# Speke's Gazelle (*gazella spekei*) The Speke's Gazelle is a graceful animal that loves to run and leap in the grasslands. With its beautiful coat and elegant horns, it's like a dancer of the savanna! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Dry grasslands and savannas in East Africa - **Also known as:** East African Gazelle, Speke Gazelle, Speke's Antelope ![Speke's Gazelle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Speke's_Gazelle_-_Gazella_spekei.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sanjay Acharya, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speke's_Gazelle_-_Gazella_spekei.jpg) ## Appearance The Speke'S Gazelle has a distinctive, fleshy, inflated proboscis (nose) that hangs over its mouth. Its coat is sandy-brown on the upper parts, fading to white underneath, with a broad, dark horizontal stripe separating these colors. It also features a white rump patch and short, ringed horns on both males and females. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Bovidae - **Genus:** Gazella ## Interesting facts - Baby gazelles can stand and run within minutes of being born! - Its unique nose can inflate like a balloon when it makes alarm calls! - Male gazelles mark their territory using special scent glands below their eyes! - These gazelles can survive long periods without drinking water from plants! ## Special abilities - **Honking Horn:** Speke'S Gazelle can inflate its unique proboscis to create a loud honking sound that helps them warn the herd of danger. - **Desert Walker:** Speke'S Gazelle has evolved to survive long periods without drinking because they get most of their water from the plants they eat. - **Lightning Start:** Speke'S Gazelle can reach incredibly high speeds very quickly because of their strong leg muscles that help them escape predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-100 cm - **Weight:** 25-40 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-12 years - **Speed:** 90 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 170-180 days ## Diet & Feeding These gazelles are herbivores, mostly munching on grasses and juicy leaves to get energy and water. - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Forbs, Shrubs - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Cheetah (*Acinonyx jubatus*) — A top predator in its habitat, often hunts gazelles. - **Eaten by:** [Spotted Hyena](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-hyena) (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Hyenas are significant predators of adult and young gazelles. - **Eaten by:** African Golden Wolf (*Canis lupaster*) — Preys on young or sick gazelles. - **Eats:** Red Acacia (*Acacia etbaica*) — Gazelles browse on the leaves and pods of acacia trees. ## 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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Speke's 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 Speke's Gazelle? 90-100 cm ### How much does Speke's Gazelle weigh? 25-40 kg ### How long does Speke's Gazelle live? 10-12 years ### How fast can Speke's Gazelle move? 90 km/h ### What does Speke's Gazelle eat? These gazelles are herbivores, mostly munching on grasses and juicy leaves to get energy and water. ### Where is Speke's Gazelle usually found? Dry grasslands and savannas in East Africa ### How does Speke's 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: [Speke's Gazelle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spekes-gazelle)