Grants gazelle
Grant's gazelles resemble Thomson's gazelles, and the two species are often seen together.
They are similarly colored and marked, but Grant's are noticeably larger than Thomson's and easily distinguished by the broad
white patch on the rump that extends upward, beyond the tail and onto the back.
The white patch on the Thomson's gazelle stops at the tail.
Some varieties of Grant's have a black stripe on each side of the body like the Thomson's gazelle; in others the stripe is very light or absent.
A black stripe runs down the thigh.
The various types of Grant's gazelle differ mainly in color and in the size and shape of the horns.
Grant's are large, pale, fawn-colored gazelles with long legs.
The males are larger and heavier and their horns longer than the females.
The lyre-shaped horns are stout at the base, clearly ringed and measuring from 18 to 32 inches long.
The width of the spaces between the horns and the angles of growth differ among the various types of Grant's gazelles.
One type, in northwest Tanzania, has widely diverging horns, with the tips directed downwards.
On the females black skin surrounds the teats, with white hair on the udder.
This probably helps the young recognize the source of milk.
When a fawn is older and moving about with its mother, the dark stripe on the white background may serve as a beacon for it to follow.
Grant's gazelles are especially fond of open grass plains, and although they frequent bushy savannas, they avoid areas of high grass.
Grant's gazelles may remain in areas where food is plentiful.
Mature males establish territories they may hold as long as eight months.
A male tries to detain the female herds of 10 to 25 individuals as they pass through these territories while they move about to feed.
At the same time males chase off rival males and try to mate with females in estrus.
Grant's gazelles have developed several ritualized postures.
For example, the territorial male stretches and squats in an exaggerated manner while urinating and dropping dung.
This apparently warns other males to stay away and reduces the number of confrontations.
Younger males will fight, but as they grow older the ritualized displays often take the place of fights.
When fighting does occur, it also is ritualized.
It starts with "pretend" grooming, repeated scratching of the neck and forehead with a hind foot and presenting side views of the body.
If neither combatant is intimidated, they may confront one another and clash horns, trying to throw the other off-balance.
They are similarly colored and marked, but Grant's are noticeably larger than Thomson's and easily distinguished by the broad
white patch on the rump that extends upward, beyond the tail and onto the back.
The white patch on the Thomson's gazelle stops at the tail.
Some varieties of Grant's have a black stripe on each side of the body like the Thomson's gazelle; in others the stripe is very light or absent.
A black stripe runs down the thigh.
The various types of Grant's gazelle differ mainly in color and in the size and shape of the horns.
Grant's are large, pale, fawn-colored gazelles with long legs.
The males are larger and heavier and their horns longer than the females.
The lyre-shaped horns are stout at the base, clearly ringed and measuring from 18 to 32 inches long.
The width of the spaces between the horns and the angles of growth differ among the various types of Grant's gazelles.
One type, in northwest Tanzania, has widely diverging horns, with the tips directed downwards.
On the females black skin surrounds the teats, with white hair on the udder.
This probably helps the young recognize the source of milk.
When a fawn is older and moving about with its mother, the dark stripe on the white background may serve as a beacon for it to follow.
Grant's gazelles are especially fond of open grass plains, and although they frequent bushy savannas, they avoid areas of high grass.
Grant's gazelles may remain in areas where food is plentiful.
Mature males establish territories they may hold as long as eight months.
A male tries to detain the female herds of 10 to 25 individuals as they pass through these territories while they move about to feed.
At the same time males chase off rival males and try to mate with females in estrus.
Grant's gazelles have developed several ritualized postures.
For example, the territorial male stretches and squats in an exaggerated manner while urinating and dropping dung.
This apparently warns other males to stay away and reduces the number of confrontations.
Younger males will fight, but as they grow older the ritualized displays often take the place of fights.
When fighting does occur, it also is ritualized.
It starts with "pretend" grooming, repeated scratching of the neck and forehead with a hind foot and presenting side views of the body.
If neither combatant is intimidated, they may confront one another and clash horns, trying to throw the other off-balance.
