Saiga
Male Saiga (Saiga tatarica)
Conservation status
Critically endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Genus: Saiga Species: S. tatarica
Binomial name
Saiga tatarica

Saiga Antelope

The Saiga (Saiga tatarica) is an antelope which inhabits a vast area between Kalmykia, Kazakhstan, southern Siberia, and northwestern China. The Saiga typically stands 0.6-0.8 metres at the shoulder and weighs between 36 and 63 kg. Their lifespan ranges from 6 to 10 years. Males are bigger than females and are the only sex to carry horns. The horns have some value as Chinese traditional medicine and for that reason Saiga are now endangered by poaching. Image File history File links Saiga. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... . ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Animalia redirects here. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1080x1000, 655 KB)This image is compatible for 2D and 3D viewing. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1080x1000, 655 KB)This image is compatible for 2D and 3D viewing. ... Image File history File links 3d_glasses_red_cyan. ... Genera Aepyceros Alcelaphus Antidorcas Antilope Cephalophus Connochaetes Damaliscus Gazella Hippotragus Kobus Madoqua Neotragus Oreotragus Oryx Ourebia Pantholops Procapra Sylvicapra Taurotragus Tragelaphus and others Antelope are herbivorous mammals of the family Bovidae, often noted for their horns. ... The Republic of Kalmykia (Russian: ; Kalmyk: Хальмг Таңһч) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... Siberian Federal District (darker red) and the broadest definition of Siberia (red) arctic northeast Siberia Udachnaya pipe Siberia (Russian: , Sibir; Tatar: ) is a vast region of Russia constituting almost all of Northern Asia and comprising a large part of the Euro-Asian Steppe. ...

Saigas form very large herds that graze in semi-desert steppes eating several species of plants, including some that are poisonous to other animals. They can cover considerable distances and swim across rivers.

The mating season starts in November, when stags fight for the possession of females. The winner leads a herd of 5-50 females. In springtime the mother gives birth to a sole, or less frequently, two foals. Female saiga, like the dikdik, are noted for their ability to bear young at the early age of just eight months. The dik-dik is a small antelope named for the sound it makes when alarmed that lives in the brush of southern and eastern Africa. ...

The Saiga is recognisable by an extremely unusual, over-sized, and flexible, nose structure. The nose warms the air in winter and filters out the dust in summer.

Cherny Zemli Nature Reserve was created in Russia's Kalmykia Republic in 1990s to protect the local saiga population. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Republic of Kalmykia (Russian: ; Kalmyk: Хальмг Таңһч) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ...

References

• Ultimate Ungulate

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Saiga Antelope

• CMS Saiga Memorandum of Understanding
• ARKive - images and movies of the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)
• Information Support of Saiga Preservation Programs (Russian)
• CIC - International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
• Saiga Conservation Alliance