Wildlifeof China
Goitered Gazelle
Wild Cattle & Serow
Photo: kallerna · Public domain
Gazella subgutturosa
Basic stats
Diet
Grasses, salt-tolerant plants, composites, legumes, ephedras, gourds and tamarisks
Habitat
Desert, semi-desert, salt flats, foothills and mountain valleys from sea level to 3,500m
Range
Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia east to Mongolia and northwestern China
Litter size
1–2 commonly; recorded range 1–4
Gestation period
148–159 days
Weight
Approximately 25–35kg
The goitered gazelle is a medium-sized, lightly built gazelle of Asian deserts and steppes. Its name refers to the enlarged throat and neck of adult males during the breeding season. The coat is sandy or pale brown above and white below, with a short dark-tipped tail. Males usually carry lyre-shaped horns, while adult females of some populations are hornless. Reported weight for the nominate Persian form is approximately 25–35kg. (Animal Diversity Web; Zoo Görlitz)
The species occupies deserts, semi-deserts, salt flats, foothills and mountain valleys from sea level to 3,500m, ranging eastward to Mongolia and northwestern China. It feeds on grasses and a wide assortment of drought- and salt-tolerant plants, obtaining much of its water from vegetation. Herds become largest in winter; females separate before giving birth. Gestation lasts 148–159 days. Mature females often bear twins, whereas younger and older females more commonly produce a single calf. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the Goitered Gazelle eat?
- Grasses, salt-tolerant plants, composites, legumes, ephedras, gourds and tamarisks
- What habitat does the Goitered Gazelle live in?
- Desert, semi-desert, salt flats, foothills and mountain valleys from sea level to 3,500m
- Where is the Goitered Gazelle found?
- Arabian Peninsula and Central Asia east to Mongolia and northwestern China
- What is the litter size of the Goitered Gazelle?
- 1–2 commonly; recorded range 1–4
- How long is the gestation period of the Goitered Gazelle?
- 148–159 days
- How much does the Goitered Gazelle weigh?
- Approximately 25–35kg