-8 does with their non-weaned kids. The bucks, both immature and mature, are solitary.
• Diet: Leaves, flowers, berries, fungi, mast.
• Main predators: Wolves and bears. Wild cats and lynxes prey on the kids.

Distribution

• The deciduous forests of Europe north of the Pyrenees and Alps.

Alcelaphus monoceros nanus - dwarf unicorn - dùṙqëĸę́ndes

General characteristics

• Body length /2-3 ft.
• Shoulder height 1.5-2 ft.
• Tail length 6-8 in.
• Weight 80-90 lb.
• A. m. nanus is adapted to life in the mountains. The body is a smaller size than that of A. m. campicultrix to conserve heat in the cold environment. It shares the coloration of A. m. sylvicultrix, dark brown on the back and sides with the underparts, including the underside of the dark brown tail and the lower legs, a lighter shade of brown. The water-resistant coat is composed of a wooly underlayer and a coarse set of bristly hairs which protect the unicorn from the elements. The winter coat turns completely white in winter, with the hair thicker and longer, although the tail does not become white. The shoulders are at approximately the same height as the hindquarters. The legs are proportionately short and built for maneuverability. The hooves are short and especially configured for climbing the mountains. The second and fifth digits are reduced. The head is proportional to the body, looking much like that of a goat. The smooth horns arise from one pedicel set high, turn sharply inward, then upward and twist around each other so that there appears to be but one horn, having one very sharp tip. Horns are found in both sexes. In both sexes they seldom grow longer than one foot. The mature male sports a beard which is of the same color as the underside.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

• Gestation period: About 7 months.
• Young per birth: 1, rarely twins.
• Weaning: After 4 months.
• Sexual Maturity: Females, after their second summer; males, after their fourth summer.
• Life span: 10-12 years.
• Breeding takes place in the fall of the year during a period of about 4 weeks. Lambing takes place in the springtime when the alpine meadows have begun to bloom. The kids are without scent and are hidden in the mountain crags for the first 4-5 days of life, after which time they join the herd. By this time they can outrun or outmaneuver their predators.

Ecology and Behavior

• Like many species of antelope, A. m. nanus is primarily diurnal, grazing in the early morning and late afternoon, and resting among the rocks during the hottest part of the day. When fleeing a predator, A. m. sylvicultrix is skilled at climbing the face of the cliffs. At maturity, bucks attempt to attract and hold a harem of 2-3 does in an alpine meadow. Females and males alike are generally non-aggressive, although when cornered by a lone predator in defense of territory or of their young, they use their horns effectively. Vocalization consists of grunts and a piercing whistle that carries a far distance in the mountains. Visual acuity is very high. The senses of smell and hearing are less well developed.
• Family group: Outside of the breeding season the females form herds of 5-8 does with their non-weaned kids. The bucks, both immature and mature, are solitary.
• Diet: Grasses, flowers, berries, fungi.
• Main predators: Wolves and bears. Wild cats, lynxes and eagles prey on the kids.

Distribution

• The alpine meadows and crags from the Alps west to the Caucasus Mountains.

Alcelaphus monoceros domesticus - domestic unicorn - domĸę́ndes

General characteristics

• Body length 108-146 cm./4.5-5 ft.
• Shoulder height cm./4-5 ft.
• Tail length /1.5-2 ft.
• Weight kg./100-120 lb.
• A. m. domesticus was bred from A. m. campicultrix by the Pyrans for use as steeds. The general characteristics remain the same, but this breeding has enabled the Pyrans to produce coloration not found in A. m. campicultrix. Solid colors of black and white are the usual, but highly prized are a sorrel coat, a piebald pattern of black spots and patches on white, and a gray variation that is almost blue. The beard of the male remains white in all these variations. There is no winter change in coat color. Interestingly enough, the horns of these color variations have acquired a golden color. Male kids that are not of these colors are immediately gelded and used as pack animals and for meat and leather. With gelding, the horns do not grow, so that those chosen as steeds are gelded after the horns have matured. Milk from the does is drunk by the Hyodrans and a fermented beverage is made from it.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

• Gestation period: About 8 months.
• Young per birth: 1, rarely twins.
• Weaning: After 4 months.
• Sexual Maturity: Females, after their second summer; males, after their fourth summer.
• Life span: 10-12 years.
• Breeding takes place in the fall of the year during a period of about 4 weeks. Lambing takes place in the springtime after the new growth has begun. The kids are without scent for the first 4-5 days of life.

Ecology and Behavior

• Diet: Grasses, sedges, and water plants.
• Main predators: Lions, leopards, cave bears, and wolves. Cheetahs, hyenas, and eagles prey on the kids.

Distribution

• Wherever Pyrans have settled.