Kulan is a wild or domestic animal. Kulan... Fast as the wind... See what “kulan” is in other dictionaries

A characteristic inhabitant of dry lowland deserts and semi-deserts, in Turkmenistan it lives on semi-desert plains and gentle slopes of hills up to an altitude of 300-600 meters above sea level. Avoids large areas of loose or weakly consolidated sand. In Northern China, it prefers dry foothill steppes and rocky deserts.

Subspecies

There is much disagreement about the distribution of kulans into subspecies. In older scientific works There are seven species of kulans, which today are mostly considered subspecies. Many zoologists consider kiang to be a separate species, since it exhibits the greatest deviations from general characteristics. However, in general, all of the following subspecies are classified as the same species.

• Onager, northern Iran
• Turkmen kulan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan
• Jigetai, Mongolia
• Khur, southern Iran, Pakistan, northwestern India
• Kiang, western China, Tibet
• Anatolian Kulan, Türkiye†
• Syrian kulan, Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabian Peninsula †

Kiang is the largest of the kulan subspecies, reaching 140 cm at the withers and weighing up to 400 kg. Kiangs have reddish-brown fur. Information about the kiangs is extremely scarce. Kiang loves to swim in water and can withstand living conditions at altitudes of up to 5.5 thousand meters above sea level. It was at this height that kiangs were found on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and the high plains of Tibet. For a long time, there were no kiangs in any zoo in the world except Beijing. In 1957, two kiangs named Nemo and Neda were sold to the Riga Zoo. This couple lived until they were 27 and left behind nine descendants. By 1984, there were already 72 kiangs, direct descendants of Nemo and Neda. To save these animals from the degeneration associated with inbreeding, new kiangs were purchased in Beijing and Berlin. Today you can see kiang only in a few zoos in the world: in Moscow, Riga, Beijing, Berlin and San Diego.

According to a number of zoologists, the onager and the Turkmen kulan are one and the same subspecies. But according to the results of the latest molecular genetic studies, both populations can be distinguished from each other. Another subspecies of the Gobi kulan is sometimes separated from the dzhigetai.

The body length of the dzhigetai subspecies is 210 cm.

In the western part of its range, the kulan used to be found along with the wild donkey. Today both species in these regions are wildlife exterminated. The living space of the kulan is arid semi-deserts, in which it feeds on sparsely growing grass. Kulans need drinking points nearby, as they cannot tolerate the absence of water for long.

And belongs to the equine family. There are several subspecies, and these subspecies differ from each other in appearance.

So, for example, animals living in the foothill areas are small, but they are more brightly colored, but the lowland kulans are taller, their appearance more like .

And yet, there are significant differences. All kulans have a mane that stands straight, and there is no bangs. Kulans do not have bangs. The head of this animal is large, large, with long ears. The tail has a black tassel at the end. The color is sandy, the belly is lighter, almost white.

Kulan running around Asia, can put any runner to shame, because it reaches speeds of up to 65 km/h and can run so comparatively for a long time. Even a baby who was born just a week ago runs at a speed of 40 km/h.

Kulan can run at a speed of about 65 km/h for a long time

It must be said that 65 km is not the limit; kulans can reach speeds of 70 km/h. The horse will not be able to catch up with the kulan unless the kulan himself wants to do so. Endurance and the ability to run at high speed are one of the striking features animal kulan.

This is not difficult to explain, because running is the only way an animal has to escape from predators. Natural enemies of the kulan have to make do with only old and sick individuals or even babies.

Although, the mother will fight for the baby, and it is worth noting that very often, successfully. The female attacks the enemy with blows from her front and hind legs, helping to wound the attackers with her teeth. Very often the enemy simply cannot resist such protection.

Kulans prefer to graze in herds

The animal can not only run perfectly, but can also jump well. It is not a problem for him to jump to a height of 1.5 m and jump from a height of 2.5 m. The kulan is physically well developed.

Nature protected him well from unfavorable weather conditions. Its fur, as well as its network of blood vessels, allows it to withstand frost and extreme heat. Kulan can be found in Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan and even in Northwestern China. In Russia, it is distributed in the south of Transbaikalia and Western Siberia.

