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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Soemmerring's
gazelle |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Gazella
(wild goat) soemmerringi (scientific explorer) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
This
is a tall gazelle with tan flanks, gradually turning
to white on belly and long black horns. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft.) at the shoulder |
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| WEIGHT: |
35-45
kg (77-99 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; one offspring |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
|
| MALE |
18-24
months |
| FEMALE |
9-12
months |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 14 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
open steppes with brush and acacia; steppes with
few trees |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Vulnerable |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
In
many parts of North Africa and the Middle East,
large stone corrals were constructed to drive herds
of gazelle into, making for an easy ambush. This
method of hunting started in prehistoric times and
continued into the early part of the twentieth century. |
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| 2. |
Scientists suggest that male Soemmerring's are temporarily
territorial. |
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| 3. |
Soemmerring's and Grant's gazelles' outward appearance
are so similar that they are often mistaken for
each other where their ranges overlap. |
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| 4. |
At
some point in history, a Soemmerring's gazelle population
became isolated on Kebir Island in the Dahlak archipelago
where the gazelle actually developed a dwarf form
of the larger mainland races. |
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| Most
species of gazelle have been hunted for food over
the course of history. Soemmerrings are very understudied
due to their small numbers. In their former ranges,
they are extinct due to over-hunting, trophies,
and food. |
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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, R. (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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