Skip to main content

Dorcas Gazelle

Gazella dorcas
The Dorcas Gazalle is a small, desert dwelling species of antelope that can be found in North Africa and the Middle East. There are about half a dozen located-based subspecies, including the Moroccan Dorcas Gazelle and the Israeli Isabella's Gazelle.

Dorcas Gazelles thrive in the desert thanks to some great adaptations. They never have to drink actual water, since they can derive all of their needed moisture from the plants that they eat. They also can withstand extreme temperatures and derive their social habits from the harshness of the conditions. When the conditions are rough they tend to live in small groups where there is less competition, but when things are better they will often form small herds consisting of a male, several females, and their offspring.

Males can become incredibly territorial during the mating season, and they mark off their land by creating dung piles. Gestation lasts around 6 months, and typically only one fawn is born at a time. These newborns are very well developed and are able to stand within an hour. Fawns will spend their first few weeks of life hiding out in bushes while their mothers graze. After two weeks they are strong enough to follow their mothers more actively, and they are fulling weaned by three months.

Dorcas Gazelles are currently listed as Vulnerable. Though the species on the whole is widespread, several of the subspecies are becoming rare and threatened due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. Conservation efforts include protection within designated reserves and captive breeding programs.
IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : North Africa and the Middle East
Size : Height up to 2ft (.6m), Weight up to 45lbs (20kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae -- Genus : Gazella -- Species : G. dorcas
Labels:

Comments

  1. London RemovalsApril 5, 2012 at 3:19 AM

    I had no idea that there are gazelles in the deserts, I mean I have always imagined that they inhabit places close to rivers with wonderful green grass around...

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 4, 2014 at 10:55 AM

    wow they can stand in a hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bornean Orangutan

The Bornean Orangutan is one of two extant Orangutan species in the world. It is the third largest primate (after Gorillas) and is the largest primarily tree-dwelling animal in the world. Males are substantially larger than females, and average at around 165lbs. Bornean Orangutans are largely solitary. A handful might live within a small range but they will seldom interact with one another. Males and females only meet up to breed, which happens only once every several years. A young Orangutan will stay with it's mother for about five years, and the females tend to go about eight years between births. That is the longest interim period of any animal! Sadly, the Bornean Orangutans are in a lot of trouble. They need large forests in order to thrive, and deforestation and habitat degradation has left many homeless. They are also hunted for meat and for traditional medicines. Conservation areas are being established to help these guys in the wild, and it is believed that there are a...
59 comments
Read more

Four!

For anyone who was counting, yesterday was our birthday-- four years! Four years filled with animals from A to Z, more than 1,100 of them! I can't thank my readers enough, it's been wonderful! And in celebration of that milestone... I'm taking a break. Hopefully not forever, but for a little bit at least. In the mean time I plan on getting a new layout out, along with some updates to some of the older articles. I'll post updates here and on the Facebook page, I'm also brainstorming some new animal-related projects, so keep an eye out! Thanks again for four awesome years!
18 comments
Read more

Halloween Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus The Halloween Crab goes by many names, including the Red Land Crab, Whitespot Crab, and Moon Crab. I personally like Halloween Crab though, since it really reflects the interesting colors. They have black carapaces, orange-red legs, and purple claws! Halloween Crabs live in the Pacific coast mangroves and forests of Central and South America. They actually live in the forests as adults, and return to the ocean in order to reproduce. Did you know that they live as far away as 18 miles (30km)  from water? Not where you normally think Crabs to be! While living in the forest, the Crabs forage nocturnally for different plant matter, including leaves and sapling. They also dig long burrows into the ground for protection. These burrows can measure nearly 5 ft long! Halloween Crabs are sometimes kept in captivity, and can be very tricky pets due to their excellent climbing skills. IUCN Status :  Not Listed ...
Post a Comment
Read more