Editing Japanese serow (section)

==Taxonomy==

Taxonomically [[Coenraad Jacob Temminck]] first described the Japanese serow in 1836,{{sfnm|1a1=Tokida|1y=2020|2a1=Grubb|2y=2005}} and named it ''Antilope crispa''. [[John Edward Gray]] gave it its current name in 1846.{{efn|As ''Capricornis crispa''; [[Robert Swinhoe]] amended it for gender agreement in 1870.{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=1}} }} [[Pierre Marie Heude]] proposed many new genera and species in a system published in 1898; ''Capricornis'' became ''Capricornulus'', which included ''crispus'', ''pryerianus'', and ''saxicola''. The system did not find acceptance.{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=1}}

[[File:Nemorhaedus caudatus.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A photograph of a small, brownish goat-like animal with its head down feeding|A [[long-tailed goral]] ''(Naemorhedus caudatus).'' Serows ''(''genus ''Capricornis)'' have sometimes been classified with [[goral]]s under the genus ''Naemorhedus.'']]

There is no fossil record of the Japanese serow; its evolutionary history and the closeness of its relation to the [[Taiwan serow]] (''Capricornis swinhoei'') are speculative.{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=2}} Its taxonomic position has led to it being called a "living fossil".{{sfn|Togashi et al.|2009|p=412}} Karyotype studies indicate it was the earliest species to split from the common ''Capricornis'' ancestor.{{sfn|Wei et al.|2013|p=6800}} The closest relative to the Japanese serow is the [[Taiwan serow]] (''Capricornis swinhoei''). Genetically, there is little difference between Japanese and Taiwan serows; their [[karyotype]] is essentially the same: [[Ploidy#Diploid|2n]]=50, [[Karyotype#Fundamental number|FN]]=60.{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=5}} The Taiwan serow is smaller and shorter-haired, with browner fur and a white patch under the chin and throat.{{sfn|Lue|1987|p=125}}

[[Phylogenetics|Phylogenetically]], ''Capricornis'' is closer to [[goat]]s and [[sheep]] than [[cattle]].{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=5}} The nomenclature and status of ''Capricornis'' taxa are not completely resolved.{{sfn|Tokida|2020}} Some researchers have considered ''Capricornis'' a junior [[synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] of ''Naemorhedus'',{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=1}} a classification that includes [[goral]]s;{{sfn|Tokida|2020}} molecular analysis has not supported this classification.{{sfn|Min, et al.|2004|p=369}} ''Capricornis'' has a lower [[Canine tooth|canine]], which ''Naemorhedus'' species usually do not.{{sfn|Jass|Mead|2004|p=1}}

In Japan, the serow is widely thought of as a kind of deer, though deer and serows are in different families. In the past, the Japanese word ''{{transliteration|ja|kamoshika}}''{{efn|In Japanese, the word ''{{lang|ja|kamoshika}}'' refers both to [[serow]] and [[antelope]] species.{{sfn|Maruyama|Ikeda|Tokida|1997|p=271}} }} was written using the [[Kanji|Chinese character]] for ''{{transliteration|ja|shika}}'', meaning "deer".{{efn|{{nihongo|"Deer"|鹿|shika|lead=yes}}{{sfn|Knight|2003|p=128}} }}  Today, when written using Chinese characters, the characters for "antelope" and "sheep"{{efn|{{nihongo|Japanese serow ("antelope-sheep")|羚羊|kamoshika|lead=yes}}{{sfn|Knight|2003|p=129}}}} are used. Sometimes the serow is mistaken for a [[wild boar]].{{sfn|Knight|2003|pp=128–129}}