Character and lifestyle of the kulan

Kulans live in herds of 5-25 animals. The leader of the herd is an adult, experienced female. This is considered, after all, a male. He is located slightly away from the entire garden, grazes separately, but closely monitors the safety of all animals.

Pictured is a Turkmen kulan

Under his supervision, the entire herd grazes calmly, and if any danger approaches, the leader immediately gives a signal that is very reminiscent of the cry of an ordinary donkey. And then the herd really needs the ability to run fast and jump well over obstacles.

So one leader can protect his herd for about ten years. With age, he can no longer claim the role of leader; stronger and younger males win this right from him, and the old male is expelled from the herd.

Active, mobile and seemingly good-natured animals can look terrifying when, for example, males are fighting in mating season. Adult strong males rear up, lay back their ears, their eyes become bloodshot, their mouths are grinning.

The males wrap their legs around the enemy, try to knock him down, and gnaw him with their teeth, trying to damage the hock joint. It comes to serious wounds and bloodshed, however, it does not come to death.

During the mating season, male kulans can fight mercilessly

Interesting and inexplicable fact– kulans are quite peaceful towards almost all animals and birds. they even allow their hair to be pulled out to build nests. But for some reason they are especially disliked. When they approach, the kulans may attack them.

Another unusual thing is that these animals do not like to lie down at all; lying down can last no more than 2 hours. And in winter, no more than 30 minutes. But while standing, a kulan can rest from 5 to 8 hours.

Nutrition

These animals feed only on plant foods. All kinds of plants are eaten; kulans are not capricious. WITH eagerly They eat any greenery, however, when green grass is absent, it is replaced by saxaul, solyanka and such plants that other animals do not like very much.

Any water will do for them too. Kulans can even drink very salt water or too bitter, which is found in infrequent bodies of water. Sometimes, in order to find at least some source of moisture, they have to walk more than 30 km. Therefore, animals know how to appreciate every drop.

Reproduction and lifespan

From May to August wild kulans the season of procreation begins. At this time, the leader of the herd, who was not far from the herd, now begins to graze very close, and attracts the attention of the females by beginning to tumble in the dust, kick up the dry soil with his feet and show in every possible way that he is ready for a serious relationship. Females, ready to mate, respond to him by nibbling his withers, showing that they are not at all against this very relationship.

After such communication, the couple mates. The female carries pregnancy for quite a long time - almost a year, after which the baby is born. Before its birth, the female leaves the herd so that other females or young males cannot harm the calf.

In the photo, a male kulan attracts the attention of females while lying in the dust

After birth, the baby almost immediately stands on its feet and is quite ready to follow its mother. True, first he needs to gain a little strength, and he lies down in a secluded place.

But after 2-3 days, he and his mother join the herd. The female feeds him milk, and the cub quickly gains weight, up to 700 grams per day. When it comes to food, the baby becomes very demanding.

If the mother does not think of feeding him herself, then the cub blocks her path, shakes her head, angrily kicks her legs, not allowing her to take a step. If the female is lying down, then the little cub will find a way to lift her and drink milk.

In the photo there is a female kulan with a calf

A baby needs milk for 10 months. True, at this time he is already beginning to get used to plant foods, but the dairy “cuisine” is not canceled.

Young kulans - 1-2 years old do not exactly welcome the little newcomer, they strive to bite him, but the parents sensitively guard the peace and health of the baby. Only by the age of 4 are young kulans reach puberty. And their entire life expectancy is 20 years.

Kulan is one of the wild species donkeys Sometimes it is referred to as the Asian donkey. Member of the equine family, it is related to the African species of wild asses, as well as zebras and a wild variety of horses. To this day, many people believe that this species of animal has never been domesticated by humans.

Description of the kulan

There are a huge number of subspecies of kulan, about which researchers still have disagreements. The most common subspecies of these animals are:

• Onager (Iranian kulan), lives in northern Iran;
• Turkmen species, whose distribution range is Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan;
• Mongolian kulan, living in Mongolia;
• Indian subspecies, most often found in Iran, Pakistan, northwestern India;
• Kiang, common in western China and Tibet.

The kiang has the largest dimensions of all subspecies, its body weight can reach about 400 kg.

