ibex

Everyday

An ibex is a wild mountain goat with long, curved, ridged horns that lives in steep rocky places in Europe, Asia and North Africa. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on habitats and adaptation, ibexes are amazing climbers with special hooves that grip rocks, and they can even climb nearly upright dam walls to lick salt. In stories and on nature programmes they show skill and balance. Common phrases: «Alpine ibex», «Nubian ibex», «a herd of ibex».

Examples

• The ibex climbed the steep cliff with ease. tree →
• Male ibexes have huge curved horns. tree →
• We saw an Alpine ibex on holiday in Switzerland. tree →
• Ibex hooves grip the rocks like rubber. tree →
• A herd of ibex licked salt from the dam wall. tree →
• The ibex lives high in the mountains. tree →
• Ibex fight by clashing their horns. tree →

Note

Plural: «ibexes» or «ibex» (both correct). Say EYE-bex. «An ibex» uses «an» because it starts with a vowel sound.