Head to head
Dorcas Gazelle vs Red-Fronted Gazelle
The dorcas gazelle and red-fronted gazelle both inhabit the arid belt spanning North and West Africa, but their markings and how well they have been studied differ.
| Dorcas Gazelle | Red-Fronted Gazelle | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gazella dorcas | Eudorcas rufifrons |
| Coat colour | Pale, sandy | Reddish band on face and flanks |
| Range | Sahara to the Middle East | Sahel region of West and Central Africa |
| How well studied | Relatively well documented | One of the less studied gazelle species |
| Social structure | Small groups | Small, scattered groups |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Desert | Desert, savanna |
Dorcas Gazelle vs Red-Fronted Gazelle: common questions
How can you tell a dorcas gazelle from a red-fronted gazelle?
The dorcas gazelle has a uniformly pale, sandy coat, while the red-fronted gazelle has a distinctive reddish-brown band running down its face and along its flanks.
Why is less known about the red-fronted gazelle than the dorcas gazelle?
The red-fronted gazelle inhabits a wide but thinly populated stretch of the Sahel that has received less research attention, leaving it one of the less thoroughly studied gazelle species compared to the more extensively documented dorcas gazelle.
Do the dorcas gazelle and red-fronted gazelle live in the same region?
Their ranges overlap in parts of the Sahara-Sahel transition zone, though the dorcas gazelle extends further north and east into the Middle East while the red-fronted gazelle is concentrated across the Sahel of West and Central Africa.