Goitered gazelle are common in the southern Arabian Peninsula, through southern Kazakhstan and Mongolia, to northwestern China. Elsewhere, they have significantly declined and occur mostly in remote areas or on protected reserves. Small populations exist in western and southern Afghanistan and Pakistan. In southeastern Turkey, northern Saudi Arabia, the Rub al Khali Desert, and Wahiba Sands of Oman much larger populations occur. In the central deserts of Iran, goitered gazelles are common and have begun to increase in protected regions. They have been introduced to Barsa-Kel’mes and Ogurchinsky Islands in the Aral and Caspian Sea, respectively, and to locations throughout the United Arab Emirates. (Mallon, 2008; Zachosa, et al., 2009; Mallon, 2008; Zachosa, et al., 2009; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Mallon, 2008; Zachosa, et al., 2009)
Goitered gazelle inhabit various types of desert and semiarid terrain occurring in foothills and montane valleys. They graze at the edge of cultivated land, while avoiding land used for cultivation or livestock grazing. Their habitats range from clayey and sandy soil to basalt deserts or salt flats. The can occupy areas virtually absent of vegetation to areas that support grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Goitered gazelle are limited in their northern distributions by areas where snow depths reach 10 to 15 cm during winter. During winter they inhabit windy snow-free areas and use deep valleys, low mountain canyons, or dense shrubs as shelter from the wind. Throughout their geographic range, they can occupy habitat from sea level to 3,500 m. In Iran they are found from sea level to about 2,100 m and from 1,050 m to 2,100 in Pakistan. In Afghanistan they are only found below 1,000 m. Goitered gazelle often occupy higher altitudes during summer, ranging from 3,000 m to 3,500 m in the mountains of Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Mallon, 2008)
Goitered gazelle are medium-sized, lightly built ungulates; however, they have a more robust body type than most other Asian Gazella species. Goitered gazelle get their name from the goiter-like enlargement on their larynx. They are sexually dimorphic as males are larger than females and have longer horns and larger goiters than females. Adult males range in mass from 20 to 43 kg and adult females range in mass from 18 to 33 kg. Adult males have long, black horns that are 203 to 340 mm long, which are close together at their base and curve away from each toward the distal ends. Unlike most other gazelle species, females are generally hornless. Goitered gazelle have long ears with large black eyes. At the end of their long slender legs are small black hooves. The coxofemoral joint muscle is strengthened in goitered gazelles, enabling a strong thrusting motion that stabilizes running in rough terrain. Pelage color varies geographically, from white to brown with shades of grey, red, and yellow. Facial pelage is often white and tends to fade with age. They have relatively a short tail, which is covered with dark brown or black hair. In the winter their pelage becomes longer, thicker, and lighter in color when compared to summer pelage. ("Gazella subgutturosa", 2009; Blank, 2006; Heptner, et al., 1988; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Mallon, 2008)
The skull of goitered gazelle has an inflated and less downwardly deflected posterior braincase. Their occipito-parietal suture is angular, the premaxillae is nearly straight, and the fronto-nasal and palato-maxillary sutures are V-shaped. In addition to their well developed lachrymal fossae, they have large, inflated tympanic bullae lacking ventral ridges. Finally, the supraorbital foramina are recessed in deep pits and male skulls are easily identified by their large horn cores, also known as the cornual process. Their skull is easily distinguished from other gazelle species by its larger size, broader palate and greater orbital width. Female skulls with horns are distinguished from female mountain gazelle skulls by their slightly greater orbital and palatal width and larger lachrymal pits. (Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
Goitered gazelle have high crowned (i.e., hypsodont) selenodont teeth. Their dental formula is 0/3, 0/1, 3/3, 3/3, for a total of 32 teeth. Calves are born with 3 incisors, 1 canine, and 3 deciduous cheekteeth on both sides of the lower jaw. In their upper jaw, calves are born with only 3 premolars on each side. During their first year, two permanent molars erupt and at 14 months, their third molar erupts along with the replacement of their deciduous molars with 3 premolars. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Mallon, 2008)
Although 4 inguinal mammae can form, female goitered gazelle typically have 2. In general, goitered gazelle have inguinal, carpal, pedal, and preorbital glands. The inguinal and carpal glands secrete a yellow, waxy substance with a musky odor. Their preorbital glands produce a black secretion and can be much larger in males. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Mallon, 2008)
During breeding season, which occurs from September to December, individual male goitered gazelle herd and chase females into their territories and only mate with females that remain in their territory for an extended period of time. Males compete for territory prior to mating season and mark their territories by defecating in small pits that they dig with their front hooves. Often, when males find a territorial pit that is already filled, he digs out the pit and refills it with his own excrement. Just prior to breeding season, inguinal and preorbital glands of male goitered gazelle swell and increase secretion volume for courtship. Male displays during courtship include neck stretching, nose-up posturing, releasing of pheromones, foreleg kicking, and assuming an erect posture. Courtship begins after females stay in a male’s territory overnight. (Heptner, et al., 1988; Heptner, et al., 1988; "Gazella subgutturosa", 2009; Heptner, et al., 1988; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
