Gazella cuvieri (Ogilby, 1841)

Cuvier's Mountain Gazelle

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Endangered (EN) external link Showing: scientific names

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Gazella cuvieri (Ogilby, 1841)

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Gazella cuvieri (Ogilby, 1841)
Gazella cuvieri (Ogilby, 1841)
Gazella Cuvieri

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Table of Contents

Overview

Biology

Source and Additional Information
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ARKive external link
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Copyright Wildscreen 2003-2008. Some rights reserved external link
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Feeding on herbs and shrubs in the summer, and green grasses in the winter, Cuvier's gazelle will browse during the night and early morning in the valleys, moving into the hills during the day (2). It regularly visits waterholes to drink (2), and will patrol its territory, marking the boundaries with urine, dung and secretions from glands beneath their eyes (6). Each territory is home to one male and one or more females with their young (2). Males may clash, performing threat displays with the head raised and horns lying along the back, before lowering the head, interlocking the horns and pushing and twisting to gain dominance (6).

Mating occurs in early winter and females give birth in the spring, around 170 days later, in time for the first flush of vegetation following the rains. Most pregnancies result in a single calf, but twins are not uncommon. Mature females can have two litters in a year if conditions are good, but this is fairly unusual (2). Newborns stay hidden amongst grasses for the first few weeks of life to reduce the risk of predation. Cuvier's gazelle is a nervous and hasty antelope species that signals alarm with a flick of the tail, and will make bouncing leaps with the head held high (stotting) to announce that they have seen a predator (6).

"Gazella cuvieri (Ogilby, 1841)". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/311406". Accessed 13 Mar 2010.