Quick answer: Gazelles are slender antelopes found mainly in Africa and parts of western and southern Asia. Well-known species include the Dorcas gazelle, mountain gazelle, dama gazelle, Cuvier’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, Soemmerring’s gazelle, slender-horned gazelle, red-fronted gazelle, and Speke’s gazelle. They differ in size, markings, habitat, range, and conservation status—from widespread grassland species to critically endangered desert specialists.
Modern taxonomy places the animals commonly called gazelles in several genera, especially Gazella, Eudorcas, and Nanger. Because scientific classifications can change as new genetic and morphological evidence appears, the scientific names below follow current mammal-taxonomy sources while noting an important alternative classification where relevant.
Gazelles are antelopes adapted to habitats ranging from open East African grasslands to the dry deserts of North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
10 Types of Gazelles at a Glance
| Gazelle | Scientific name | Main range or habitat | IUCN Red List status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorcas Gazelle | Gazella dorcas | North African and Sahelian deserts, steppes and semi-deserts | Vulnerable |
| Mountain Gazelle | Gazella gazella | Levant and nearby dry hills, scrub and open country | Endangered |
| Dama Gazelle | Nanger dama | Sahara and Sahel; now extremely fragmented | Critically Endangered |
| Cuvier’s Gazelle | Gazella cuvieri | Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia; mountains and semi-arid hills | Vulnerable |
| Grant’s Gazelle | Nanger granti | Kenya and Tanzania; dry savanna and open plains | Least Concern |
| Thomson’s Gazelle | Eudorcas thomsonii | Kenya and Tanzania; short-grass plains and savanna | Least Concern |
| Soemmerring’s Gazelle | Nanger soemmerringii | Horn of Africa; dry steppe, bush and open scrub | Vulnerable |
| Slender-Horned Gazelle | Gazella leptoceros | Sahara; sandy desert and dune systems | Endangered |
| Red-Fronted Gazelle | Eudorcas rufifrons | Sahel belt; dry grassland and savanna | Vulnerable |
| Speke’s Gazelle | Gazella spekei | Somalia and eastern Ethiopia; semi-desert and dry grassland | Endangered |
Conservation categories can change when species are reassessed. The statuses above reflect the current categories reported by the Mammal Diversity Database from IUCN Red List data.
What Is a Gazelle?
A gazelle is a type of antelope in the bovid family, Bovidae. Gazelles are generally recognized by their slender bodies, long legs, narrow hooves, relatively short tails, and permanent horns. Many species have tan or reddish-brown upperparts with white underparts and contrasting facial or flank markings.
“Antelope” is a broad common name rather than one single biological group. Gazelles are therefore antelopes, but most antelopes are not gazelles. Impalas, kudus, elands, oryxes, dik-diks and waterbucks are examples of antelopes that are not gazelles.
For a broader overview, see Types of Antelopes: Major Groups, Traits, and Examples.
Dorcas Gazelle
The Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas) is one of the classic desert gazelles. It occurs across parts of North Africa and the Sahel and is adapted to deserts, semi-deserts, steppes, wadis and dry scrub.
Its light sandy coat helps it blend into arid landscapes. Dorcas gazelles can obtain much of the moisture they need from vegetation, allowing them to survive in places where permanent surface water is scarce.
They are flexible in social behavior. Groups may be small when food is limited and larger where vegetation is temporarily abundant after rainfall.
The species is currently listed as Vulnerable. Hunting, habitat degradation and fragmentation remain important pressures across parts of its range.
Mountain Gazelle
The mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella) is associated with dry hills, scrub, open woodland and other rocky or uneven habitats in the Levant and nearby areas.
Compared with pale desert specialists, mountain gazelles usually have a richer brown upper coat with a strong contrast between the back, flank stripe and white belly. Their narrow build and long legs suit rapid movement over open and broken terrain.
Modern taxonomy has narrowed the concept of Gazella gazella. Some populations once treated as mountain gazelles are now assigned to other species, which is one reason older field guides may show a much broader range.
The mountain gazelle is currently classified as Endangered.
Dama Gazelle
The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is the largest living gazelle. It is noticeably taller and longer-legged than many other species and has a striking pattern of white and reddish-brown or chestnut coloration.
