Saiga Antelope
by Amy E Fraser
Title
Saiga Antelope
Artist
Amy E Fraser
Medium
Painting - Oil Pastel On Paper
Description
The Saiga Antelope by Amy E. Fraser. This is an expressive antelope portrait in shades of brown, cream and gold with majestic pink horns and kind brown eyes complimented with a lime green background.
The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), or saiga, is a critically endangered antelope which during antiquity inhabited a vast area of the Eurasian steppe spanning the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the northwest and Caucasus in the southwest into Mongolia in the northeast and Dzungaria in the southeast. During the Pleistocene, they also occurred in Beringian North America and the British Isles. Today, the dominant subspecies (S. t. tatarica) is only found in one region in Russia (in the Republic of Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblast) and in Kazakhstan. Saigas form very large herds that graze in semi-deserts, steppes, grasslands, and possibly open woodlands, eating several species of plants, including some that are poisonous to other animals. They can cover long distances and swim across rivers, but they avoid steep or rugged areas. Saigas, like the Mongolian gazelles, are known for their extensive migrations across the steppes that allow them to escape natural calamities. Saigas are highly vulnerable to wolves. Juveniles are targeted by foxes, steppe eagles, golden eagles, dogs, and ravens. The saiga stands 24–32 inches at the shoulder, and weighs 57–152 pounds. The head-and-body length is typically between 39 and 55 inches. A prominent feature of the saiga is the pair of closely spaced, bloated nostrils directed downward. Other facial features include the dark markings on the cheeks and the nose, and the 3 to 5 inch long ears. During summer migrations, a saiga's nose helps filter out dust kicked up by the herd and cools the animal's blood. In the winter, it heats up the frigid air before it is taken to the lungs. The coat shows seasonal changes. In summer, the coat appears yellow to red, fading toward the flanks. The Mongolian saiga can develop a sandy color. The coat develops a pale, grayish-brown color in winter, with a hint of brown on the belly and the neck. The ventral parts are generally white. The tail measures 2 to 5 inches. Only males possess horns. These horns, thick and slightly translucent, are wax-colored and show 12 to 20 pronounced rings.
Amy E. Fraser’s Oil Pastel Animal Portrait series is an impassioned tribute to the beauty and magic of our beloved Animal Kingdom. Fun, gestural and energetic, these vibrant animals are painted in a stylized realism that is imbued with distinctive character and personality.
The Saiga Antelope by Amy E. Fraser. Animal Portrait Paintings created from the artist’s intense connection to and love for all creatures great and small. Oil Pastel on archival paper. All images copyright Amy E. Fraser. All rights reserved.
Uploaded
May 13th, 2022
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Viewed 1,087 Times - Last Visitor from Oshawa, ON - Canada on 04/19/2024 at 8:33 PM
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