Appearance of the kulan

It is a primitive type of horse, similar in characteristics to a donkey. The body length can reach two meters, and the height at the withers can be up to 150 cm. The body weight of this animal is about 200-300 kg. It has thin legs, narrow, elongated hooves, and a small tail (up to 40 cm), which ends in a tassel. The color of the animal is variable: from sandy to dark brown.

There is a grayish tint. Along the entire back midline stretches a stripe represented by dark shades of colors. The erect mane stretches from the ears to the withers, the tail and the tips of the ears are dark in color, when the lower part of the body, neck, head, as well as side surfaces The body of the kulan is light. They do not have the “bangs” characteristic of domestic horses.

This is interesting! Subspecies of kulans may differ from each other. Animals living in the foothills are smaller in size and have brighter colors. Their legs are short, their heads are small, and their ears are large. They are more similar to the usual donkeys. The kulans living on the plains, much larger, have long legs and more like horses, weeks like donkeys.

IN summer time hairline short, well adjacent to the skin, in winter period hair has more pronounced longness and curliness.

Character and lifestyle

It is a herd animal, herds can reach 10-20 animals. The leader of the herd is an adult female, the rest are young animals. The most experienced female leads the entire herd, while the male lives at some distance, inspecting the surrounding area and provides protection to the entire herd. Most often, the entire herd wanders from place to place on foot, but if there is a sudden danger, the kulan can reach speeds of up to 60-70 km/h.

At the same time, they are distinguished by their endurance - they can withstand this pace of running for about 5-10 minutes, which provides them with the opportunity to hide from ill-wishers. At the same time, they are also distinguished by good jumping ability. It is not a problem for the kulan to jump to a height of about one and a half meters, and to jump from an even higher height of 2.5 m. One leader is able to protect the herd for about 10 years in a row. But over time, he cannot claim this place and young and strong males take it. The previous male then becomes an outcast in this herd.

Usually kulans are gentle, active and agile animals, but there are times when they can look quite terrifying. An example of this would be the fights between males that take place during the mating season. Males rear up, flatten their ears, bare their mouths, and their eyes become bloodshot. Male individuals cover their enemy with their legs, thereby attempting to throw them to the ground, while simultaneously gnawing their limbs with their teeth in order to damage them. In such a battle, you can get significant injuries, but it does not lead to bloodshed.

This is interesting! Kulans are peaceful towards almost all representatives of the animal world. They let the jackdaws pull the fur from their withers to build nests. They especially dislike dogs and sheep. They are most often attacked by kulans.

In case of approaching danger, the male gives an alarm signal, notifying the rest of the herd. Their cry is similar to the cry of an ordinary domestic donkey. Kulans have in their arsenal a keen hearing, a sensitive sense of smell, as well as acute vision, which allows them to notice the enemy at a great distance. These animals do not prefer a recumbent lifestyle at all. Their rest in a horizontal position can last a maximum of 2 hours, and in winter time- no more than half an hour. The rest of the time the kulans spend on their feet.

How long do kulans live?

By the age of four, kulans reach their sexually mature period of life. Total duration their life is about twenty years.

Range and habitats

The usual habitat of kulans is Central Asia. In the northern part they are located in the region of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, in the western part - near Iran, and in the east they can be found in Mongolia and China. They live only in desert and semi-desert zones, which are located both in the mountains and in the foothills near Asian river bodies.

This is interesting! Currently, the presence of a population of kulans in Afghanistan is described.

You will rarely see these animals in thickets of trees and other vegetation that obstruct their view. They try to avoid such places. Also avoid areas with loose or poorly secured sand surfaces. On the territory of Russia, their habitat is the southern part of Transbaikalia and Western Siberia.

Kulan diet

In terms of food, they are very unpretentious. They consume a variety of vegetation growing in the steppe, desert and semi-desert.. Even roots, dried berries and the tops of bushes serve as food for them. In winter, in search of food, they can break the snow cover and break the ice.

An important point for them is watering. It is the location of aquatic habitats that determines their location. But even in water they do not express any preferences - they can even drink bitter and salty water.

Reproduction and offspring

The season for procreation is from May to August. IN given time the male, who was usually located at a distance from the herd, approaches it, attracts the attention of females by tumbling on the ground in the dust, churning the soil with his feet, thereby demonstrating his readiness to serious relationship. Females who are ready to mate give him their response, which is expressed by biting the male at the withers. By this she expresses that she is ready for procreation.

