Chinkaras grazing in Panna National Park in India. These small gazelles are only about 65 centimeters tall and have a reddish-buff fur, with a pitch black tail and white underparts. The sides of the face have dark chestnut stripes bordered by white stripes, from the corner of the eye to the snout. Males grow a pair of blackish, ribbed horns, that have a set of rings at the base and usually grow up to around 20-25 centimeters long.

The horns typically curve backward and then upward, ending in a sharp point. Females may also grow horns, but with a less thick base and without any base rings.