Speke's gazelle
Speke's gazelle (Gazella spekei) is the smallest of the gazelle species. It is confined to the Horn of Africa, where it inhabits stony brush, grass steppes, and semi deserts.[2] This species has been sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the Dorcas gazelle, though this is now widely disregarded.[3] Severe habitat fragmentation means it is now impossible to assess the natural migratory or nomadic patterns of G. spekei.[4] Its numbers are under threat, and despite an increase in population, the IUCN in 2007 announced its status had changed from vulnerable to endangered. A captive population is maintained, and the wild population exists in the lower tens of thousands. As of 2008, this gazelle is classified as endangered under the IUCN Red List.
| Speke's gazelle | |
|---|---|
| At the San Diego Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Antilopinae |
| Tribe: | Antilopini |
| Genus: | Gazella |
| Species: | G. spekei |
| Binomial name | |
| Gazella spekei Blyth, 1863 | |
Speke's gazelle is named after John Hanning Speke, a British explorer of Central Africa.
References edit
- ^ IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2016). "Gazella spekei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8975A50187314. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8975A50187314.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Kingdom 1982, 1997[full citation needed]
- ^ Groves 1969[full citation needed]
- ^ East 1996[full citation needed]
External links edit
- Speke's gazelle facts
- Photos of Speke's gazelle at Al Wabra Wildlife Preserve