Further, after communication between them, the animals undergo a mating process, which ends with the female becoming pregnant. The gestation period among kulans lasts a fairly long period of time. Pregnancy lasts about 12 months, after which delivery occurs and a foal is born. Immediately before the birth of the baby, the female leaves the herd and remains at a distance in order to protect her cub from other animals after birth.

Almost immediately after birth, the foal stands on its feet and is capable of independent movement. He lies down for 2-3 days in a secluded place, where he is invisible to other animals, and then joins the herd. Initially, the female feeds him milk, the foal quickly gains weight. The average weight gain is about 700 grams per day. If the cub is hungry, then he characteristically notifies the mother about this.

This is interesting! The foal, which was born just a week ago, is already capable of running at speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Blocking her path, shaking his head, kicking up dust with his feet, he does not allow her to take a single step. If the mother lies down, then the foal is able to independently find a way to get to the mother's milk. The duration of feeding a baby is about 10 months. At this time, he gradually begins to master another, plant foods, which he will have to eat throughout his life. Young animals do not welcome babies into their herd, so they try in every possible way to bite and offend them, but sensitive parents always stand up to protect their child, thereby saving their life.

ASIAN, Asian, Asian. 1. adj. to Asia. Asian Museum. Asiatic cholera. 2. transfer Wild, rough (cf. Asian in 2 meanings; obsolete). Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Chukestan, general Asian, yellow Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Asian adj., number of synonyms: 4 Asian (1) ... Synonym dictionary

Asiatic- oh, oh. asiatique adj. And Hannibal, who is of Asian blood, became jealous. 1752. ROA 5 38. And they arrived at the Europe Hotel, which was not at all similar to Europe, but to Asia itself. It was a large barn with many dirty rooms and... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

ASIAN, oh, oh. 1. see Asians. 2. Relating to the peoples of Asia, their languages, way of life, culture, as well as Asia, its countries, their territory, history, flora and fauna; like the Asians, like in Asia. Asian peoples. Asian countries. A.… … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Adj. 1. Related to Asia, Asians [Asians 2.], associated with them. 2. Characteristic of Asians [Asians 2.], characteristic of them and of Asia. 3. Belonging to Asia, Asians [Asians 2.]. 4. Created, hatched, etc. in Asia or Asians [Asians 2.].… … Modern Dictionary Russian language Efremova

Asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian, asian... Forms of words

Asiatic- Asian (from Asia and Asians) ... Russian spelling dictionary

Aya, oh. to Asians and Asia. And not republics. A. people... encyclopedic Dictionary

Asiatic- oh, oh. to Asians and Asia. And not republics. Asian people... Dictionary of many expressions

Asiatic- azi/at/sk/iy… Morphemic-spelling dictionary

Books

• An Asian newsletter containing selected works and translations on the sciences, arts and literature of Eastern countries, as well as travel to these countries and various new information, published by Grigory Spassky. 07_12. , . The book is a reprint of 1825. Despite the fact that serious work has been done to restore the original quality of the publication, some pages may...
• An Asian newsletter containing selected works and translations on the sciences, arts and literature of Eastern countries, as well as travel to these countries and various new information, published by Grigory Spassky. 01_06. , . The book is a reprint of 1825. Despite the fact that serious work has been done to restore the original quality of the publication, some pages may...

Onager, kiang. Asian wild ass, half donkey - these are the names given to an unusual animal, similar to both a horse and a donkey - the kulan.

Translated from Mongolian, “hulanp” means “rebellious, obstinate, nimble.” And this is fair: all attempts to tame the beast failed. Even those born in zoos, these animals do not become tame, although, of course, they are more peaceful. So, in character, of all the species of the horse genus, the kulan is closest to the zebra.

The range of the kulan was once very extensive: it was found in deserts, semi-deserts and steppes of Eastern Europe, Southern Siberia, Front, Middle and Central Asia, Tibet and Western. Today, about 20 thousand representatives of the species have survived in the world. They live in the deserts of Northern, Western India, Northern and Tibet. In the territory former USSR small populations remain in nature reserves, and the largest is in the Badkhyz Nature Reserve (Turkmenistan). The rapid reduction in the range and number of the kulan is associated not only with hunting for it, but also simply with the development of arid territories by man: he occupied the most convenient areas in dry places - near the water, pushing the kulans away from their usual watering places.

