Species: Persian Gazelle(Gazelle subgutturosa)

Use: Mating Behavior   

Authors: D. A. Blank

Methods: N/A

Publications/Presentations: D. A. Blank (1998). Mating Behavior of the Persian Gazelle Gazelle subguttrosa Güldenstaedt, 1790. Mammalia, t. 62, 499-519.

Behavior

The rut: Young males become interested in females by the age of six months. At this time they do not display any distinct posture; however, they do begin to follow females, often their own mothers, and sniff their hindquarters. Females respond to them just as they do to mature males, by raising their tails and walking away, except that the females never lower their heads to the ground. Displaying characteristic mating postures begins when males are one-year, casually at first but increasing with age. In two-year old males, sexual behavior is similar to that of mature males; however, these young males are not involved in the rut, do not have territories of their own, and are driven away from the females by the territorial males. Only during the third or even fourth year of his life can a male succeed in getting control over his own territory and starting to mate. More than one fourth of the yearling females participate in the rut by the age of seven months, with favorable conditions, while the following year all females become involved in breeding. Young females respond to courting males similarly as mature females; as and a rule, give birth to one infant.

Snow eating and mating behavior: The snow cover tends to be unstable and usually melts or is blown away within several days, making it obvious that the territorial males can survive without water for several days, until the next snowfall. In the case of a long period without snow (more than one week), a male may leave his range for one or more hours in order to drink.

Territorial male behavior: In the early morning before the arrival of the first female groups, a territorial male rests or walks around and renews his territorial markings, or, more rarely, grazes. Quite often the male looks attentively at courting and running neighbors already visited by females. When females begin to approach his territory, he runs to his border, to meet them, and quite often crosses it when his neighbor is not in the immediate vicinity.

Female behavior: When courted by a male, the females raise their tails to a vertical position, or occasionally curl it over their backs. They lower their heads to the ground and pace or run away. Then, when they stop running, they raise their heads and put their tails down again. Commonly females attempt to turn their hindquarters toward the male. Females also show this head-low posture when a buck just bellows near them, or when they pass close to a male who is not immediately interested in them. Young animals of either sex show this same behavior; and young females do it more regularly than adult females. This behavior indicates absolute subordination.

Flehmen: Usually a female urinates when a male has driven her for sometime. Less often, the male responds to urine left by females some time or when seeing an urinating female. When the female has finished urination and moved on, the buck walks to this area in a neutral or low-stretch posture. The male sniffs the urine spot thoroughly, licks it and then performs flehmen: his muzzle is stretched slightly upward and forward, his mouth is opened although not widely, and he slowly turns his head from one side to the other but not rhythmically. After flehmen, the male either chews or licks his upper lip, then resumes the chase, begins to graze, or sometimes rests for 10-15 sec while either standing or lying down.

Copulation: After long courting, the male chases a female who us the most ready for copulation. The female ceases to escape the buck, although she may still move a few steps away from him. She holds her head erect, her chin bent to her back, and her sinciput turned forward. The male follows her in a low-stretch posture, finally staying more or less behind her, keeping his muzzle at the base of her tail. He repeatedly sniffs her hindquarters, then approaches her in such a way that his head is above her back. 

There are four forms of male mounting: 1. bipedal vertical posture without touching the female with his pelvis region and without penis erected; 2. the same posture as the first but with erected, visible penis; 3. the same posture again but touching the female with his pelvis, without intromission of the penis; 4. real copulation, when the male has a bipedal vertical posture, touching the female with his pelvis only and with intromission of the erected penis.

Masturbation: Young males begin masturbation at an age of 11-12 months, when some are still with their mothers. Masturbation of adult males can occur all year round. The male stands still, raises his arched tail slightly, and switches it up and down several times in succession. He may stand still for several seconds, even let his tail down and continue with other activities for some time; but then he raises his tail again, erects his penis, directs it up and forward, and moves his forelegs close to his hindlegs, orienting his pelvis upward. In order to facilitate masturbation, the male quite often lifts his hind leg. He turns his muzzle back, takes his penis in his mouth, and makes milking movements with his head, either up and down or from side to side. Simultaneously, he periodically, opens and closes his mouth as if he is sucking his penis; however, the extricated ejaculate is not sucked, but licked with his tongue.