Different Gazelle Species
Gazelles are interesting animals in the antelope family. They are known for their speed and agility, which help them thrive in different environments. There are around 15 species found across Africa and parts of Asia, each with unique characteristics and adaptations suited to its habitat.
The following AnimalWised article explores 10 different gazelle species, highlighting their key characteristics and unique adaptations.
- Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas)
- Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella)
- Dama gazelle (Nanger dama)
- Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri)
- Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti)
- Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
- Soemmerring's gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii)
- White gazelle (Gazella leptoceros)
- Red-fronted gazelle
- Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei)
Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas)
The Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) is a small antelope that lives in the deserts of North Africa, including Egypt and Western Sahara. These animals prefer rocky areas with sparse plants and avoid large sand dunes.
As mentioned earlier, they are small and typically reach about 65 centimeters (25.6 inches) in height and 110 centimeters (43.3 inches) in length. They weigh between 15 and 20 kilograms (33 to 44 pounds). Look for their long ears and curved horns, which help identify them.
These gazelles are great at conserving water. They can go for long periods without drinking, getting moisture from the plants they eat. They also handle high temperatures well, adapting to their dry environment.
The IUCN lists the Dorcas gazelle as Vulnerable. Their populations face threats from illegal hunting and habitat loss due to farming, urban development, and overgrazing. Efforts are in place to protect these animals and help them survive in their challenging habitat.
Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella)
Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella) is well-suited to the mountainous regions, hills, and coastal plains of the Arabian Peninsula. This species thrives in areas with acacia trees, which form a significant part of its diet. While three subspecies exist in Israel, the range of the Arabian gazelle extends across several Middle Eastern countries.
Arabian gazelles are generally larger than Dorcas gazelles and have a more robust build. They adapt well to arid environments but prefer habitats with some vegetation cover, particularly acacia trees. Although they can tolerate high temperatures, they are less equipped for extreme desert conditions compared to Dorcas gazelles.
Despite legal protections in many regions, the Arabian gazelle is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Illegal hunting through poaching significantly reduces their populations. Additionally, collisions with vehicles are also a serious concern, especially on roads that cut through their habitats.
Dama gazelle (Nanger dama)
The Dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is the largest of all gazelle species, native to the arid regions of the Sahara and Sahel. Males typically stand about 100 to 120 centimeters (39 to 47 inches) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 60 to 90 kilograms (132 to 198 pounds), while females are slightly smaller, standing around 80 to 100 centimeters (31 to 39 inches) and weighing 30 to 50 kilograms (66 to 110 pounds).
It is perfectly adapted to its harsh desert environment, featuring a distinctive pale sandy-brown coat with dark brown markings.
Dama gazelles are highly social animals, often living in herds that can range from a few individuals to several hundred. Some populations are migratory, traveling long distances in search of food and water. T
Dama gazelle faces critical threats that have led to its status as critically endangered. Overhunting and habitat loss significantly contribute to its decline.
Discover how the climate shapes the lives of gazelles and other desert inhabitants in our related piece.
Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri)
The Cuvier's gazelle, also called the Atlas gazelle, lives in the rocky, semi-arid regions of North Africa’s Atlas Mountains. Its reddish-brown coat and white underside help it blend with its surroundings, and its long legs and curved horns suit it well for moving across uneven terrain.
Cuvier's gazelles eat grasses, herbs, and leaves from shrubs and trees, which provide most of the moisture they need. They’re social animals, often living in small herds with a dominant male, several females, and their young. In spring, females usually give birth to one calf.
These gazelles are fast and agile, reaching speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph) when running from predators. They’re also known for leaping high in the air—a behavior common in gazelles to signal to predators they’re healthy and alert.
The Cuvier's gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This status reflects a significant decline in their population, primarily due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and illegal hunting.
Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti)
Grant’s gazelles are among the larger species in their genus, standing about 75–90 cm (30–35 inches) at the shoulder and weighing between 35–80 kg (77–176 lbs). Their long, ringed horns are seen in both males and females, adding to their distinctive look.