FASTER THAN A HORSE

Kulan belongs to the genus of horses, which also includes the horse, donkey and zebra, and he has external similarities with each of these relatives. He is light, slender and tall, like a horse, with a rather large head and long ears They resemble those of a donkey, with a short tail with a black-brown tassel at the end and a low, erect mane like that of donkeys and zebras. Where the kulan is superior to all its relatives is in speed and endurance. For several kilometers it can run at a speed of 65 km/h, and a 7-10-day-old kulanenk can run up to 40 km/h. At short distances (several hundred meters), the animal accelerates to 70 km/h or more.

At the end of the 19th century, researcher M. A. Levanevsky wrote with admiration about the futile attempts to catch up with the kulan on horseback: “One must be amazed at the ease and speed of the kulan’s running. As if joking, playing, he moves away from the pursuing hunter. No matter how you gallop after him, no matter how fast the horse is under the rider, the distance between him and the fleeing kulan remains the same. But, apparently, the wayward animal is tired of seeing the annoying chase behind him - he stops for a minute, as if looking back in surprise, then, hitting himself with his tail on one side or the other, he throws up his hind legs, another minute - and in front of the surprised person is a cloud of dust on the distant horizon..."

Running is the main defense of the kulans from their main enemies - wolves. A predator cannot catch an adult healthy animal. The victims are sick individuals or foals. And even then, in most cases, the female successfully protects her cub, using her front and hind legs and teeth.

HOOVES AND WOOL

Kulan is no worse mountain goat climbs steep rocky slopes, easily jumps onto a ledge 1.5 m high and bravely jumps from a height of 2-2.5 m. Unusual hooves help him in this. They are quite narrow, and the two-layered edges consist of a hard horny substance. As it crumbles, it forms peculiar protrusions-spikes, such as are made on horseshoes. Kulans tolerate both heat and cold well. In summer, they are protected by short, thick hair and a dense subcutaneous blood network, which ensures high heat transfer. During the hottest hours, they stay in areas well blown by the wind. In the evening they go to a watering hole. By winter, the guard hairs of kulans grow to 5-7 cm and become wavy (so they are less blown by the wind), and a thick undercoat appears. During the cold season, animals gather in large herds of several hundred individuals. While resting, the kulans become a dense heap, in the middle of which the cubs bask, and the adults make their way there one by one. Kulans sense weather changes 10-12 hours in advance and long before a snowstorm or sandstorm They stop grazing and go to shelters: ravines or gorges.

PASTURE AND WATERHOLE

For most of the day, 13-15 hours, kulans graze. In winter, they obtain food by digging out the snow with their hooves, so a layer of more than 15 cm already becomes a problem. But the worst problem is ice. Thin ice injures the legs of animals, thick ice causes starvation.

In spring and autumn, kulans receive a lot of moisture from grass, in winter they snack on snow, but in the dry season (which lasts in Turkmenistan from May to September) they simply need a watering hole, so they do not go further than 10-15 km from the water. Although they are undemanding when it comes to drinking: they are content with the bitter and salty water of desert lakes and springs. The herd goes to watering before sunset. It moves slowly along a well-trodden path, because, once it has chosen a source, it constantly goes to it. The kulans arrive at the water in the dark, drink for a long time, snort and splash.

THE LEADER AND HIS HERD

With the exception of winter, kulans live in small herds, from 5 to 25 heads. These are several young animals and females with cubs, dominated by a seasoned stallion. During the transitions, the main mare leads the herd and maintains order in it. The leader brings up the rear. He usually grazes somewhat away from the herd. This makes it more convenient for him to protect his “harem” from enemies and attacks from rivals. The male leads the herd for about five years. Having reached the advanced age of ten, he can no longer resist young stallions. They take the females away from him, and expel the former leader from the herd.

Fights between stallions look quite scary. Enraged kulans, with bloodshot eyes, flattened ears and bared teeth, rear up, clasp each other with their front legs and gnaw each other. Everyone tries to grab the enemy by the hock, throw him to the ground, crush him and bite him on the neck. Nevertheless, both rivals remain alive, although they later walk around with terrible wounds and scars.

