Gazella

Gazelles are fleet, medium-sized antelopes belonging to the genus Gazella within the family Bovidae. They are characterized by slender limbs, level backs, and long necks, typically displaying tan coloration with white underparts and distinctive facial markings.1

These animals are well-adapted to arid environments, including steppes, subdeserts, and deserts, capable of obtaining sufficient moisture from plants and conserving water through concentrated urine and efficient moisture extraction from fecal pellets. They also possess physiological adaptations to tolerate heat, such as light-colored coats and the ability to increase their core body temperature.1

While traditionally considered to include 14 species, modern taxonomic classifications, informed by genetic studies, have reclassified some species into different genera, such as Nanger and Eudorcas. The genus Gazella itself now comprises ten species, found in Africa and Asia. Gazelles are gregarious and often migratory, facing threats from hunting and habitat degradation.1