Gazelle 145423 222996090 2008-07-02T02:38:46Z Rlendog 4057701 Updated taxonomy {{Unreferenced|date=April 2007}} {{Taxobox | name = Gazelle | image = Thomsons-gazelle.jpg | image_caption = [[Thomson's Gazelle]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Artiodactyla]] | familia = [[Bovidae]] | subfamilia = [[Antilopinae]] | genus = '''''Gazella''''' | genus_authority = [[Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville|Blainville]], 1816 | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = Several, see text }} {{about|the antelope species}} A '''gazelle''' ({{ArB|غزال}} {{ArTranslit|ġazaal}}) is an [[antelope]] currently or formerly in the [[genus]] '''''Gazella''''', although the three members of the genus ''[[Procapra]]'' are also widely are referred to as gazelles. Two additional genera, ''[[Eudorcas]]'' and ''[[Nanger]]'' now include six species of gazelle that used to be considered members of the genus ''Gazella'', when ''Eudorcas'' and ''Nanger'' were considered subgenera. Gazelles are known as swift animals; they are able to reach high speeds (as high as 50 mph<ref>[http://pauldarcy.blogspot.com/2005/12/weird-science-fast-animals.html The Twisted Mind Emporium: Weird Science: Fast Animals<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) for long periods of time. Gazelles are mostly found in the grasslands and [[savanna]]s of [[Africa]], but they are also found in southwest [[Asia]]. They tend to live in herds and will eat less coarse, easily digestible plants and leaves. The gazelle species are classified as part of the order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae and genera ''Gazella'', ''Eudorcas'' and ''Nager''. Members of the Artiodactyla order are principally distinguished by the foot; they have an even number of toes (the bovid family comprises 6 genera and 12 species). The taxonomy of these genera is a confused one, and the classification of species and subspecies has been an unsettled issue. <!--Currently, the genus ''Gazella'' is widely settled as containing 15 twelve valid species. SO WHICH NUMBER IS IT? 15? 12? 16 ARE LISTED ON THIS PAGE? CITE A SOURCE!--> Three species—the [[Red Gazelle]], the [[Arabian Gazelle]], and the [[Queen of Sheba's Gazelle]]—are extinct. All other gazelle species are listed as endangered, to varying degrees. A recognizable example of the gazelle is [[Thomson's Gazelle]] (''Eudorcas thomsonii''), which is around 60 to 90 [[centimetre|cm]] (23 to 35 [[inch]]es) in height at the shoulder and is coloured brown and white with a distinguishing black stripe (as in the picture on the right). The males have long, often curved, horns. Tommies, as they are familiarly called, exhibit a distinctive behaviour of ''[[stotting]]'' (running slowly and jumping high before fleeing) when they are threatened by predators such as [[lion]]s or [[cheetah]]s. This is a primary piece of evidence for the [[handicap principle]] advanced by [[Amotz Zahavi]] in the study of animal communication and behaviour. == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Grant's-gazelle.jpg|[[Grant's Gazelle]] Image:MhorrGazelleza.jpg|[[Dama Gazelle|Mhorr Gazelle]] Image:Thompson's Gazelle.jpg|[[Thomson's Gazelle]] Image:Persian Goitered Gazelle2.jpg|[[Goitered Gazelle]] Image:Chinkara.jpg|[[Chinkara]] Image:Gazella-dorcas.jpg|[[Dorcas Gazelle]] Image:C080193.JPG|[[Cuvier's Gazelle]] Image:Thompson's_Gazelle.jpeg|[[Thomson's Gazelle]] </gallery> == Species<ref>{{cite web|title=Antilopinae|url=http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Cetartiodactyla/Antilopinae.html|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> == * Genus ''Gazella'' ** Subgenus ''Gazella'' *** [[Mountain Gazelle]], ''G. gazella'' *** [[Neumann's Gazelle]], ''G. erlangeri'' *** [[Speke's Gazelle]], ''G. spekei'' *** [[Dorcas Gazelle]], also known as Ariel Gazelle, ''G. dorcas'' *** [[Saudi Gazelle]], ''G. saudiya'' *** [[Chinkara]], also known as Indian Gazelle, ''G. bennettii'' ** Subgenus ''[[Trachelocele]]'' *** [[Cuvier's Gazelle]], ''G. cuvieri'' *** [[Rhim Gazelle]], ''G. leptoceros'' *** [[Goitered Gazelle]], ''G. subgutturosa'' * Genus ''[[Eudorcas]]'' ** [[Thomson's Gazelle]], ''E. thomsonii'' ** [[Red-fronted Gazelle]], ''E. rufifrons'' * Genus ''[[Nanger]]'' ** [[Dama Gazelle]], ''N. dama'' ** [[Grant's Gazelle]], ''N. granti'' ** [[Soemmerring's Gazelle]], ''N. soemmerringii'' === Extinct === [[Fossil]]s of genus ''Gazella'' are found in [[Pliocene]] and [[Pleistocene]] deposits of [[Eurasia]] and Africa. The tiny ''[[Gazella borbonica]]'' is one of the earliest European gazelles, characterized by its small size and short legs. Gazelles disappeared from Europe at the start of [[Ice Age]], but they survived in Africa and Middle East. Three species become extinct in recent times due to human causes. === Recent extinctions === * Genus ''Gazella'' ** Subgenus ''Gazella'' *** [[Arabian Gazelle]], ''G. arabica'' *** [[Queen of Sheba's Gazelle]], ''G. bilkis'' * Genus ''[[Eudorcas]] ** [[Red Gazelle]], ''E. rufina'' === Prehistoric extinctions === * Genus ''Gazella'' ** ''[[Gazella borbonica]]'' - [[European Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella thomasi]]''' - [[Thomas's Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella praethomsoni]]'' ** ''[[Gazella negevensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella triquetrucornis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella negevensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella capricornis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella mytilinii]]'' * Subgenus ''[[Vetagazella]]'' ** ''[[Gazella sinensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella deperdita]]'' ** ''[[Gazella pilgrimi]]''- [[Steppe Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella leile]]'' - [[Leile's Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella praegaudryi]]'' - [[Japanese Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella gaudryi]]'' ** ''[[Gazella paotehensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella dorcadoides]]'' ** ''[[Gazella altidens]]'' ** ''[[Gazella mongolica]]'' - [[Mongolian Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella lydekkeri]]'' - [[Ice Age Gazelle]] ** ''[[Gazella blacki]]'' ** ''[[Gazella parasinensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella kueitensis]]'' ** ''[[Gazella paragutturosa]]'' * Subgenus ''Gazella'' ** ''[[Gazella janenschi]]'' * Subgenus ''[[Trachelocele]]'' ** ''[[Gazella atlantica]]'' ** ''[[Gazella tingitana]]'' * Subgenus ''[[Deprezia]]'' ** ''[[Gazella psolea]]'' * Genus ''[[Nanger]]'' ** ''[[Nanger vanhoepeni]]'' == References == {{reflist}} <references/> {{Artiodactyla|R.5}} [[Category:Arabic words and phrases]] [[Category:Gazella]] [[Category:Mammals of Africa]] [[Category:True antelopes]] [[ar:غزال]] [[ca:Gasela]] [[cs:Gazela]] [[da:Gazelle]] [[de:Gazellen]] [[es:Gazella]] [[eo:Gazelo]] [[fr:Gazelle]] [[ko:가젤]] [[it:Gazella]] [[he:צבי]] [[sw:Swara]] [[hu:Gazella]] [[nl:Gazellen]] [[ja:ガゼル属]] [[pl:Gazela (ssak)]] [[pt:Gazela]] [[ru:Газели]] [[simple:Gazelle]] [[fi:Gasellit]] [[sv:Gaseller]] [[tr:Ceylan]] [[yi:הערש]] [[diq:Ğezale]] [[zh:瞪羚属]]