Head to head
Speke's Gazelle vs Dorcas Gazelle
Speke's Gazelle
VS Dorcas Gazelle
Speke's gazelle and the dorcas gazelle are both small, desert-adapted gazelle species, but their size, range, and signature traits differ.
| Speke's Gazelle | Dorcas Gazelle | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gazella spekei | Gazella dorcas |
| Relative size | Smallest gazelle species in the world | Somewhat larger |
| Signature trait | Inflatable, honking nasal flap | Near-total water independence |
| Native range | Narrow coastal Somalia only | Sahara to the Middle East |
| Coat colour | Sandy | Pale, sandy |
| Conservation status | Endangered | Vulnerable |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Desert | Desert |
Speke's Gazelle vs Dorcas Gazelle: common questions
Which is smaller, Speke's gazelle or the dorcas gazelle?
Speke's gazelle is smaller, the smallest gazelle species in the world, while the dorcas gazelle is somewhat larger despite also being a relatively small, desert-adapted species.
What does Speke's gazelle have that the dorcas gazelle does not?
Speke's gazelle has a distinctive inflatable nasal flap that amplifies its alarm snort into a loud, resonant honk, a feature not documented in the dorcas gazelle.
Which species has the wider range, Speke's gazelle or the dorcas gazelle?
The dorcas gazelle has a much wider range, spanning the Sahara into the Middle East, while Speke's gazelle is restricted to a narrow band of coastal scrubland within Somalia.