Everyone knows that a slender girl is certainly compared to a gazelle. And this is not at all accidental. Small, with long thin horns and a graceful neck, these animals are really very slender.
Description
Which animal is a gazelle? The one that belongs to the order of artiodactyls, the family of bovids and the subfamily of antelopes. At the same time, the animal is distinguished by its small size.
"Gazelle" is the collective name of seven genera of ungulates similar in size and appearance (out of fifteen that make up the subfamily of true antelopes). The remaining eight genera are represented by pygmy antelopes.
Gazelle is an animal of small size, slender light build. These artiodactyls include nineteen different species.
In adults, the body length is in the range of 85-170 cm. With a mass of 12-85 kilograms, the height of the animal is 50-110 centimeters. Gazelle is an animal (see pictures of its image below) long-legged and slender. At the same time, males are larger. The females are smaller than them. However, they are more fragile.
Gazelle is an animal (photos are presented in the article) with miniature hooves. It gives the impressionthat the antelope walks on tiptoe.
Both males and females have lyre-shaped horns. Moreover, in males, they are longer and can reach eighty centimeters. In this subfamily of antelopes, the body is covered with thick hair. At the same time, its color on the back and sides is grayish-yellow or brown, and on the belly it is white. The body of many individuals is decorated with a dark stripe, on top of which a white one passes.
Habitats
Most species of gazelles can be found in Africa. However, their historical homeland is still Asia. It was from here that the movement of animals to the west began millions of years ago, until they got into African territory.
The common gazelle is found in Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as in Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. This species lives in deserts and semi-deserts, and only occasionally can visit open forests. The favorite landscape of the animal is low rocky hills. Gazelle can live on plateaus. She also loves coastal sand dunes. In the area where this species lives, the temperature can range from a slight frost to plus forty-five.
The African continent was chosen by Tomy gazelles, impala, Granda gazelles and many others. Of great interest to nature lovers is the antelope, which is called the "mountain horse". True, she lives on the plains. In addition, animals of this species do not jump, but jump superbly. In length, they can overcome up to seven meters. In height, such a gazelle jumps up to three meters.
Gazelles also live in Asia. True, only two species of these animals can be found there - gazelles and gazelles.
Herd animals
Gazelle is an animal that does not exist alone. Antelopes gather in large herds, sometimes reaching more than a thousand individuals. In such groups, they move across the vast territories of the steppes and savannahs.
Male guard their territory and family. If necessary, they join the fight.
Enemies
Gazelle is an animal with excellent sight and hearing. At the slightest rustle or noise, she suddenly takes off. At the same time, the speed that it develops reaches sixty-five kilometers per hour. Sometimes the animal stops, checking to see if the threat was wrong. Quite often such checks come to an end in tears. The predator does not miss his chance.
The main way to escape enemies is to jump to the side and run in a zigzag. And the gazelles have many enemies. These are land predators - leopards, cheetahs and lions, as well as birds - eagles, golden eagles, imperial eagles and vultures.
Reproduction
Gazelle brings offspring in the rainy season. The first day after his birth, the baby lies motionless in the grass. At the same time, the mother does not depart far from him, looks after and feeds him. Day after day, the little gazelle begins to get to know the area and its “relatives”. However, in the first three weeks, knowledge of the world takes no more than two hours a day. Only a little stronger, the baby begins to actively move and be interested in the events around him.
After reaching a certain age, male gazelles form separate herds of bachelors. Only a little later they conquer plots for themselves and claim the female that appeared on their territory. At the same time, they protect their possessions from rival males.
When caught at a young age, the gazelle becomes completely tame and can live long in captivity. Entire herds of these animals, along with domestic ones, were kept by the ancient Egyptians.
Interesting facts
In the countries of the East, the gazelle is an animal that was very popular. She does not lose her role at the present time. In the poetry of this part of the world, the beauty of a woman is constantly compared to the beauty of a gazelle. Expectant mothers try to peer into the eyes of these animals. It is believed that this will convey beauty to the child.
