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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Mhorr's
gazelle, western dama gazelle |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Gazella
(wild goat) dama (like a deer) mhorr
(scientific explorer) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Mhorr's gazelle is a medium-sized gazelle with a
mostly white body, a top blanket of dark rust color,
and short black horns |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft.) at the shoulder |
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| WEIGHT: |
39.6-74.25
kg (88-165 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
acacia and bush leaves, grasses, and herbs |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 6.5 months; typically one offspring
at a time; |
| NURSING
DURATION |
Young
nurse for 4 to 9 months |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
18-24
months |
| FEMALE |
9-12
months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
12 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
open steppes, grassy steppes, semi deserts, deserts |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Extinct
in the wild |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Endangered |
| CITES |
Appendix
I |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
Mhorr's gazelle is also referred to as the western
dama gazelle. Dama gazelles are known for having
extremely long legs, which raises their body off
the hot desert sand to keep them cool. In addition,
their long legs provide extra surface area on their
body to radiate heat. |
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| 2. |
They are the tallest of all gazelles, due to lean
bodies with long neck and legs. They are also the
darkest subspecies of the dama gazelle tribe. |
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| 3. |
They are known to rear up on hind legs to reach
tall browse. |
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| 4. |
When
migrating during times of drought, many Mhorr's
die due to lack of food, not water. Like many mammals
living in arid regions, adapting to long periods
without drinking water is necessary. Most of these
animals are successful at exacting water from food. |
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| By
eating the grasses, Mhorr's get all the water they
need during the rainy season, but migrate to find
drinking water during dry periods.
Mhorr's
gazelles are an important food source for many
predators.
As
with most mammals found in North Africa they are
on the brink of extinction due to over-hunting
and habitat destruction.
In
a cooperative effort with other AZA (American
Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions,
Busch Gardens closely manages Mhorr's gazelle
populations through a program called the Species
Survival Plan (SSP), which works to improve the
genetic diversity of managed animal populations.
Busch Gardens currently has 30 SSP animals.
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| |
|
|
|
Estes, R.D. The Safari Companion: A Guide to
Watching African Mammals. Vermont: Chelsea Green
Publishing Co., 1993. |
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Gotch, A.F. Mammals-Their Latin Names Explained.
Poole, U.K.: Blandford Press Btd., 1979. |
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Nowak, Ronald (ed.). Walkers Mammals of the
World. Vol. II, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991.
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| Parker,
S.P. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals.
Vol 5. New York: McGraw Hill Pub. Co., 1990. |
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| Spinage,
C.A. The Natural History of Antelopes. New
York: Facts on File Pub., 1986. |
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| Stuart,
C. and T. Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern
Africa. Florida: Ralph Curtis Books Pub. 1988. |
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