The Saiga (Saiga tatarica) is an antelope which originally inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe.
The Saiga typically stands 0.6-0.8 meters at the shoulder and weighs between 36 and 63 kg. Males, who are the only sex to carry horns, are slightly bigger than females . The Saiga are now endangered by poaching, as horns have some value as Chinese traditional medicine.
What make the Saiga so weird is no doubt their extremely unusual, over-sized, and flexible nose!
The nose is supposed to warm up the air in winter and filters out the dust in summer.
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Posted by Fred On juin - 1 - 2009
