A gazelle is a type of antelope. The term “antelope” broadly describes a diverse group of even-toed ungulates, with gazelles representing a specific branch within this classification.
Understanding the Term “Antelope”
The term “antelope” serves as a broad, informal classification for a wide array of hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. These animals are primarily indigenous to Africa and Eurasia, encompassing around 91 species across approximately 30 genera. Antelopes do not constitute a single taxonomic group; rather, they are a diverse collection of species that are not categorized as cattle, goats, or sheep within the Bovidae family.
These ruminant artiodactyls share common characteristics, including permanent, hollow horns that do not branch and are never shed, unlike deer antlers. Their diet is herbivorous, consisting of grasses, leaves, and other vegetation, which they digest using a four-chambered stomach. Antelopes exhibit a wide range in size, from the diminutive royal antelope, standing about 25 centimeters tall, to the giant eland, which can reach heights of 1.8 meters and weigh up to 1,000 kg. Their diverse appearances, behaviors, and adaptations reflect the varied habitats they occupy, from open plains and savannas to forests and semi-deserts.
The Specifics of Gazelles
Gazelles are slender, medium-sized antelopes known for their speed and agility, primarily inhabiting the deserts, grasslands, and savannas of Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia. They are classified within the family Bovidae, specifically in the subfamily Antilopinae, often referred to as the “true antelopes,” and belong predominantly to the genus Gazella, though some species are also found in the genera Eudorcas and Nanger. Gazelles have a light brown or tan coat with white underparts and a white rump patch, with a distinct dark side stripe and contrasting facial markings.
Their physical build includes slender legs, long necks, and curved, ringed horns present in both males and females, though male horns are longer and more robust. Gazelles are known for their speed, capable of short bursts up to 100 km/h (60 mph) and sustained speeds of 50 km/h (30 mph). They also exhibit “pronking” or “stotting,” a stiff-legged leap into the air with an arched back, which they perform when startled by a predator. This behavior is believed to signal their fitness and ability to escape, potentially deterring pursuit.
Distinguishing Gazelles from Other Antelopes
While all gazelles are antelopes, they possess distinct characteristics that differentiate them from other antelope species. Gazelles are smaller and more delicately built than many other antelopes, with Thomson’s gazelles weighing around 30 kg compared to an eland’s 950 kg. Their physical appearance includes facial stripes, such as the black stripe on the side of a Thomson’s gazelle’s face, and a prominent dark flank stripe separating their tan upper bodies from white undersides.
Another distinguishing feature is the presence of horns in both male and female gazelles, unlike many other antelope species where only males possess horns, such as impalas. Gazelle horns are curved and ringed, whereas other antelopes like the kudu have spiral horns or the oryx have long, straight horns. Their speed and agility, combined with the “pronking” behavior, are characteristic of gazelles. While springboks also exhibit pronking, they are classified in a separate genus due to differences in jaw structure and a unique skin fold on their back.