From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
The Goitered, Black-tailed or Persian gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) is a gazelle found in a large area of central Asia, including part of Iran and southern west Pakistan in the western end of the range, as well as the Gobi desert. The specific name means "full below the throat" and refers to the male having an enlargement of the neck and throat during the mating season. This is not a true goiter, which is caused by the enlargement of the thyroid gland.
The Goitered gazelle inhabits sands and gravel plains and limestone plateau. It runs at high speed, without the leaping, bounding gait seen in other gazelle species. Throughout much of their range, Goitered gazelles undergo seasonal migrations. Herds cover 10–30 km per day in the winter, with these distances being reduced to about 1–3 km in summer.
- In Iran they are a very important food source for the almost extinct, crically endangered Asiatic Cheetah also known as the Iranian Cheetah: In Iran Asiatic Cheetah's diet consists mainly of Jebeer gazelle, goitred gazelle, wild sheep, wild goat, and cape hare. The Asiatic cheetah’s range is restricted to the Central Iranian Plateau, with an estimated population of 60 adult cheetahs remaining. The main threat to the Asiatic cheetah is loss of their primary prey species, gebeer gazelle (Gazella dorcas), goitered gazelle (Gazella subgothrosa), urial sheep (Ovis orientalis) and wild goat (Capra aegagrus), due to poaching and grazing competition with domestic livestock. Habitat loss from mining development and poaching or illegal hunting also threaten these gazelle populations in Iran and consequently that of the almost extinct Asiatic Cheetah.
[edit] Other Facts
Gestation Period: 5-6 months
Life Span: about 11 years
Young per birth: 1-4
[edit] References
- Mallon (2005). Gazella subgutturosa. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable
- Asiatic Cheetah Page From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
[edit] External link
