About Procapra gutturosa (Pallas, 1777)
Procapra gutturosa, commonly called dzeren or Mongolian gazelle, has a seasonal coat: in summer, it is tawny light brown with pale pinkish tones, while in winter the coat becomes thicker, longer, and paler. This species has a distinctive heart-shaped white patch on its rump, split along the center by a darker median line. Males have lyre-shaped horns that curl backward from the forehead. The Mongolian gazelle is an extremely capable long-distance runner and a strong swimmer. Mongolian gazelles inhabit cold, semi-arid, temperate ecosystems. They favor flat or gently undulating steppes and dry grasslands, and prefer steppe and desert steppe habitats that have clustered vegetation. The species' estimated total global range is 746,281 km². 91% of this range lies within Mongolia (681,863 km²), 5% within China (34,718 km²), and 4% within Russia (29,700 km²). The species' mating season occurs in late autumn or winter. During this period, males experience goiter-like swelling of the throat. Competition for mates is intense, but fights between males rarely occur. Gestation lasts approximately 5 to 6 months, and births take place in June and July. When giving birth, groups of dozens of females separate from the main herd before rejoining it after birthing is complete. Females usually give birth to a single calf, and twins occur only occasionally. Newborn calves weigh around 3 kg, and can keep pace with their mother within a few days of birth. Young Mongolian gazelles reach sexual maturity and are able to mate at 17 to 18 months old.