They are native to the grasslands and savannas of East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania.
Interestingly, To avoid predators like lions and cheetahs, Grant's gazelles often form mixed herds with other species like zebras and wildebeest, which can provide additional protection.
Although currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, their populations are decreasing, mainly due to habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment.
Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
Thomson's gazelles are a common sight on the African savanna, particularly in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
The Thomson’s gazelle, a small antelope with a distinctive black stripe along its flanks, is known for its agility and speed, often reaching up to 50–60 mph (80–96 kph) when evading predators like cheetahs and lions.
Their characteristic stotting, a leap with all four legs extended, is thought to serve multiple purposes, such as deterring predators, signaling fitness to potential mates, and coordinating movement within the herd. This unique behavior, along with their black stripe, may also help predators gauge the gazelle’s speed and distance.
Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, Thomson's gazelles still face threats from habitat loss and poaching, making conservation measures essential to maintain stable populations.
Soemmerring's gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii)
The Soemmerring’s gazelle, also called the Abyssinian mohr, is native to the Horn of Africa, mainly in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan.
This species has a light brown coat with darker markings on its face and legs. Both males and females have long, lyre-shaped horns, making them easy to identify.
It lives in arid savannas and grasslands and is adapted to cover long distances in search of water and grazing. Their long, slender legs have muscles adapted for endurance, allowing them to travel farther with each stride. This structure conserves energy and enables steady movement over long distances.
Despite these adaptations, Soemmerring’s gazelle is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, facing threats from habitat loss and hunting. Conservation efforts are in place to help support this species and its habitat.
Did you know that gazelles are adapted to survive in different desert conditions? Find out more about these fascinating landscapes.
White gazelle (Gazella leptoceros)
The white gazelle is a remarkable desert inhabitant, perfectly adapted to its harsh environment. The white gazelle primarily inhabits the arid regions of North Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
Its pale coat reflects sunlight and helps regulate body temperature, a vital feature for surviving in extreme heat. With long, slender legs, it moves effortlessly across vast sandy landscapes.
This gazelle is also highly social, often living in large herds that offer protection and improve foraging efficiency. These herds can migrate long distances to find water and food, navigating the desert with impressive skill.
However, the white gazelle faces significant threats from habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, leading to its critically endangered status.
Red-fronted gazelle
The Red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons) is a graceful antelope that thrives in the challenging environments of the Sahel region, a narrow band of semi-arid land south of the Sahara Desert.
These gazelles feature a reddish-brown patch on their foreheads and a distinctive black stripe along their flanks. These markings set them apart from other gazelle species.
They are well-adapted to the harsh conditions of the Sahel, with the ability to extract moisture from their food and efficient kidneys that help conserve water. In addition to their adaptations to conserve water, red gazelles have a highly efficient digestive system that allows them to extract maximum nutrients from their food, which is crucial in environments where food may be scarce.
To cope with seasonal fluctuations in rainfall and food availability, red-fronted gazelles migrate to areas with more abundant vegetation during the dry season.
The Red-fronted gazelle is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. This status indicates that while the species is not currently facing an immediate risk of extinction, it is experiencing a decline in population due to threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change.
Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei)
The Speke's gazelle is a small antelope native to the arid regions of Somalia. Named after British explorer John Hanning Speke, this species has some unique traits worth noting.
They possess a distinctive nasal structure, allowing them to produce loud honking sounds during the breeding season.
While they are social animals, Speke's gazelles can also be solitary, particularly during the breeding season. The breeding season for Speke's gazelles typically occurs during the rainy season. After a gestation period of around six months, females give birth to a single calf.
Unfortunately, the Speke's gazelle is classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List due to threats like habitat loss and hunting. Conservation efforts are necessary to protect this unique species and its habitat.
Did you know that gazelles are part of a larger group called even-toed ungulates? Learn more about this diverse family of animals in our related article.
If you want to read similar articles to Different Gazelle Species, we recommend you visit our Wild animals category.
- IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org