The Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) A migratory herbivore native to the dry steppe grasslands and semi-arid deserts of Central Asia. Weighing an average of 35kg and growing up to 80cm they are only the size of a goat. They carry a very distinct proboscid nose which filters dust during dry summers and heats air before it enters the lungs during frozen winters. They roam in large polyamerous herds with up to 1000 individuals which will be almost entirely female and offspring. There are two sub species, one Mongolian and the other Russian. They are the only living member of their genus and date back to at least the last ice age. During this period they roamed almost the entire of Eurasia. Fossil records show one other saiga species that is now extinct. Unfortunately there is a danger that they will follow as they were declared critically endangered in 2001. Factors affecting the population is loss of habitat, a pandemic in their population and poaching for their horns.