The correct spelling of the species known as "Gazella Subgutturosa" is a bit tricky. The word "Gazella" is easy enough, but "Subgutturosa" is a bit more complicated. The first syllable is pronounced "sub", like in submarine. The second syllable is "gut", like the stomach organ. The third syllable is "tu", like in two. The fourth syllable is "rosa", like in the name Rosa. So altogether, the pronunciation is "sub-gut-tu-RO-sa".
Gazella subgutturosa, commonly known as the Persian or goitered gazelle, is a species of medium-sized ungulate mammal belonging to the Bovidae family and genus Gazella. Endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Asia, this gazelle is primarily found in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of central Asia.
The Persian gazelle is characterized by its slender body with long legs, enabling it to navigate various types of terrain, including mountainous regions, sandy deserts, and rocky plateaus. They typically possess a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown coat, which provides effective camouflage in their habitat.
These herbivorous animals mainly feed on grasses, leaves, and shrubs, adapting their diet based on seasonal availability. Gazella subgutturosa utilizes its pointed, slightly curved horns, present in both males and females, for territorial defense and intra-species conflicts.
The species has a specific breeding period during late winter and early spring when male gazelles engage in intricate territorial displays to attract females. Females give birth to a single calf, which is typically able to walk within a few hours of being born.
Gazella subgutturosa is classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although habitat degradation, poaching, and disturbance due to human activities pose serious threats to their population in some areas. Conservation efforts are aiming to mitigate these risks and protect the Persian gazelle's population, ensuring the species' survival and ecological balance in its natural range.
The word "Gazella subgutturosa" is a scientific name for a species of antelope commonly known as the Arabian or Persian gazelle.
The etymology of "Gazella" can be traced back to the Latin and Greek words for "gazelle". The Latin term "gazella" appears to be derived from the Greek word "gázeios", which means "of Gaz", referring to the town of Gaza in present-day Palestine. This is likely due to the historical presence of gazelles in that region.
The specific epithet "subgutturosa" consists of two Latin words: "sub" meaning "below" or "under" and "gutturosus" meaning "throaty" or "of the throat". However, it is unclear why this particular descriptor was given to the species.