Historically, dama gazelles ranged across a vast area of the Sahara and Sahel. Today, the wild distribution is severely fragmented, with only small populations surviving in a fraction of that former range.
Dama gazelles browse shrubs, acacias and other desert vegetation and can obtain much of their water from plants. Their long legs are useful for moving through open desert and semi-desert landscapes.
The species is Critically Endangered. Hunting, habitat loss, livestock pressure, insecurity in parts of its range and increasing fragmentation have all contributed to its decline.
The dama gazelle is the largest gazelle species and one of the most threatened, with only fragmented wild populations remaining.
Cuvier’s Gazelle
Cuvier’s gazelle (Gazella cuvieri), also called the edmi gazelle, is a North African species found in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
Unlike gazelles strongly associated with flat sand deserts, Cuvier’s gazelles often use hilly and mountainous terrain, including semi-arid woodland, scrub and steppe. Their coat is relatively dark and grayish-brown, providing useful camouflage against rocky slopes and dry vegetation.
The species is currently listed as Vulnerable. Conservation work has focused on habitat protection, reducing illegal hunting and maintaining connections between populations.
Grant’s Gazelle
Grant’s gazelle (Nanger granti) is a large, pale gazelle of East African dry plains, savannas and open bushland. It is taller and heavier than Thomson’s gazelle and usually lacks the broad black flank stripe that makes Thomson’s gazelle easy to recognize.
Both sexes can carry horns, although adult males generally have heavier, more strongly developed horns. Grant’s gazelles browse as well as graze and can remain in relatively dry landscapes by obtaining moisture from their food.
Taxonomy is important here. Some populations historically included under “Grant’s gazelle” are now treated as separate species by the Mammal Diversity Database. Under that treatment, Nanger granti itself is centered in Kenya and Tanzania.
Its current IUCN category is Least Concern, although populations can still decline locally when habitat is converted or migration routes are disrupted.
Thomson’s Gazelle
Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is one of the best-known animals of East African grasslands. It has a tan back, white belly and a broad dark stripe along each side of the body.
It is strongly associated with open short-grass plains, where visibility helps individuals detect predators. Thomson’s gazelles often occur in the same landscapes as wildebeest, zebras and other grazing mammals.
They are famous for rapid acceleration, agile turns and stotting or pronking—springing into the air with stiff legs. These behaviors can be important during encounters with predators such as cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs.
The species is currently listed as Least Concern.
Soemmerring’s Gazelle
Soemmerring’s gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii) is native to the Horn of Africa. It inhabits dry steppe, bushland and open scrub in countries including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia.
It is a relatively large gazelle with a pale body, white underparts and strong facial markings. The horns curve backward before turning inward or upward near the tips.
Soemmerring’s gazelles feed on grasses, herbs and browse. Their distribution has become fragmented in many areas because of hunting, livestock competition, habitat degradation and human expansion.
The species is currently classified as Vulnerable.
Slender-Horned Gazelle
The slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros) is also called the rhim gazelle. It is one of the most specialized gazelles of the Sahara.
Its coat is extremely pale, reducing contrast against sand, while its long, narrow horns give the species its common name. It occurs in sandy deserts and dune systems where vegetation is sparse and widely scattered.
Life in the Sahara requires efficient water use, tolerance of heat and the ability to travel between patches of food. The same remote habitat that makes the species difficult to study can also make population monitoring challenging.
The slender-horned gazelle is currently listed as Endangered.
Red-Fronted Gazelle
The red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons) is a Sahelian species associated with dry grassland, savanna and open shrub habitats south of the Sahara.
It has a reddish or sandy-brown upper body, white underside and a dark flank stripe. White facial stripes bordered by darker markings help distinguish the head pattern.
Red-fronted gazelles occupy a long but increasingly fragmented belt across parts of West and Central Africa. Agricultural expansion, livestock pressure, hunting and habitat degradation have contributed to population declines.
The species is currently classified as Vulnerable.
Speke’s Gazelle
Speke’s gazelle is one of the smallest gazelles and is restricted mainly to Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. The Mammal Diversity Database currently uses the scientific name Gazella spekei.
An unusual feature is the loose skin over the top of the muzzle. When alarmed, the gazelle can inflate this area, helping amplify its loud snorting or honking alarm call.
