Quirky? perhaps it depends who you ask - it is the national animal of Bhutan, and has a fair place in Bhutanese mythology. In mythology, the takin is a product of 16th century Drukpa Kunley, who, after eating a cow and a goat, performed a miracle - he re-assembled the bones, putting the goat's head on the cow's body, and after an utterance, the takin came to life.

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: ARTIODACTYLA

Family: BOVINAE

Genus: BUDORCAS

Species: TAXICOLOR

This large, herbivorous mammal is classified as just one species in its monotypic genus, and is native to relatively small areas of South East Asia. Four subspecies of takin are currently recognised – the Mishmi and Bhutan Takins both have a similar hide of varied brown, though the Sichuan and Golden Takins are more yellow. Where the Sichuan Takin’s yellowish hide is stained with brown and black, the Golden Takin is entirely yellow. The takin’s origins appear some 3 million years ago in Asia. The buck-takin stands 130 centimetres at the shoulder, though the nanny-takin stands around just 120. The takin’s horns bear a similarity to those of a musk-ox, though DNA analysis shows that it is closer to sheep and goats – the similarity is simply a result of convergent evolution. The takin is sometimes referred to as a ‘goat-antelope’, as it is related to goats, but bears some similarities to antelopes.

Appearing large and bulky, the takin is an agile climber of rocky surfaces, just like its goat relatives. Yellowish fur works as fine camouflage in mountainous forests and amongst rocky backgrounds, and its thick nose works as so to warm the harsh mountain air. The horns of the takin are curved like that of a musk-ox, and for years it was thought that the two were related, but now it's thought that this is just a result of convergent evolution. The powerful legs of the takin are well adapted to life on the mountainside.