While goitered gazelle form large herds in winter, gestating females leave and create small groups with one or two other gestating females. Most males mate with 2 to 12 females, however, some males do not mate at all. Males mount their mates by standing on their hind legs with their forelegs spread apart and touching her with only his pelvis. ("Gazella subgutturosa", 2009; Heptner, et al., 1988; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
Goitered gazelle become sexually mature within 1 year. Although first estrus usually occurs between 6 and 18 months, females can conceive as early as 5 months old. Males can sire offspring as early as 10.5 months old, however, they do not usually mate before 1.5 to 2.5 years old and can remain reproductively active for over 10 years. Onset of spermatogenesis occurs when the testis reach 20 mm in diameter. Males experience seasonal sperm production, which peaks during fall and spring. Breeding season occurs from November through January and can vary in timing throughout their range. Estrus usually lasts for about 12 hours, signaled by a slight swelling of the vulva. Copulation last 1 to 3 seconds, and gestation lasts for 148 to 159 days. Females move to areas with high ground or vegetative cover prior to birthing. Young are usually born between March and May. Most adult females (3 to 7 years old) have twins, although young and old females generally give birth to a single calf. On average, calves weigh 1.86 kg at birth and are completely weaned by 6 months, at which point they become independent of parental care. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
Goitered gazelle give birth to precocious young that can stand and nurse within 10 to 15 minutes after birth. After birth, females tend to graze 50 to 500 m from their calves and seek a new hiding place for their calves after each nursing bout. If a female has twins, she often keeps them 50 to 1,000 m apart for the first 4 to 6 days. Calves are nursed 2 to 4 times a day during their first 6 weeks and are nursed for at least 3 to 6 months. Calves are able to graze and drink water at 4 to 6 weeks old. Goitered gazelle calves have extremely high growth rates during their first month of life, with 50% of their growth occurring within the first 10 days after birth. At 18 to 19 months, most calves have reached adult size. Calves are born with whirls of hair were their horns develop. Horn growth occurs at 3 to 6 months and is complete by 1 to 1.5 years. Male horns continue to grow until age 6, whereas female's reach full size by 2 to 3 years old. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Annual mortality rates for goitered gazelle vary in relation to sex and age class. Female mortality rates range between 9 and 18%, whereas male mortality rates range between 27 and 58%. Mortality rates for calves and juveniles are highly variable, ranging between 3 and 58%. Mortality rates tend to be lowest during summer and highest during winter. The longest known lifespan of goitered gazelles in the wild is 12 years, with an average lifespan of 6 years. The longest known lifespan of captive goitered gazelles is 20 years. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
Primary causes of natural mortality in goitered gazelles include deep snow and ice-covered ground, which severely limits forage availability during winter. Mortality is also caused by entrapment in drying asphalt, drowning, and car collisions. In captive animals, causes of mortality include stress or trauma, fence injuries, and intraspecific fighting. Pathogens known to cause mortality among goitered gazelles include Corynebacterium pyogenes, Mycobacterium, Cryptosporidium, and Escherichia coli. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Goitered gazelles travel in small family groups of 2 to 9 individuals, although herds in the thousands have been recorded as well. During breeding season, females and young gather into herds of 10 to 30 individuals. Adult males remain solitary and become extremely territorial, patrolling and marking their territories with dung, urine, preorbital gland secretions, or by scraping the ground with their horns or forelegs. During spring, herds segregate into smaller groups and pregnant females become solitary prior to giving birth. (Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Goitered gazelles feed during early morning and afternoon in the summer and can become nocturnal in areas where they are heavily hunted. During winter, they graze nearly continuously, resting briefly at midday. When they are excited or disturbed, goitered gazelles perform a series of stiff-legged jumps. When running at high speeds, they gallop with their necks outstretched and tails upright. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Average home range size of goitered gazelles has not been documented. However, they often travel 10 to 15 km throughout the day, moving between night pastures, watering holes, and resting areas. (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
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. (Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Goitered gazelles are herbivores and generally eat grasses. Often their diet includes halophytes, composites, legumes, caltrops, ephedras, gourds, leadworts, and tamarisks. In agricultural areas, the variety of food eaten by goitered gazelles expands to include fruits, barley shoots, chick peas, cotton, dates, maize, melons, onions, sugar cane, and wheat. Goitered gazelles are facultative drinkers and gain a majority of their water from ingested plant material. They appear to prefer plants with high protein content. In captivity, goitered gazelles are fed alfalfa, oats, enriched grain pellets, and sulfur-free salt blocks. Because they are obligate herbivores, goitered gazelle have four-chambered stomachs (1 true stomach, 3 false stomachs) in which cellulolytic digestion occurs and are capable of storing graze in one or more of their "false stomachs". (Blank, 2006; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon, 2008)
