Talk:Takin

Untitled

Is Takin also known as Tarkin? I've noticed it's referred to as Tarkin on a few webpages, but it may be a misspelling. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.82.157.192 (talk) 22:14, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

The Motilal Banarsidass pub. Tibetan-English translational Dictionary gives the name in Tibetan as rta-skyin - meaning horse-ibex. (ཏ་ཨིན)? 211.26.165.199 (talk) 05:47, 24 October 2008 (UTC) Ian Ison

Possible factual error: Takin weight

Seems like 1000+ kg is a little on the high side. Other references around the internet state that the takin can weigh up to 350kg —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.171.35.82 (talk) 21:37, 11 March 2007 (UTC).

Muskox relatives?

How closely / distantly related are Takin and Muskox? 202.138.52.64 (talk) 06:35, 21 October 2008 (UTC) Ian Ison

Both the takin and the muskox are in the Caprinae subfamily of the family Bovidae. They are closely related. That's why I don't think the comment about "convergent evolution" is appropriate. They don't even have parallel evolution; they're both giant species of sheep. I think the comment about convergence should be removed. --Gaddy (talk) 22:14, 22 September 2010 (UTC)

I agree, this whole section should be re-written:

Whilst the Wikipedia page on extant species of Caprinae places the Takin together with the Muskox in the tribe Ovibovini, mitochondrial research shows the takin is more related to sheep. Its similarity to the muskox is therefore an example of convergent evolution.[3]

The 'whilst the wikipedia page' bit is annoying. I'm willing to rewrite it to keep the facts in place but in a more neutral manner if there are no objections? Suppafly (talk) 18:59, 16 January 2015 (UTC)

Spurious? Golden Fleece connection

I commented out the assertion "The Takin, specifically the Golden Takin may be the source and inspiration of the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology" The Golden Fleece is a Greek myth that takes places at the farthest eastern edge of the Greek oecumene. or inhabited world. The myth of the Golden Fleece was an archaic one, but the takin's habitat lay beyond the Greek horizon even in the age of Alexander. Who would make such an uninformed connection in print? A blogger? A newspaper reporter?--Wetman (talk) 18:53, 22 April 2010 (UTC)

Shanxi or Shaanxi?

The Tierpark Friedrichsfelde and most of the internet say Shaanxi, which is a different Chinese province than Shanxi - does anyone know what's correct? HMallison (talk) 13:49, 3 December 2012 (UTC)

Because nobody seems to know I will stick with the authority of the Tierpark and alter the article. HMallison (talk) 22:54, 22 December 2012 (UTC)

Horns

How many horns do they have? The bit about horns is really unclear. Well, two sentences saying somewhat different things. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Marchin Man (talk • contribs) 21:51, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

Iucn needs updating

Last updated 2008? Really? 155.4.124.213 (talk) 17:56, 3 February 2023 (UTC)

That is the last time the IUCN has assessed this species' status. We can not do anything about that. - UtherSRG (talk) 16:04, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

Etymology addresses a species name, not the common name

Under the etymology section, the only entry is a translation of one of the Latin specific names, but given that the page is about the genus more broadly, this section ought to provide the etymology of the name "takin," or at least provide etymologies for all four specific names 68.40.206.30 (talk) 14:47, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

That is handled, and properly so, at the genus article. - UtherSRG (talk) 16:03, 13 September 2025 (UTC)

Taxonomy is out of date

According to "Budorcas taxicolor". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. and "Budorcas taxicolor". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands., the species has no subspecies. Instead, there are four species under genus "Budorcas" according to "Budorcas". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.. Happyseeu (talk) 18:56, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

We tend to align with the ASM's MDD, which only lists two species in the genus: B. tibetana and B. taxicolor. MDD is using Yang 2022 for their latest on the genus. ITIS is using Burgin 2020. I suggest trimming this down to just these two species. - UtherSRG (talk) 19:32, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

ASM treats Mishmi Takin, Bhutan Takin, White's Takin as synonyms of the species, not subspecies. Happyseeu (talk) 20:43, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

Only because it lumps subspecies and synonyms together. It doesn't have listings for subspecies. The fact that it lists two species, not four, is the important bit. - UtherSRG (talk) 21:00, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

Is there any classification in the past 5 years that lists them as subspecies? The Catalog of Life China lists them as synonyms of species as well: Budorcas taxicola whitei for Budorcas taxicolor, and Budorcas bedfordi for Budorcas tibetana. Happyseeu (talk) 23:56, 22 June 2026 (UTC)

BioLib, EoL, and iNaturalist. - UtherSRG (talk) 13:59, 23 June 2026 (UTC)