Dorcas Gazelle
| Dorcas Gazelle | ||||||||||||
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Dorcas Gazelle ( Gazella dorcas ) |
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| Gazella dorcas | ||||||||||||
| ( Linnaeus , 1758) |
The Dorcas gazelle ( Gazella dorcas ) is a species of gazelle from the arid regions of North Africa. Before the animal world of the East African savannas became well known with the Thomson and Grant gazelles, the Dorcas gazelle was considered the typical gazelle.
features
With a body weight of 15–20 kg and a shoulder height of 55–65 cm, the Dorcas gazelle is one of the smallest gazelle species. As a desert animal, its sand-colored top camouflages it from its enemies. The flank strip is relatively weak. Both sexes have horns. The underside is white, the flank red-brown.
Distribution area
The distribution area of the Dorcas gazelle includes the semi-deserts and deserts of North Africa southwards to the Sahel , as well as adjacent parts of Israel , Jordan and Syria . A similar form, Gazella saudiya , formerly considered a subspecies of the Dorcas gazelle, was once common in Iraq , Kuwait, western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen .
Way of life
The Dorcas gazelle is perfectly adapted to dry areas. They can do without water, as they can only meet their fluid needs from dew, from their forage plants and from their water-storing desert plants.
Endangerment and existence
The IUCN has classified the species as endangered as its population is still declining due to excessive hunting. Rich families from the Gulf States often go on hunting trips to the Sahara, where the antelope hunt reaches the dimensions of a military operation; the gazelles are shot from airplanes and motor vehicles.
The total population south of the Sahara is estimated at around 35,000 to 40,000 animals. The largest populations live in the Horn of Africa, Chad and Niger, especially in large protected areas such as the Aïr and Ténéré nature reserve . About 800 to 2000 animals live in Morocco. In Algeria, Dorcas gazelles can still be found in Tassili n'Ajjer and Ahaggar National Park. In Tunisia there are also stocks in protected areas, such as the Jebil National Park and the Bou Hedma National Park . In almost all areas, stocks continue to decline. An exception is the stable population in Israel, which includes more than 2000 animals.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are distinguished:
- Gazella dorcas dorcas : Eastern Sahara
- Gazella dorcas massaesyla : Western Sahara
- Gazella dorcas isabella : East of the Nile
- Gazella dorcas beccarii : highlands of Eritrea
- Furry Gazelle ( Gazella dorcas pelzelni ): North coast of Somalia
etymology
Dorkas is the Greek word for "gazelle"; on the other hand, the word "gazelle" comes from the Arabic ghazal . The German name of the species is thus composed of two names of the genus.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
- J. Kingdon (1997): Field guide to the larger mammals of Africa . Struik Publishers
Individual evidence
- ↑ Paul Scholte and Ibrahim M. Hashim: Gazella dorcas Dorcas Gazelle. In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume VI. Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids. Bloomsbury, London, 2013, pp. 340–346
- ↑ Colin P. Groves and David M. Leslie Jr .: Family Bovidae (Hollow-horned Ruminants). In: Don E. Wilson and Russell A. Mittermeier (eds.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 2: Hooved Mammals. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona 2011, ISBN 978-84-96553-77-4 , p. 641
- ↑ a b Gazella dorcas in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Accessed on 26 July 2011th
- ↑ Gazella saudiya in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, 2008. Accessed on 26 July 2011th
