GRANT'S GAZELLE
Gazella granti
MAMMAL
Order Artiodactyla
Description
5-6 ft long; 75-100 lbs, male larger.
Fawn upper parts, -white underparts with prominent black stripe along side
of white rump; tail white with black tip. S-shaped ringed horns 18-32 in,
smaller in female.
Range
Tanzania, Kenya and parts of Ethiopia,
Somalia and Sudan.
Photo © James P. Rowan Photography |
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Ecology
- Habitat
- semi-desert to open savanna.
Niche
- herbivorous mixed feeder, but prefers to browse,
taking grasses, herbs and woody plants. Predators of young include jackals
and hyenas; large cats prey on adults. Usually found in small, mixed groups
of up to 30 except during breeding season when males are territorial.
Life
History Gestation 6 months, single births coincide
with early rains. Young are up and moving with mother in less than an hour.
Life span 10- 12 yrs, longer in captivity.
Special Adaptations
- Two-tone coloration acts as A countershading
to obscure the body outline. Black along flank disrupts body outline as
well.
- Large ears can rotate to pick up sound from many
directions.
- Eyes on side of head give a wide field of vision.
- Long legs and hooves enable animal to run fast.
- Pronking behavior: bouncing stiff-legged on all
four limbs. This behavior may confuse predators or intimidate rivals, or
it may just be an expression of excitement.
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