The main predator of goitered gazelle is gray wolves. During winter, when snow cover increases, wolves become especially effective predators due to increased vulnerability of animals. Tigers also prey on gazelle at water holes, and in Turkmenistan, they are hunted by cheetahs. Young goitered gazelle are preyed on by foxes, feral dogs, caracals, imperial eagles, and brown-necked ravens. (Heptner, et al., 1988; Kingswood and Blank, 1996)
Goitered gazelle are host to numerous species of parasites. Eighteen species of parasitic worms have been found in goitered gazelle in Kazakhstan, although their pathogenic effect is currently unknown. The larvae of 2 species of ectoparasitic botfly, Pavlovskiata subgutturosae and Crivellia corinnae, are commonly found implanted in the skin of goitered gazelle. They are also vulnerable to parasitic arthropods such as ticks and lice during summer. In addition to being an important prey item for numerous species mammals and birds, goitered gazelle forage on various types of plants and may compete with saiga antelope for forage in some areas throughout their geographic range. (Heptner, et al., 1988)
Goitered gazelles are hunted for their meat and hide, which is considered high quality and is processed into chamois and box calf. A single goitered gazelle yields between 12 and 18 kg of meat and 0.6 to 0.7 m^2 of hide. Goitered gazelle are hunted for sport, challenging hunters with their ability to run at high speeds. In addition, they are sometimes used as pets or given as gifts. (Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001; Freedman, et al., 2000; Heptner, et al., 1988; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Mallon and Kingswood, 2001)
Goitered gazelles occasionally damage agricultural plants such as cotton. They also consume saxaul shoots, which is considered one of the most valuable desert plants throughout the goitered gazelles geographic range. In spring and fall, they often intrude into domestic sheep pastures. (Heptner, et al., 1988)
In 1900’s, goitered gazelles were abundant, found in almost every desert or semi-desert area throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. In the mid-1900's, nearly one million were estimated to have lived in the Soviet Union alone. In 2001, their entire population was estimated at 120,000 to 140,000. This significant decrease has occurred in the past decade, and the rate of decrease is now measured to be more than 30% over the last ten years. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies goitered gazelles as vulnerable. While population declines are occurring throughout their entire range, declines are particularly dramatic in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, southeast Turkey and Azerbaijan. Local extirpations have occurred in Kuwait, Georgia, and possibly Kyrgyzstan. Populations in Mongolia, where about a half the current population resides, are also in decline. Major threats include unrestrained poaching and habitat destruction. Habitat destruction is primarily due to economic and agricultural development. In central Asia, harsh winters appear to have had a significant negative effect on goitered gazelle abundance. (Blank, 2006; Hong-Jun, et al., 2008; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Zachosa, et al., 2009)
In the mid to late 1300's, muslim armies under the command of Timur Leng were noted hunters of goitered gazelle, killing an estimated 40,000 each year. After automobiles were introduced in the 1930's, hunting for goitered gazelles became particularly easy as people would chase animals in their cars during the day, or shoot them at night while "shining" them (i.e., using artificial lights to locate and temporarily freeze animals) with their headlights. Using automobiles to hunt goitered gazelles was outlawed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the 1940's. (Blank, 2006; Hong-Jun, et al., 2008; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Zachosa, et al., 2009)
Since the 1950's, legal protection has been enforced either nationally or sub-nationally throughout most of goitered gazelles' geographic range. Although numerous reintroductions have been attempted, conservation efforts have been unsuccessful. Some countries (e.g., Turkey and Uzbekistan) have developed captive breeding programs and much of the current population uses protected habitat. Many gazelle die during winter due to malnutrition. Future conservation efforts may include restricting livestock grazing areas during winter or restricting livestock from entering habitat reserves used by goitered gazelles. (Blank, 2006; Hong-Jun, et al., 2008; Kingswood and Blank, 1996; Zachosa, et al., 2009)
Four subspecies of goitered gazelle have been identified: Mongolian goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa hilleriana), Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa marica), Yarkand gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa yarkandensis), and Persian goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa). (Mallon, 2008; Wilson and Reeder, 2005)
Bovids, such as goitered gazelle, are an important food sources for a number of different carnivores. As bovid populations decline, so too will those animals that depend on them. For example, the decline of cheetahs is often attributed habitat loss. However, cheetahs primarily prey upon small to medium sized bovids, specifically gazelle. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2 species of gazelle are extinct, while 10 more are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. In north Africa, as preferred prey species have declined, more and more cheetahs are turning to livestock for prey. Consequently, these cheetahs are then killed as pests. As a result, one of the major directives for cheetah conservation is restoration of wild prey species, most of which are small to medium-sized bovids.