KULANYATA

From April to August, new arrivals appear in the herd. Young mares foal annually, sometimes for 5-6 years in a row. Before the baby is born, the female moves away from the others. Having been born, the foal immediately stands on its legs and within a few hours is already following its mother. Every now and then, several dozen times a day, he demands milk, and adds 700 g per day. A hungry little kulan is very demanding. He stands in the mother's way and shakes his head angrily, and if the mare is lying down, he puts his feet on her neck or beats the ground nearby with his hoof. Having achieved his goal, the foal hilariously smacks his lips and twirls his tail. The milk diet lasts 8-10 months, although at the same time the cub eats more and more grass. At 2-3 days of age, he and his mother join the herd, and by the age of a week, he is already running and playing briskly. True, one-year-olds and two-year-olds are just waiting for the right opportunity to beat and bite the baby, but both father and mother strictly monitor this.

At two years old, young people are almost indistinguishable from adults. In the spring, the leader mercilessly drives out the mature stallions, and they form a herd of bachelors. Unlike them, fillies can remain in their native herd.

KULAN IN THE FOOD CHAIN

There are about 170 plants on the kulan menu. The animals are extremely unpretentious: they can eat not only fresh grass, but also dried standing cereals, as well as inedible saltwort, saxaul and other desert plants. Their main enemy is the wolf, and the cubs are occasionally attacked by hyenas and birds of prey.

KULAN FOOD

WORMWORM BROOM

This herbaceous plant also called Artemisia paniculata. It really looks like a fluffy panicle, and the brooms made from this herb are excellent. Short branches grow densely on long, 30-70 cm, straight stems. The leaves are cut into narrow and long segments. Small yellow or reddish tube flowers are collected in panicle inflorescences. In autumn, all the branches of wormwood are strewn with tiny balls - achenes. Thanks to the high content essential oil This plant is used in the perfume and alcoholic beverage industries. Livestock breeders consider wormwood to be a low-value fodder plant, and it occupies an important place in the kulan menu.

Poagrass bulbous

A perennial herbaceous plant from the grass family. Bluegrass is used as a forage plant. Kulans * eat it both fresh and dry. The stem of bluegrass, up to 50 cm high, is framed by leaves only at the bottom. Very narrow, thread-like leaf blades at the base expand greatly, enveloping the stem, and form something similar to an onion. Hence the name of the herb. The inflorescence of rapenia, a dense compressed panicle about 6 cm long, consists of short rough branches and green or purple spikelets, in which 4-7 bulbs are formed. When ripe, they are small plants ready to grow. Species that reproduce in this way (not by seeds, but by ready-made layerings, or babies) are called viviparous.

RICHTER'S SOLYANKA. OR CHERKEZ

This low tree or bush with a light gray trunk and spreading milky white branches resembles a large furry ball. Cherkez chooses exclusively arid and sandy areas and in such conditions feels great and grows quickly. The roots of Richter's solyanka are unusually long, which is why it is used to create protective plantings that secure sand. The leaves of the plant are also unusual: they are so narrow and long, up to 8 cm, that they are more like pine needles. Small pink-golden flowers are almost transparent, and when the hodgepodge blooms, it seems as if a flock of fairy-tale butterflies has descended on the bush. In late autumn they turn into single-seeded nuts. The fruits and leaves of Richter's Solyanka contain the alkaloids salsolidine and salsolin, which are used in medicine to lower blood pressure.

SANSDOOL

In Turkmenistan, 10 million hectares are covered with saxaul forests. Two species grow in the Badkhyz Nature Reserve: white and black. Both of them have powerful root system up to 11 m long, due to which they survive in the desert. Saxaul leaves are tiny, resembling transparent scales, so you won't even notice them. Their main function - photosynthesis - was taken over by young thin green shoots. They thickly cover the thick, fragile main branches that extend from the crooked, furrowed trunk. White saxaul is a low, on average 2 m, “transparent” bush that provides partial shade rather than shade. Black saxaul at 20-25 years of age is a tall tree, up to 14 m. The trunk is thick, as if woven from powerful ropes, the branches are intricately curved. Dense shoots provide good shade, and in general the tree looks darker against the background of sand, which is why it got the name “black”. Both species are excellent food for kulans and a source of fuel for the local population.