Scientific Classification

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)

Fast Facts

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

Size

Approximately 0.9 to 1.2 m (3 to 4 ft.) at the shoulder

Weight

39.6 to 74.25 kg (88 to 165 lbs.)

Diet

Includes acacia and bush leaves, grasses, and herbs

Incubation

Gestation lasts approximately 6.5 months; typically one offspring at a time

Nursing Duration

Young nurse for 4 to 9 months

Sexual Maturity

Male: 18 to 24 months
Female: 9 to 12 months

Life Span

Averages 12 years

Range

Eastern Sahara

Habitat

Inhabits open steppes, grassy steppes, semi deserts, deserts

Population

Global:  Extinct in the wild

Status 

IUCN: Endangered
CITES: Appendix I
USFWS: Endangered

Fun Facts

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.
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.
3. They are known to rear up on hind legs to reach tall browse.
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.

Ecology and Conservation

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 (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.

Bibliography

Estes, R.D. The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1993.

Gotch, A.F. Mammals-Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, U.K.: Blandford Press Btd., 1979.

Nowak, Ronald (ed.). Walkers Mammals of the World. Vol. II, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.

Parker, S.P. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol 5. New York: McGraw Hill Pub. Co., 1990.

Spinage, C.A. The Natural History of Antelopes. New York: Facts on File Pub., 1986.

Stuart, C. and T. Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa. Florida: Ralph Curtis Books Pub. 1988.