Mammals
Dorcas Gazelle
Gazella dorcas · also called dorcas gazelles
Blending almost seamlessly into pale desert sand, a dorcas gazelle survives across some of the driest terrain on Earth by extracting nearly all the water it needs directly from the plants it eats, rarely needing to drink at all.
Overview
The dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas, is a small desert antelope native to arid habitat spanning the Sahara and adjoining regions of North Africa and the Middle East. Its near-total independence from drinking water, pale camouflaged coat, and small, energy-efficient size make it one of the most successfully desert-adapted gazelle species found anywhere in the world.
Thriving where water barely exists
Few animals demonstrate desert survival as effectively as the dorcas gazelle, whose entire physiology has been shaped around extracting maximum value from the sparse, dry vegetation of one of the harshest environments on the planet.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations declining across much of North Africa and the Middle East due to hunting and habitat degradation.
Dorcas Gazelle: common questions
How does the dorcas gazelle survive in the desert without water?
This species can survive for extended periods without drinking free water, obtaining nearly all the moisture it needs directly from the desert grasses, shrubs, and acacia leaves it eats.
Do both male and female dorcas gazelle have horns?
Yes, this species has ridged, lyre-shaped horns present on both males and females, though the horns of males are typically thicker and more strongly curved.
Why is the dorcas gazelle pale in colour?
This species has a pale, sandy-coloured coat that closely matches the desert terrain it inhabits, offering effective camouflage against predators across open desert ground.
Why is the dorcas gazelle considered Vulnerable?
This species has declined across much of its range in North Africa and the Middle East due to hunting, habitat degradation, and competition with livestock, leaving it classified as Vulnerable.