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.

Although the takin appears large and bulky, it is in fact an agile climber in all the same respects to mountain-goats of North America, and is very capable of climbing on rocky surfaces, proving a link to goats, and mountain-goats. Yellowish fur also helps for the takin to camouflage itself against rocky or forested terrain. Where the air of the takin’s mountainous habitat is cold and harsh, a thick nasal passage, making for a sizable snout, helps to warm the mountain air so the takin can breathe easily. The takin’s legs are sturdy and powerful, and pointed hoofs, that are flattened beneath, make for easy crossing of mountainous terrain.