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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
dorcas
gazelle |
| KINGDOM: |
|
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Gazella
dorcas |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Smallest
gazelle, long ears, light fawn with poorly-differentiated
flank stripes |
| MALE |
|
| FEMALE |
|
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| SIZE: |
Shoulder
height 55 to 65 cm (21.65-25.5 in.), body length
90 to 110 cm (35.5-47.6 in.) |
| MALE |
|
| FEMALE |
|
|
| WEIGHT: |
15
to 20 kg (33-44lb.) |
| MALE |
|
| FEMALE |
|
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| DIET: |
Browser,
especially Acacia leaves, occasionally invertebrates |
|
| GESTATION: |
6
months |
| ESTRAL
PERIOD |
|
| NURSING
DURATION |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
|
| MALE |
|
| FEMALE |
|
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 17 years observed in zoos; wild life span unknown |
| MALE |
|
| FEMALE |
|
|
| RANGE: |
Desert
and sub-desert zones |
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| 1. |
Horns
are present on both sexes. The horns may have
up to 25 annular rings and are lyre-shaped (point
outward then come in at the tips). |
| |
|
| 2. |
Though
Dorcas are the smallest gazelle they are proportionately
the longest limbed. |
| |
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| 3. |
Dorcas
tend to separate into small groups but will congregate
in large herds on localized resources. These herds
may reach up to 100 individuals. |
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| 4. |
They
are mainly active at night and around dusk and dawn. |
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| While
information on Dorcas gazelles is limited, they
are important to the habitats where they live. As
browsers these gazelles help keep vegetation from
becoming overgrown. They also serve as a food source
for carnivores. |
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|
| |
|
|
| Estes,
Richard D. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals
Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, Primates.
Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California
Press. 1991. |
| |
| Estes,
Richard D. The Safari Companion. Post Mills:
Chelsea Green Publishing Co. 1993. |
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| Parker,
Sybil P. ed. Grimek's Encyclopedia: Mammals
Vol. 5. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
1990. |
| |
| Nowak,
Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World Fifth
Edition Vol. II. Baltimore: The John University
Press. 1991. |
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