It’s big, it’s bulbous, and it’s a pretty nifty adaptation! The remarkable proboscis-like saiga nose drapes over its mouth and points downward. The bones on the inside of the nose are complex and convoluted, and the nasal openings are lined with hairs, glands, and mucous tracts. Find out more!

According to National Geographic, there is evidence that the saiga micro-trunk nose aids in communication and choosing mates, as well. The loud nasal roars made by male saiga are thought to advertise body size and condition, and help males woo females.

Saiga prefer open, dry steppes, semi-desert grasslands, and open areas free of dense vegetation, where they are able to scan the landscape and dash quickly away from predators.

Herds of saiga feast on grass, herbs, lichens, and low-growing shrubs. In the summer months, they feed in morning and evening, and rest at midday.

These antelopes are diurnal (active during daytime). However, a midday rest is not out of the question. Saiga migrate long distances, walking with their heads pointing to the ground. A single male takes charge of leading a harem of 30 to 50 females, which he has earned after a fierce confrontation with another horned male during the mating season.

These battles can end in a bloody death for the loser—the winner takes all. After the rut, between December and January, where the male has been breeding and defending his harem from marauders, the exhausted males perish in large numbers.