Overview
The short summer coat is dark sandy fawn or sandy rufous; the longer, rougher winter coat is much paler. The flank band is indistinct, but the pygal stripes are somewhat pronounced. Underparts, inner legs and buttocks up to base of tail are white. Tail is long and black on the upper surface, dividing the white rump area. Facial markings are indistinct in adults, with the muzzle blaze fading into white with age and the dark lateral eye stripes incomplete. The horns of the male average 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) in length, although larger specimens have been recorded. Females are normally hornless.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Gazella
- Species
- Gazella subgutturosa
Habitat
Favors higher elevations, below which it is replaced by the Kennion gazelle (in Iran and Baluchistan). Distribution- Southeastern Turkey; eastern Azerbaijan; Iran, east of the Zagros Mountains at altitudes of 3,000-4,000 feet (900-1,200 m); Afghanistan; Pakistan, in the border region of Baluchistan adjacent to southern Afghanistan; and in the former Soviet Turkestan, along the west flank of the mountains as far north as Lake Balkash. Intergrades with the Arabian goitered gazelle in eastern Iraq and western Iran between the Euphrates River and Zagros Mountains.
Diet
This animal mostly consumes grasses, leaves and shoots. Every gazelle eats 6 kilograms of forage a day, about 30 percent of its body weight, and daily water intake is 2-4 litres (68-136 oz).
Behavior
Goitered gazelles communicate using a series of deep grunts, hissing, moos and wheezing. Grunts are made by adults and young and before running, they often make a nasal hiss as an alarm. Females make hoarse, low-pitched sounds to call their young and young respond by making a low-pitched “moo”. During breeding season, males make a low, basal wheezing sound, which can be heard 100 to 150 m away. They also use glandular secretions to demarcate territorial boundaries and communicate with conspecifics, especially during breeding season.
Hunting
Spot and stalk methods. More information is needed.
Conservation Status
The species as a whole is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN.