# Dama Gazelle (*nanger dama*) The Dama Gazelle is known for its graceful appearance and long legs. These beautiful animals can run very fast and love to leap across the open grasslands! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** They live in the grasslands and savannas of North Africa. - **Also known as:** Addra Gazelle, Dama Antelope, Nanger Gazelle ![Dama Gazelle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gazella_dama_mhorr_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gazella_dama_mhorr_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Dama Gazelle has a striking reddish-fawn coat on its back and sides, sharply contrasting with a pure white belly, rump, and legs. It features a distinct white patch extending over its face, often bordered by a reddish-brown forehead, and slender, S-shaped black horns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Nanger ## Interesting facts - A baby Dama Gazelle, called a fawn, can stand and run within hours of being born! - Dama Gazelles are the largest type of gazelle in the world, making them stand out. - Each gazelle has unique horn rings, like tree rings, that can help scientists estimate its age! - They use a unique 'stotting' jump, where all four legs leave the ground at once! ## Special abilities - **Speed Demon:** Dama Gazelle can run incredibly fast, up to 75 km/h, because of its long, slender legs and powerful muscles that help it escape predators. - **Water Saver:** Dama Gazelle has a special adaptation to survive long periods without drinking water, getting all the moisture it needs from the plants it eats. - **Alert Ears:** Dama Gazelle has large, mobile ears that help them pick up faint sounds from far away, allowing them to detect predators approaching quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-165 cm - **Weight:** 35-75 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-18 years - **Speed:** 75 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 180-200 days ## Diet & Feeding These herbivores munch on grasses, leaves, and shrubs, getting all their nutrients from plants. - **Primary Foods:** grasses, acacia leaves, shrubs, herbs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — Lions are apex predators that hunt Dama Gazelles in their shared habitats. - **Eaten by:** Cheetah (*Acinonyx jubatus*) — Cheetahs, known for their speed, frequently target Dama Gazelles. - **Eaten by:** [African Wild Dog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-wild-dog) (*Lycaon pictus*) — Wild dog packs hunt Dama Gazelles, using teamwork to pursue them. - **Eats:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Gazelles browse on the leaves and pods of acacia trees. - **Eats:** Buffelgrass (*Cenchrus ciliaris*) — A common grass species that Dama Gazelles graze on for food. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dama Gazelle? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Dama Gazelle? 140-165 cm ### How much does Dama Gazelle weigh? 35-75 kg ### How long does Dama Gazelle live? 10-18 years ### How fast can Dama Gazelle move? 75 km/h ### What does Dama Gazelle eat? These herbivores munch on grasses, leaves, and shrubs, getting all their nutrients from plants. ### Where is Dama Gazelle usually found? They live in the grasslands and savannas of North Africa. ### How does Dama Gazelle hunt? Grazing ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Dama Gazelle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dama-gazelle)