Bos frontalis gaurus C.H.Smith, 1827

Distinguishing Trait Introduction

Gayal differs from gaur in several key characteristics.

Body Size and Build

It is somewhat smaller, with proportionately shorter limbs, and stands much lower at the withers. Its back ridge is less developed, and bulls have a larger dewlap on the throat.

Head Structure

The head is shorter and broader, with a completely flat forehead and a straight line between the bases of the horns.

Horn Characteristics

The thick, massive horns are less flattened and far less curved than those of gaur; they extend almost directly outwards from the sides of the head, curve slightly upwards at the tips, and have no inward inclination. This means the horn tips are much farther apart than in gaur.

Sexual Dimorphism

Female gayal are much smaller than bulls, and have almost no throat dewlap.

Skin and Limb Coloration

Both sexes have blackish-brown skin on the head and body, with white or yellowish lower portions of the limbs.

Horn Coloration

The horns are a uniform blackish tint from base to tip.

Domesticated Coat Variation

Some domesticated gayal are parti-coloured, while others are fully white.

Geographical Range

Gayal are found on the southern slopes of the Eastern Himalayas in Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Yunnan, China.

Elevation and Temperature Range

They inhabit elevations from 300 to 5,000 m (980 to 16,400 ft) in areas with temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 °C (68 to 86 °F).

Preferred Habitat

Their preferred habitat is undisturbed forested hilly terrain that contains streams, ponds, and lakes, with abundant shrubs, trees, bamboo, and coarse grasses. They are also attracted to salt lick hotspots.

Semi-Domesticated Populations

In India, several ethnic groups living in the forested hills of Tripura, Mizoram, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland keep semi-domesticated gayal. Gayal are also found in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, in Kachin State of northern Burma, and only in the Trung (Dulong River) and Salween River basins in adjacent Yunnan.

Ecological Function

Gayal perform an important ecological function, acting as ecosystem engineers in northeast India. They aid seed dispersal and enrich soil through their foraging activities and manure.