Overview
The upperparts are a deep sandy rufous, with a lighter flank band below, and below that a wide black band that is in immediate contact with the white underparts. The white rump is bordered by narrow black pygal stripes. The tail is all black. There is a chestnut blaze from the base of the horns to the muzzle, a white eye ring continuing as a stripe to the muzzle, and a reddish or blackish cheek stripe below the eye. The horns (both sexes) are fairly large for an animal this size, being nearly twice as long as the head. They are strongly ringed and often nearly straight, curving slightly backward for most of their length, with the tips bending a little forward and upward. Females are similar, but notably smaller, and have much smaller horns. The nasalis race from west of the Rift Valley has more divergent horns, a well-defined black nose spot, a black eye stripe, and wider, more distinct pygal stripes. The thomsoni race from east of the Rift Valley has more parallel horns, no nose spot, a reddish eye stripe, and narrow, less distinct pygal stripes.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Eudorcas
- Species
- Gazella thomsoni
Habitat
Open plains and short grasslands. Distribution- Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Diet
Primarily graze but will browse when necessary.
Behavior
Gregarious, living in loosely organized herds-harem herds, young male herds, mother-and-young herds. Old males are sometimes solitary. During seasonal migrations, it gathers in herds of thousands, sometimes along with other species such as Grant's gazelle, impala, wildebeest or zebra. Breeding males are territorial. Breeding occurs throughout the year, with peaks toward the end of the rainy season. One young is born after six months gestation. Females are sexually mature at one year, so that two births a year are possible.
Hunting
Spot and stalk methods. These animals can be more challenging to hunt than one may think as they are observed from a distance by foot or on safari vehicle. They are deceptively small targets, especially when on an open grassland plain. Hunters have a frequency to shoot over the animal. Making your approach from behind a black umbrella to appear like an ostrich or behind a bright red maasai blanket my help a hunter get closer to the animal. A flat shooting rifle of medium-low caliber is recommended for these smaller animals. If using a medium-heavy caliber be sure to use a solid/low expansion bullet.
Conservation Status
Listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.