About Gazella dorcas (Linnaeus, 1758)
The dorcas gazelle, scientific name Gazella dorcas (Linnaeus, 1758), is similar in appearance to the closely related mountain gazelle (G. gazella), but smaller in size. It has longer ears and more strongly curved horns, which bow outwards before turning inwards and forwards at the tips. Individuals of the Saharan subspecies G. d. osiris have very pale, fawn-colored coats. The species has a white underside, which is bordered by a brown stripe; a sandy stripe runs above this brown stripe. Its forehead and face are darker than the rest of its body. Subspecies found north of the Sahara tend to be more ochre in overall color, and have dark flanks and dark facial stripes. Populations of the species located in Israel and around the Red Sea are darker and more reddish in color. Over the last century, dorcas gazelle populations have been partially reduced across all countries where the species occurs. Today, large populations of dorcas gazelles are found in the Negev and the Arava. Other large populations exist in Sudan, and in the southern part of the eastern desert of Egypt. Only 1000–1500 dorcas gazelles currently remain in Israel.
