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 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.

Species

The gazelles are divided into three genera and numerous species.

Prehistoric species

Fossils of genus Gazella are found in Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene 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 of Ethiopia, 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. 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. 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

References