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Gazelle
A '''gazelle''' is any of many antelope species currently or formerly in the genus '''''Gazella'''''. Six species are included in two genera (''Eudorcas'' and ''Nanger'') which were formerly considered subgenera. The genus ''Procapra'' has also been considered a subgenus of ''Gazella'', and its members are also referred to as gazelles; however they are not dealt with in this article.
Gazelles are known as swift animals – some are able to maintain speeds as high as for extended periods of time.[The Twisted Mind Emporium: Weird Science: Fast Animals] Gazelles are mostly found in the deserts, grasslands and savannas of Africa, but they are also found in Southwest Asia|southwest and central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. They tend to live in herds and will eat less coarse, easily digestible plants and leaves.
The gazelle species are classified in the ''Gazella'', ''Eudorcas'' and ''Nager''. The taxonomy of these genera is a confused one, and the classification of species and subspecies has been an unsettled issue. Currently, the genus ''Gazella'' is widely considered to contain about 13 species. Four further species are extinct – the Red Gazelle, the Arabian Gazelle, the Queen of Sheba's Gazelle and the Saudi Gazelle. Most surviving gazelle species are considered threatened to varying degrees.
One widely familiar gazelle is the African species Thomson's Gazelle (''Eudorcas thomsoni''), which is around in height at the shoulder and is coloured brown and white with a distinguishing black stripe (as in the picture on the right). The males have long, often curved, horns. Like many other prey species, Tommies (as they are familiarly called) exhibit a distinctive behaviour of ''stotting'' (running slowly and jumping high before fleeing) when they are threatened by predators such as lions or cheetahs. This is a primary piece of evidence for the handicap principle advanced by Amotz Zahavi in the study of animal communication and behaviour.
Etymology and name
Gazelle is derived from the Arabic ''ghazăl'' ().[Merriam-Webster - Gazelle, Accessed: December 22, 2009] Arab people traditionally hunted the gazelle. Appreciated for its grace, it is a symbol most commonly associated in Arabic literature with female beauty.
For I am your friend, today, O wild deer!
Then I say, after freeing her from her fetters:
You are free for the sake of Layla, for ever![
]
Gallery
File:Grant's-gazelle.jpg|Grant's Gazelle
File:MhorrGazelleza.jpg|Dama Gazelle|Mhorr Gazelle
File:C080193.JPG|Cuvier's Gazelle
File:Grant's Gazelle, jumping, Serengeti.jpg|Grant's Gazelle
File:Gazella dama mhorr 2.jpg|Dama Gazelle|Mhorr Gazelle
File:Thompson's Gazelle, Serengeti.jpg|Thomson's Gazelle
File:Persian Goitered Gazelle2.jpg|Goitered Gazelle
File:Chinkara.jpg|Chinkara
File:Gazella-dorcas.jpg|Dorcas Gazelle
File:Cuvier's Gazelle.jpg|Cuvier's Gazelle
File:Gazella rufifrons AB.jpg|Red-fronted Gazelle
Species
- Genus ''Gazella''
- Subgenus ''Gazella''
- * Mountain Gazelle, ''G. gazella''
- * Neumann's Gazelle, ''G. erlangeri''
- * Speke's Gazelle, ''G. spekei''
- * Dorcas Gazelle, ''G. dorcas''
- * Chinkara, also known as Indian Gazelle, ''G. bennettii''
- Subgenus ''Trachelocele''
- * Cuvier's Gazelle, ''G. cuvieri''
- * Rhim Gazelle, ''G. leptoceros''
- * Goitered Gazelle, ''G. subgutturosa''
- Genus ''Eudorcas''
- Mongalla Gazelle, ''E. albonotata''
- Thomson's Gazelle, ''E. thomsoni''
- Red-fronted Gazelle, ''E. rufifrons''
- Genus ''Nanger''
- Dama Gazelle, ''N. dama''
- Grant's Gazelle, ''N. granti''
- Soemmerring's Gazelle, ''N. soemmerringii''
Extinct
Fossils of genus ''Gazella'' are found in Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits of Eurasia and Africa. The tiny ''Gazella borbonica'' is one of the earliest European gazelles, characterized by its small size and short legs. Gazelles disappeared from Europe at the start of Ice Age, but they survived in Africa and Middle East. Four species became extinct in recent times due to human causes.
Recent extinctions
- Genus ''Gazella''
- Subgenus ''Gazella''
- * Arabian Gazelle, ''G. arabica''
- * Queen of Sheba's Gazelle, ''G. bilkis''
- * Saudi Gazelle, ''G. saudiya''[Participants at 4th International Conservation Workshop for the Threatened Fauna of Arabi 2003. Gazella saudiya. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 07 October 2006.][IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2008. Gazella saudiya. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 18 December 2008.]
- Genus ''Eudorcas
- Red Gazelle, ''E. rufina''
Prehistoric extinctions
- Genus ''Gazella''
- ''Gazella borbonica'' - European Gazelle
- ''Gazella thomasi''' - Thomas's Gazelle
- ''Gazella praethomsoni''
- ''Gazella negevensis''
- ''Gazella triquetrucornis''
- ''Gazella negevensis''
- ''Gazella capricornis'
- Subgenus ''Vetagazella''
- ''Gazella sinensis''
- ''Gazella deperdita''
- ''Gazella pilgrimi''- Steppe Gazelle
- ''Gazella leile'' - Leile's Gazelle
- ''Gazella praegaudryi'' - Japanese Gazelle
- ''Gazella gaudryi''
- ''Gazella paotehensis''
- ''Gazella dorcadoides''
- ''Gazella altidens''
- ''Gazella mongolica'' - Mongolian Gazelle
- ''Gazella lydekkeri'' - Ice Age Gazelle
- ''Gazella blacki''
- ''Gazella parasinensis''
- ''Gazella kueitensis''
- ''Gazella paragutturosa''
- Subgenus ''Gazella''
- ''Gazella janenschi''
- Subgenus ''Trachelocele''
- ''Gazella atlantica''
- ''Gazella tingitana''
- Subgenus ''Deprezia''
- ''Gazella psolea''
- Genus ''Nanger''
- ''Nanger vanhoepeni''
References
Category:Arabic words and phrases
Category:Gazella
Category:Mammals of Africa
Category:True antelopes
simple:Gazelle
Related Images
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
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