Dorcas gazelle
The Dorcas gazelle is a small, graceful antelope found in open plains and semidesert regions across North Africa and extending into the Middle East and parts of Eastern India. Known for its remarkable agility, the Dorcas gazelle employs a behavior called stotting, where it leaps vertically to confuse predators, before potentially sprinting at speeds of up to fifty miles per hour. These gazelles possess distinctive short, smooth coats that vary in color depending on their habitat, with lighter tones found west of the Nile River and redder shades to the east.
Dorcas gazelles typically stand about two feet tall and weigh between thirty and forty pounds. Their diet consists of grasses, leaves, fruits, and even insects, allowing them to thrive in arid conditions by obtaining moisture from the vegetation. Socially, they form herds of up to forty members, while mature males often establish solitary territories, particularly during the mating season from September to November. The conservation status of the Dorcas gazelle is currently classified as vulnerable, primarily due to habitat loss and hunting pressures. With a life span of ten to twelve years, these animals play an important role in their ecosystems, yet continue to face significant threats.
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Dorcas gazelle
Dorcas gazelles live in the open plains and semidesert areas across North Africa and into the Middle East as far as Eastern India. The dorcas gazelle uses vertical hopping, called stotting, to confuse its enemies. After stotting, it may run away at speeds of up to fifty miles per hour (ninety-six kilometers per hour).
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Gazella
Species: Dorcas
Dorcas gazelles have short, smooth coats that vary in color according to where they live. Usually, dorcas gazelles west of the Nile River have lighter, sandier colored coats, while those that live east of the Nile River have redder coat tones. The underside of the dorcas gazelle is lighter than its coat color, and its tail has a white area around the base. Males and females can be identified according to the size and shape of their horns. The male's horns are curved and are about eleven inches (twenty-eight centimeters) long. The females' horns are shorter, straighter, and thinner than the males'. They grow to be only about six to eight inches long (fifteen to twenty centimeters). Males have between twenty and twenty-four rings on their antlers, while females have between sixteen and eighteen rings. Dorcas gazelles grow to be about two feet (sixty centimeters) tall and between three and four feet long (one to one and one-fourth meters). They weigh between thirty and forty pounds (fourteen and eighteen kilograms).
Dorcas gazelles browse around in their herds looking for their favorite foods. Dorcas gazelles eat grasses, leaves, shoots, fruit, plant materials, herbs, and even locusts if there is not any good plant life around. They do not need to drink fresh water regularly because they get most of the water they need from the plants they eat, like wild watermelons.
Dorcas gazelles travel in herds of up to forty members. Some of the herds are all female, while other herds are of non-breeding males. These are called bachelor herds. Mature males usually live alone on a marked territory. They are especially protective of their territory during mating season.
September through November is mating season for dorcas gazelles. The gestation period is six months. The female then gives birth to one offspring, called a fawn. This frequently occurs in the springtime. The fawn weighs less than four pounds (two kilograms) at birth and has a darker coat. Its coat gets lighter after one or two weeks.
Other animals, like lions, cheetahs, leopards, wolves, and hyenas are threats to dorcas gazelles. Hunters use falcons and dogs to hunt dorcas gazelles. The falcon strikes the gazelle, and the dogs find the lame animal. The conservation status of dorcas gazelles is vulnerable due to habitat loss and illegal hunting practices.
Dorcas gazelles have a life span of between ten and twelve years.
Bibliography
Dewey, Tanya. “Gazella Dorcas.” Animal Diversity Web, 2006, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gazella‗dorcas/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
Mayor, Dana. “Gazelle.” A-Z Animals, 13 Mar. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/gazelle/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.
“Reversing the Decline of Threatened Wildlife in the Aïr & Ténéré National Nature Reserve in Niger.” Sahara Conservation, 2 Mar. 2022, saharaconservation.org/reversing-the-decline-of-threatened-wildlife-in-the-air-tenere-national-nature-reserve-in-niger/#. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.