Dama Gazelle

Dama Gazelle

Addra gazelle, Ariel, Nanger, Ril, Mhorr gazelle

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Subfamily
Genus
SPECIES
Nanger dama
Population size
Bnelow 500
Life Span
12-19 years
Top speed
48-56
29.8-34.7
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
35-75
77-165
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
90-120
35.4-47.2
cminch
cm inch 
Length
140-168
55.1-66.1
cminch
cm inch 

The dama gazelle (Nanger dama ) also known as the addra gazelle or mhorr gazelle, is a species of gazelle. It lives in Africa, in the Sahara desert and the Sahel. A critically endangered species, it has disappeared from most of its former range due to overhunting and habitat loss, and natural populations only remain in Chad, Mali, and Niger. Its habitat includes grassland, shrubland, semi-deserts, open savanna and mountain plateaus. Its diet includes grasses, leaves (especially Acacia leaves), shoots, and fruit.

Show More

In Niger, the dama gazelle has become a national symbol. Under the Hausa name meyna or ménas, the dama gazelle appears on the badge of the Niger national football team, who are popularly called the Ménas.

Show Less

Di

Diurnal

He

Herbivore

Fo

Folivore

Te

Terrestrial

Cu

Cursorial

Pr

Precocial

Gr

Grazing

Te

Territorial

Po

Polygyny

So

Social

He

Herding

Co

Colonial

Do

Dominance hierarchy

Mi

Migrating

D

starts with

Appearance

Dama gazelle is definitely one of the most elegant and graceful creatures around the globe. Additionally, it's the largest gazelle in the world. This adorable animal is endemic to arid habitats, found along the southern edges of the Sahara Desert. Unfortunately, Dama gazelle is now threatened with total extinction as a result of local climate change, encroachment, frequent military and civil conflict as well as excessive hunting. Gazelles are even-toed ungulates (otherwise called hoofed animals), which means that they exhibit an equal number of functional toes on each of their feet. These animals are widespread throughout Africa and Asia, where they are represented by 19 species.

Distribution

Geography

These mammals are native to the region of African Sahel as well as Sahara Desert. Their former range used to cover Morocco and Egypt. Because of overhunting on this species, Dama gazelles are now found exclusively at the junction of Senegal (where they exist due to reintroduction) and Sudan (Chad; Mali; Niger). Preferred types of habitat for these gazelles are grasslands and semi-desert terrains. Nevertheless, they are often seen in marginal environments. They typically occupy stony plains, plateaus as well as mountain foothills.

Dama Gazelle habitat map

Climate zones

Dama Gazelle habitat map

Habits and Lifestyle

Dama gazelles are diurnal and highly social creatures. They are known to gather into mixed groups of 10 - 20 individuals, including a single dominant male. The latter usually displays its social status by horning surrounding bushes and grasses. The dominant male may also remain apart from the herd, which is also a dominance display. Members of these herds spend their daytime hours travelling in search of suitable vegetation and water sources. Dama gazelles exhibit seasonal migration. With the onset of winter, they congregate in large groups of several hundred individuals in order to travel north to the Sahara desert. They will return to their Sahel range only by the dry season. Male Dama gazelles may use their horns in threat displays. These are demonstrations of their power, during which they usually perform head shaking and 'pretend' fights. Dama gazelles communicate with each other primarily through body language.

Group name
Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Dama gazelles are herbivores (folivores), they maintain grazing diet, which generally consists of shrubs, herbs as well as coarse desert grasses. Additionally, these animals are known to favor Acacia tree leaves.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
March-June
PREGNANCY DURATION
6-6.5 months
BABY CARRYING
1 calf
INDEPENDENT AGE
6 months
FEMALE NAME
cow
MALE NAME
bull
BABY NAME
calf, fawn

Dama gazelles exhibit polygynous mating system. During the reproductive season, males of this species fiercely defend their mating rights against each other. On the other hand, males often cooperate, forming groups and chasing females in order to keep the latter within the area as well as ward off other rival males. Dama gazelles mate in March-June. Gestation period lasts for 6 - 6.5 months, yielding a single baby, which remains hidden in a secluded place during the first few days of its life. After a while, the calf starts following its mother. Female Dama gazelles are known to be very careful and protective mothers. Moreover, pairs of females have been known to defend their young against jackals together, often attacking and chasing the latter. Weaning occurs at about 6 months of age, while the age of reproductive maturity is 9 - 12 months old for females and 1.5 - 2 years old for males.

Population

Population threats

This Critically Endangered species has currently lost almost all of its original range and population due to excessive hunting and poaching for its horns and meat. Dama gazelles are presently threatened by loss of their small remaining habitat, as a result of desertification. They also suffer from loss of important tree cover because of human activities such as clearance. Another noticeable concern is excessive grazing by livestock, which dries the land and makes these animals leave their territories. And finally, population numbers of Dama gazelles are directly affected by frequent civil unrests in countries of their range.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population of Dama gazelles is less than 500 individuals, including 100-200 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) and its numbers continue to decrease.

Ecological niche

Due to their habit of grazing, these mammals act as key seed dispersers of Acacia trees. Additionally, Dama gazelles are hunted by numerous predators of their range (jackals, cheetahs, hyenas, lions), who typically hunt prey on plain terrains.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The magnificent Dama gazelle is the tallest species of its genus. When standing straight, an individual may be 4 feet (1.2 meters) long.
  • The word "gazelle" derives from "gazal", an Arabic word, frequently used in love poems.
  • When feeding on Acacia leaves, these animals usually stand on their hind legs, often stretching their bodies to up to 6 feet off the ground.
  • Dama gazelles have more water requirement than other desert antelope. Nevertheless, these animals are capable of living long periods of time without drinking water.
  • They are constantly on the alert to escape numerous predators of their home range. Once spotting a threat, these gazelles warn conspecifics by so-called “pronking” signal, during which they jump into the air with stiffened limbs.
  • Along with 4 other related species, Dama gazelle belongs to desert gazelles, which were a common theme in the ancient Egyptian art. During a long period of more than 4,000 years, these animals were commonly portrayed on rocky terrains, temples, tomb walls, wooden panels, wands and ceramic items. According to Strandberg, these gazelles may be revered as “representatives for the desert mountains as the setting for death and rebirth.”

References

1. Dama Gazelle Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dama_gazelle
2. Dama Gazelle on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/8968/0

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About