Gazella

A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . There are also seven species included in two further genera; '' Eudorcas'' and '' Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third former subgenus, ''Procapra'', includes three living species of Asian gazelles.

Gazelles are known as swift animals. Some can run at bursts as high as or run at a sustained speed of . Gazelles are found mostly in the deserts, grasslands, and savannas of Africa, but they are also found in southwest and central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They tend to live in herds, and eat fine, easily digestible plants and leaves.

Gazelles are relatively small antelopes, most standing high at the shoulder, and are generally fawn-colored.

The gazelle genera are ''Gazella'', ''Eudorcas'', and ''Nanger''. The taxonomy of these genera is confused, and the classification of species and subspecies has been an unsettled issue. Currently, the genus ''Gazella'' is widely considered to contain about 10 species. One species is extinct: the Queen of Sheba's gazelle. Most surviving gazelle species are considered threatened to varying degrees. Closely related to the true gazelles are the Tibetan goa, and Mongolian gazelles (species of the genus ''Procapra''), the blackbuck of Asia, and the African springbok.

One widely familiar gazelle is the African species Thomson's gazelle (''Eudorcas thomsonii''), sometimes referred to as a "tommie". It is around in shoulder height and is coloured brown and white with a distinguishing black stripe. The males have long, often curved, horns. Like many other prey species, tommies exhibit a distinctive behaviour of stotting (running and jumping high before fleeing) when they are threatened by predators such as cheetahs, lions, African wild dogs, crocodiles, hyenas, and leopards.

Etymology

''Gazelle'' is derived from French ''gazelle'', Old French ''gazel'', probably via Old Spanish ''gacel'', probably from North African pronunciation of ', Maghrebi pronunciation '. To Europe it first came to Old Spanish">Maghrebi Arabic">Maghrebi pronunciation '. To Europe it first came to Old Spanish and Old French, and then around 1600 the word entered the English language. The Arab people traditionally hunted the gazelle. Later appreciated for its grace, however, it became a symbol most commonly associated in Arabic literature with human beauty. In many countries in northwestern Sub-Saharan Africa, the gazelle is commonly referred to as "dangelo", meaning "swift deer".

Species

The gazelles are divided into three genera and numerous species.

Prehistoric species

Fossils of genus ''Gazella'' are found in Miocene, Pliocene deposits of Eurasia and Africa, which occupuied a broader distribution that modern members of the genus. The earliest members of the genus are known from the Middle Miocene of Africa, around 14 million years ago with members of the genus inhabiting Europe from the Late Miocene until their extinction in the region during the Early Pleistocene around 1.8 million years ago.
* Genus ''Gazella''
** '' Gazella borbonica'' - Early Pleistocene Europe
** '' Gazella capricornis'' - Miocene Asia
** '' Gazella harmonae'' - Pliocene, unusual spiral horns
** '' Gazella praethomsoni'' - Pliocene Africa
** '' Gazella negevensis'' - Early Miocene Asia
** '' Gazella thomasi'' - Thomas's gazelle
** '' Gazella vanhoepeni'' - Pliocene Africa
* Subgenus '' Vetagazella''
** '' Gazella altidens''
** '' Gazella blacki'' - Pliocene Asia
** '' Gazella deperdita'' - Late Miocene Europe
** '' Gazella dorcadoides'' - Middle Miocene Asia
** '' Gazella pilgrimi'' - Late Miocene Europe
** '' Gazella gaudryi'' - Middle Miocene Eurasia
** '' Gazella kueitensis'' - Pliocene Asia
** '' Gazella lydekkeri'' - Mid to Late Miocene Asia
** '' Gazella paotehensis'' - Middle Miocene Asia
** '' Gazella paragutturosa'' - Pleistocene Asia
** '' Gazella parasinensis'' - Pliocene Asia
** '' Gazella praegaudryi'' - Pleistocene Africa
** '' Gazella sinensis'' - Pliocene Asia
** '' Gazella brianus'' - Pliocene Asia
* Subgenus ''Gazella''
** '' Gazella janenschi'' - Pliocene Africa
* Subgenus ''Trachelocele''
** '' Gazella atlantica'' - Pleistocene Africa
** '' Gazella tingitana'' - Pleistocene Africa
* Subgenus ''Deprezia''
** '' Gazella psolea'' - Pliocene Africa

In culture

Symbolism

The gazelle, like the antelope to which it is related, is the totem of many African families. Some examples include the Joof family of the Senegambia region, the Bagananoa of Botswana in Southern Africa (said to be descended from the BaHurutshe), and the Eraraka (or Erarak) clan of Uganda.Roscoe, John, ''The Northern Bantu: An Account of Some Central African Tribes of the Uganda Protectorate'', The University Press (1915), p. 262 As is common in many African societies, it is forbidden for the Joof or Eraraka to kill or touch the family totem.

Poetry

One of the traditional themes of Arabic love poetry involves comparing the gazelle with the beloved, and linguists theorize ''ghazal'', the word for love poetry in Arabic, is related to the word for gazelle. It is related that the Caliph Abd al-Malik (646–705) freed a gazelle that he had captured because of her resemblance to his beloved:

The theme is found in the ancient Hebrew Song of Songs. (8:14)

Gallery

File:Grants Gazelle Gazella granti in Tanzania 2645 Nevit.jpg, Grant's gazelle (male)
File:Gazella dama mhorr 2.jpg, Mhorr gazelle
File:Cuvier's Gazelle.jpg, Cuvier's gazelle (female)
File:Gazella thomsonii - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando, Florida, USA - 20100916.jpg, Thomson's gazelle (male)
File:Gazella spekei (Speke's Gazelle).jpg, Speke's gazelle (female)
File:Group of Gazella subgutturosa.JPG, Goitered gazelle (females and young)
File:Chinkara.jpg, Chinkara (female)
File:Gazella-dorcas.jpg, Dorcas gazelle (female)
File:Gazella rufifrons AB.jpg, Red-fronted gazelle
File:Gazella gazella.jpg, Mountain gazelle (male)
File:GazellaSoemmerringiWolf.jpg, Soemmerring's gazelle (females)
File:Slender-horned gazelle (Cincinnati Zoo).jpg, Slender-horned gazelle (male)
File:Granada Alhambra gazelle Poterie 9019.JPG, Gazelles on one of the vases made for the Alhambra palace

References

External links

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{{Authority control

Mammals of Africa
True antelopes
Extant Pliocene first appearances
Taxa named by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville