Oreamnos

Oreamnos is a genus of North American caprines. The mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) is the only living species.[1] Until the end of the Pleistocene, another species, Oreamnos harringtoni, was distributed to the south of the recent form.[2]

Oreamnos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Genus: Oreamnos
Rafinesque, 1817
Species

Climbing mechanics

Based on a field recording in the Rocky Mountains of Canada of the Oreamnos americanus climbing a 45-degree slope, researchers were able to measure the goat's whole body movement as it climbed. Researchers observed that when the goat propelled itself forward, it extended its back legs and the front legs were tucked close up to its chest during its first phase. During the second phase the goat raised its back legs near to its chest, while the front legs humerus stayed locked in a persistent location relative to the goat's chest, therefore allowing the elbow to be detained in close proximity to the whole body's center of balance. Extension of the elbow and carpal joints resulted in a vertical translation of the center of mass up the mountain slope.[3]

References
  1. Grubb, P. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. Mead, JI, Agenbroad, LD, Phillips, AMIII, Middeleton, LT. (1987). Extinct mountain goat (Oreamnos harringtoni ) in southeastern Utah. QUATERN. END. RES. Vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 323-331.
  3. Lewinson, Ryan; Stefanyshyn, Darren (December 2016). "A descriptive analysis of the climbing mechanics of a mountain goat ( Oreamnos americanus )". 119. 119 (6): 541–546. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2016.06.001. PMID 27402383.


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