Overview
Similar to the Tibetan gazelle but slightly larger. The summer coat is deep fawn, turning to pale, finely grizzled fawn in the thick winter coat. A narrow line runs along the back to the upper surface of the tail, dividing the white rump patch. Front of legs is more or less brown. Tail is very short and hidden in the fur. As in the Tibetan gazelle, there are no facial, groin or knee glands. Foot glands are small, with a pore-like opening as in gorals and sheep. There is a gland behind the horns in males. Compared with the Tibetan gazelle, the skull is longer and wider, the braincase is considerably longer, and the horns are somewhat shorter but heavier. Horns (males only) are compressed laterally, divergent, and grow backward in an even curve with the tips hooked abruptly inward and slightly upward. Longest recorded horns (Rowland Ward, 1913) are 12-1/2 inches (31.8 cm).
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Procapra
Habitat
Subdesert steppes. Distribution- China, from the Nan Shan mountains eastward to the Mu Us Shamo (Ordos Desert) between about 38°-41°N latitude. Shares parts of its range with the Tibetan gazelle, the Mongolian gazelle and the Hillier goitered gazelle.
Diet
Primarily a grazer.
Behavior
Lives in small herds on the open plains, althought reportedly herds used to be much larger in size before the population became small and fragmented.
Hunting
This species is protected by the Chinese government from hunting.
Conservation Status
Listed as Endangered by the IUCN.