Catherine Cichon (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Catherine Cichon (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Yangshin Woo (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Krystal Woo (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor, instructor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, John Berini (editor), Animal Diversity Web Staff.
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
uses sound to communicate
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
parental care is carried out by females
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
having more than one female as a mate at one time
specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
breeding is confined to a particular season
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
one of the sexes (usually males) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex. For example: antlers, elongated tails, special spurs.
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
lives alone
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"
uses touch to communicate
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Living on the ground.
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
uses sight to communicate
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
young are relatively well-developed when born
2009. "Gazella subgutturosa" (On-line). Encyclopedia of Life 2. Accessed April 06, 2009 at http://www.eol.org/pages/129520.
Blank, D. 2006. "Goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa)" (On-line). ARKive. Accessed April 06, 2009 at http://www.arkive.org/goitered-gazelle/gazella-subgutturosa/info.html.
Freedman, D., A. Myers, A. Beck. 2000. Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Accessed April 07, 2009 at http://books.google.com/books?id=P9sYIRXZZ2MC&printsec=frontcover.
Heptner, V., A. Nasimovich, A. Bannikov. 1988. Mammals of the Soviet Union. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Libraries and the National Science Foundation.
Hong-Jun, C., J. Zhi-Gang, L. Wen-Xu, W. Chen, T. Yong-Shan, J. Feng. 2008. Dietary overlap among kulan Equus hemionus, goitered gazelle Gazella subgutturosa and livestock. Current Zoology, 54/6: 941 - 954. Accessed April 06, 2009 at http://www.actazool.org/paperdetail.asp?id=11030&volume=54&number=6&bgpage=941&=endpage954&year=2008&month=12.
IUCN, 2010. "Mammals" (On-line). IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species. Accessed April 19, 2011 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/initiatives/mammals.
Kingswood, S., D. Blank. 1996. Gazella subgutturosa. Mammalian Species, 518: 1-10. Accessed April 01, 2009 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/3504241?seq=4.
Mallon, D. 2008. "Gazella subgutturosa" (On-line). 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed April 05, 2009 at www.iucnredlist.org.
Mallon, D., S. Kingswood. 2001. Antelopes. Part 4: North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Global survey and regional action plans.. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.: SSC Antelope Specialist Group.. Accessed April 05, 2009 at http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2001-024.pdf.
Qumsiyeh, M. 1996. Mammals of the Holy Land. 1996: Texas Tech University Press.
Ray, J., K. Redford, R. Steneck, J. Berger. 2005. Large Carnivores and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Washington D. C.: Island Press.
Wilson, D., D. Reeder. 2005. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Baltimore, Maryland: JHU Press. Accessed April 06, 2009 at http://www.bucknell.edu/MSW3/browse.asp?s=y&id=14200583.
Zachosa, F., M. Karamib, I. Eckerta, G. Hartla, Z. Ibenouazia, J. Kirschninga. 2009. First genetic analysis of a free-living population of the threatened goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa). Mammalian Biology, In Press. Accessed April 05, 2009 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7GX2-4VJ4FPR-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f1211292aa0a83d8a1df279788a7fc3f.