Mammals
Goitered Gazelle
Gazella subgutturosa · also called black-tailed gazelle
Developing a temporary throat swelling each breeding season, a goitered gazelle carries an unusual name for an unusual trait, its black tail standing out sharply against a pale body across the arid steppe of Central Asia and the Middle East.
Overview
The goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa, is a desert-adapted gazelle native to arid steppe and desert habitat across Central Asia and the Middle East. Its unusual seasonal throat swelling, distinctive black tail, and tolerance for extreme temperature swings make it one of the more physically and behaviourally distinctive gazelle species found across the region.
A name born from a breeding-season transformation
The goitered gazelle’s common name captures one of the more visually striking seasonal transformations found among gazelle, as males temporarily develop a swollen throat during the rut before returning to a more typical appearance once breeding season ends.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations declining across Central Asia and the Middle East due to habitat loss, poaching, and livestock competition.
Goitered Gazelle: common questions
Why is it called the goitered gazelle?
This species has males that develop a temporary swelling on the throat during the breeding season, caused by an enlarged larynx, a feature resembling a goiter that gives the species its unusual common name.
What does the goitered gazelle look like?
This species has a distinctive black tail that stands out clearly against its otherwise pale, sandy-coloured body, along with ridged, lyre-shaped horns present mainly on males.
How does the goitered gazelle survive such extreme temperature swings?
This species tolerates the extreme temperature swings between hot days and cold nights typical of the arid steppe and desert habitat it occupies across Central Asia and the Middle East.
Do female goitered gazelle have horns?
Rarely, this species has horns present mainly on males, with females only occasionally growing small, underdeveloped horns of their own.