Overview
Slightly smaller than either the Salt Range or christii races of Indian gazelle, but larger than the bennetti race. The sandy coat is rather long, especially in winter. Male horns average 9-11 inches (23-28 cm) in length, with 14-1/2 inches (36.8 cm) the longest of record (Rowland Ward, 1909). The horns are closer together at the base than in any race of Indian gazelle. The female's horns are much longer than in the Indian gazelle, being 70 percent as long as those of the male.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Gazella
- Species
- Gazella bennetti
Habitat
Arid plains and hills, deserts. Distribution- Central and southern Iran, except for the Lut and Salt deserts, and southern Baluchistan west of the Kirthar Range in Pakistan, at elevations not exceeding 3,000 feet (900 m). Replaced by the goitered gazelle at higher elevations.
Diet
A grazer.
Behavior
Tends to stay in small herds of 5 individuals or less, and its generally distributed thinly across its range. These animals rely on water but are not considered migratory.
Conservation Status
More information is needed.