The Tibetan antelope (scientific name: Pantholops hodgsonii) is one of the important rare species in China, which belongs to the subfamily bovidinae. At present, the distribution area of Tibetan antelope in the world is estimated to be about 1 million square kilometers, mainly concentrated in Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The distribution area of Tibetan antelope in the administrative region of Tibet Autonomous Region is nearly 700000 square kilometers, accounting for 70% of the distribution area of Tibetan antelope in the world. In the past, the scientific investigation records of Tibetan antelope mainly focused on Altun mountain, Kekexili nature reserve, Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve and Qiangtang Nature Reserve in Xinjiang. As one of the most unique indigenous species in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, they inhabit in alpine grasslands, meadows and alpine deserts at an altitude of 3700-5500 meters. In the process of long-term adaptation to the plateau environment, they gradually form the characteristics of low oxygen tolerance, high cold tolerance and low energy food tolerance. This provides an ideal animal model for scientist to study the adaptation of wild animals to extreme environment.
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References:
- Schaller, G. B. et al. Observations on the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 29, 361-378(1991).
- Ge, R.-L. et al. Draft genome sequence of the Tibetan antelope. Nature Communications 4, 1858 (2013).
- Signore, A. V. & Storz, J. F. Biochemical pedomorphosis and genetic assimilation in the hypoxia adaptation of Tibetan antelope. Science Advances 6, eabb5447 (2020).