Fun Dama Gazelle Facts For Kids
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The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is also called Addra gazelle or Mhorr gazelle. It is the largest gazelle in the gazelle family.
The dama gazelle can be found in the wild Sahara desert and their wild habitat consists of areas with abundant vegetation since that is their primary food source. This species has become a victim of climate change. These animals are found at elevations of up to 2,493 ft (760 m) from sea level.
Males and females of the Addra gazelle species look similar except for the horns. Females of the Addra gazelle species give birth to a single offspring during the breeding season.
Here are some of the most fascinating facts about the dama gazelle (Nanger dama). After reading these dama gazelle interesting facts, do check our other articles on Thomson's gazelle and spiral horned antelope.
Dama Gazelle Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a dama gazelle?
The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is the largest gazelle living in the Sahara desert amongst the other species that are present in Africa such as the N. dama mhorr (mhorr) and N. dama ruficollis (addra).
What class of animal does a dama gazelle belong to?
A dama gazelle, Nanger dama, belongs to the mammals class of animals. These animals are seasonal migrators. They migrate to and from the Sahara desert as the climate changes from summer to rain.
How many dama gazelles are there in the world?
The population of dama gazelles has been pegged at around 400 individuals. They are a critically endangered species as their population is facing at extinction.
Where does a dama gazelle live?
A dama gazelle lives in savannas across Africa. They are widely distributed in the Sahara desert.
What is a dama gazelle's habitat?
The dama gazelle habitat is in areas with hot climates. These are wild animals and are widely found in grasslands, semi-deserts, shrublands, open savannas, and mountain plateaus.
Their habitat always contains a water source. These animals are unaware of potential predators hence, just to be on the safer side they steer clear of other animals. They migrate during the dry season to the African lands.
Who do dama gazelles live with?
Dama gazelles live in herds with their own species. They are kept in zoos with other animals as well.
How long does a dama gazelle live?
A dama gazelle's lifespan ranges between 12-18 years. Even with their longer lifespan, this species has now become an endangered species.
How do they reproduce?
The dama gazelle mating facts state that the breeding season of dama gazelles is around the year. The males of addra gazelle species reach sexual maturity at one year of age and the females at one and a half years.
Males of the dama gazelle species become very territorial during the breeding season.
They mark their territories with their bodily wastes such as urine, dung piles, and secretions from their eyes. The gestation period is six and a half months after which the female gives birth to a single offspring.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the dama gazelle is Critically Endangered. The wild population has decreased to a limit that the conservation of this species has become absolutely necessary.
Dama Gazelle Fun Facts
What do dama gazelles look like?
Dama gazelles are white in color. They have a reddish-brown color on their heads, necks, and backs extending up to their hind legs. Their necks and hind legs are very long.
The legs of dama gazelles are longer than any other gazelle. They have a small and narrow muzzle. Dama gazelles have large eyes and they have horns that are shaped like the alphabet letter 'S'.
Their horns are medium-sized. The horns of the males grow up to 14 in long (35.5 cm) and they have distinct 18-23 rings. Females have shorter horns as compared to males and do not have distinct rings.
How cute are they?
Dama gazelles are very cute. They have amazing looks that mesmerize everyone. Their white brown color combination looks very beautiful.
How do they communicate?
Dama gazelles most commonly use a technique known as 'pronking' for communication within their species. The pronking technique involves jumping with all of their four legs together. Their legs are kept stiff during the process.
How big is a dama gazelle?
A dama gazelle is a big animal. Its height ranges between 35-47 in (88.9-119.3 cm), excluding its neck and head.
How fast can a dama gazelle run?
A dama gazelle can run as fast as 60 mph (96.5 kph). Most commonly, they sustain their speed at 40 mph (64.3 kph).
How much does a dama gazelle weigh?
A dama gazelle is a large species of gazelle with a weight in the range of 88-190 lb (40.0-86.1 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
No particular specific names are assigned to the males and females of the dama gazelle species. Therefore, they are known as a male dama gazelle and a female dama gazelle.
What would you call a baby dama gazelle?
A baby dama gazelle is called a fawn. It is also called a calf.
What do they eat?
Dama gazelles are herbivorous species. They eat coarse desert grasses, leaves, shoots, desert grasses, desert shrubs, and fruits that they can find in the Sahara. Their diet can also include orchard grass hay, alfalfa hay, herbivore pellets, and leaf eater biscuits.
Are they aggressive?
Dama gazelles are normally not aggressive like most wild species. As their breeding season approaches, the males of the dama mhorr species become very territorial. They show aggressive behavior to defend their territory. Also, females defend their young ones very aggressively.
Would they make a good pet?
Dama gazelles are not really suitable to be kept as pets. They are wild species and do not bode well in human settlements. They are kept in zoos but their natural environment is recreated.
Did you know...
The dama gazelle is the national symbol of Niger.
Dama gazelles spend the entire dry season in savannas.
Why is the dama gazelle endangered?
The dama gazelle is endangered because of the tremendous decrease in its population. This decrease in the population of gazelles is the result of habitat loss and overhunting. This species is unable to recognize potential predators which contribute to their mortality rate. Unfortunately, this means there are only around 400 dama gazelles left in the world.
The dama gazelle's ecosystem
The dama gazelle’s ecosystem consists of many animals such as ostriches, spotted hyena, Nubian bustards, lizards, barbary sheep, raptors, crocodiles, oryx, chameleons, Anubis baboon, common jackal, skinks, sand fox, and cobras.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods from our alpine ibex facts and addax facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our gazelle coloring pages.
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