Rut (from Habibi 1994 unless otherwise noted)
- Brief, seasonal period of sexual activity
- Lasts c. 6 weeks, in Arabia (Habibi 1997)
- Males compete for access to reproductive females
- See Aggression in Social Interactions
- May travel long distances
- Travel corridor >60 km (37 mi) used by breeding males, in Israel (Shkedy and Saltz 2000)
- Mate with multiple females, though typically guard a single female at any one time (Shackleton 1997)
Courtship behavior (from Habibi 1994 unless otherwise noted)
- Male behavior
- Often stick out and flick the tongue; tail held stiff and upright during rut
- Low-stretch
- Approaches female from behind; move with quick steps before stopping at a short distance from partner
- Outstretches neck; head held at shoulder level
- Displays front and side of horns; turn neck, horns often touch the shoulders
- Rear-sniff and flehmen (lip-curl)
- Sniffs to investigate the female's perineal region
- Female often responds by walking away, crouching, or urinating
- Male often examines the urine on the ground and may soak his lips in it before performing flehmen
- Front-kick
- Raises and extends a front leg to kick the chest, belly, or haunches of a female
- Chase
- Male may follow an unreceptive female for some time as the female dodges repeated courtship attempts
- Following may last for considerable time; c. 2 hours in one study
- Guarding
- Close association with an estrus female to discourage courtship by other males
- Click here for a brief video
- Female behavior
- Wags tail and may rub her body against interested males when in estrus
- Anoestrus females typically ignore males or urinate in response to their advances
- Copulation
- Brief; lasts a few seconds
- Male holds his head high and rests the front legs along flanks of the female
