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Dama Gazelle
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Dama Gazelle
Gazella dama ruficollis
I. DESCRIPTION:
Gazelles are medium sized antelopes. Height at shoulder 35-43 inches; weight 160 pounds. The largest of all true gazelles, it is slenderly built with a proportionately long neck and legs. Neck and upper parts uniformly rufous or chestnut brown, sharply contrasting with the white rump and lower parts of the body. Head of adult is pure white. The eyes are relatively large and the indented preorbital glands are well developed. There is a conspicuous white spot on the middle of the neck. The tail is short, well haired, and white with only the very tip black. Horns are short and thick, strongly ringed, and are noticeably bent backwards at the base, then curved upward and forward (S shaped). Female is similar to the male, but with shorter and thinner horns.
II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:
A genuine desert animal, the Dama Gazelle inhabits all of the Sahara from east to west and the Sudan.
III. DIET:
They mainly browse on various desert shrubs and acacias, rearing up on their hind legs to reach young shoots, but also feed on the rough desert grasses.
IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
Dama Gazelles migrate according to the seasons. In the rainy season they move north, far into the Sahara, and in the dry season they wander back to the Sudan in large herds of up to 600 head. When not migrating they can be found singly or in small herds, up to 10-15 head. Young of gazelles are usually born from April to June and in a few days after birth they have sufficient strength to follow the mother. Within a week they are able to run almost as rapidly as their mothers. The life span is 10-12 years.
V. SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS:
They can resist long periods of drought without drinking, but their water requirements are much higher than those of the Dorcas gazelles.
VI. INTERPRETIVE INFORMATION:
Gazelles are medium-sized antelopes especially adapted to dry conditions. The name gazelle has come to suggest grace and beauty, for all the species are dainty, alert, and graceful.
VII. STATUS IN WILD:
The (Addra ) Dama Gazelle has five subspecies. Two of the five have already been exterminated. The rest, including the Nubian Red-necked Gazelle (Gazella dama ruficollis), are greatly endangered.
VIII. EVOLUTION\TAXONOMY:
The Antilopini are an ancient group that branched off from neotragine ancestors in the Miocene. Fossils have been found in Kenya that date from 14 million years ago.
This photo was taken at the Oakland Zoo.
Source |
pankajbajpai, Alex99, vanderschelden, loot has marked this note useful
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| Discussions |
| Thread | Thread Starter |
Messages |
Updated |
| To Evelynn: Forlorn | manyee |
1 |
01-16 03:04 |
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hi manyee,
nice capture,
well composed with fine pov,
natural colours,
tfs & regards
pankaj
- Adanac
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(17609) - [2007-01-15 8:07]
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Hi ManYee,
Good detail, great color and nice composition of this resting Gazelle. Thanks for sharing.
Rick
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- Alex99
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5672]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(18539) - [2007-01-15 11:33]
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Hi Manyee.
Lovely shot if this cute gazelle. I like your reproduction of his animal. Its delicate and full of love. Very pleasant colour palette, touching pose of the animal and nice cropping. I like your note too. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.
Hi Manyee,
Beautiful image; good compo and light...
It has a long neck indeed...:-)
TFS
Annick
This poor fellow looks so forelorn. I feel sorry for him. I think this image uploaded quite a bit lighter than it looked on your desktop. When I put it on my desktop it gained a lot more saturation and sharpness. It looks OE on TN. Frustrating!
TFS
Evelynn : )
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- loot
(10033)
- [2007-01-22 6:47]
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Hi ManYee
This gazelle looks something like I can imagine you might look after all your guests have left. I am sure you are not complaining because to have ones loved ones around after not being able to see them for a considerable time is always great. However, bring into account your full and active life with all the additional responsibilities of playing the perfect host sure must be draining on the energy and zest.
I like this composition seeing the gazelle doing something different then the typical, if not stereotyped, pose when it normally just stands there and look at the photographer. You did a great job in containing the bright light considering the contrasts of the varying colours on the antelope (no OE on my monitor). The details are nice and sharp and perfectly aided by the wide DOF and the colours are very well defined.
Great work and TFS.
Regards
Loot