Speke’s gazelles live in semi-desert grasslands, stony plains and dry scrub. Their limited range and fragmented habitat make them particularly vulnerable to land conversion, overgrazing and hunting.
The species is currently listed as Endangered.
There is a taxonomic detail worth knowing: some conservation sources place Speke’s gazelle in Eudorcas and write the name as Eudorcas spekei, while the current Mammal Diversity Database retains Gazella spekei. The common name refers to the same species in either treatment.
Speke’s gazelle is among the smallest gazelles and has a distinctive muzzle that can inflate when the animal gives an alarm call.
Gazelle vs Antelope: What Is the Difference?
Every gazelle is an antelope, but not every antelope is a gazelle.
Antelope is a broad common name used for many members of the bovid family. Gazelles make up a smaller set of slender antelopes traditionally associated with Gazella and closely related genera such as Eudorcas and Nanger.
| Feature | Gazelles | Antelopes in general |
|---|---|---|
| Taxonomic scope | A narrower group of antelopes | A broad common-name group within Bovidae |
| Typical build | Usually slender and long-legged | Ranges from tiny dik-diks to giant elands |
| Common habitats | Desert, semi-desert, steppe and open savanna | Desert, grassland, wetland, forest, mountain and scrub |
| Examples | Dorcas, Thomson’s, dama and Speke’s gazelles | Gazelles, impala, kudu, oryx, eland, dik-dik and many others |
Why Do Gazelles Have Horns?
Gazelle horns are permanent bony cores covered by a keratin sheath. They are not antlers and are not shed and regrown each year.
Horns are used mainly in social competition and defense. Adult males may spar or fight over territories and access to females. In many gazelle species, females also have horns, although they are often thinner or shorter than those of males.
Horn shape varies greatly. Grant’s gazelles have long ringed horns, Speke’s gazelles have smaller S-shaped horns, and slender-horned gazelles have long, narrow horns adapted to a very different desert body form.
For a broader comparison of horn structures, see 20+ Horned Animals and How True Horns Differ from Antlers.
Which Is the Largest Gazelle?
The dama gazelle is generally recognized as the largest living gazelle. Smithsonian’s National Zoo describes it as the largest of the gazelles, with adults standing around 99 cm at the shoulder and showing substantial variation in body mass.
Its long legs and tall frame make it look very different from compact species such as Speke’s gazelle.
Which Is the Smallest Gazelle?
Speke’s gazelle is commonly described as the smallest or one of the smallest living gazelles. Zoo references place its maximum shoulder height at roughly two feet, with adults much lighter than a dama or Grant’s gazelle.
Because taxonomy changes and closely related populations are sometimes split or combined, “smallest” should be treated as a common zoological description rather than a permanent record independent of classification.
Which Gazelle Is the Fastest?
Thomson’s gazelle is famous for speed and agility, especially during predator chases on open East African plains. However, there is no standardized scientific race comparing maximum speed under identical conditions across every gazelle species.
It is therefore safer to describe Thomson’s gazelle as one of the best-known fast-running gazelles rather than claiming an exact universal speed record.
Why Are Some Gazelles Endangered?
Gazelles evolved to survive drought, heat, predators and highly seasonal landscapes, but many modern threats are different from the pressures they historically faced.
Important conservation threats include:
illegal or unsustainable hunting;
conversion of grassland, steppe and desert-edge habitat;
competition with domestic livestock;
fencing and fragmentation of movement routes;
roads and expanding settlements;
political instability that makes wildlife protection difficult;
long-term changes in water and vegetation patterns.
The dama gazelle shows the most extreme situation among the species in this list: it is Critically Endangered and survives in only a small fraction of its former Saharan and Sahelian range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of gazelle are there?
There is no single timeless number because gazelle taxonomy changes as populations are split, combined or moved between genera. Modern mammal classifications recognize multiple living species across Gazella, Eudorcas and Nanger, while some broader uses of “gazelle” also include related Asian genera.
Are gazelles antelopes?
Yes. Gazelles are antelopes in the family Bovidae. “Antelope” covers a much wider variety of bovids, so animals such as kudus, impalas and oryxes are antelopes but are not gazelles.
Are gazelles deer?
No. Gazelles belong to Bovidae, the family that also includes cattle, goats, sheep and many antelopes. Deer belong to the separate family Cervidae and grow antlers rather than true permanent horns.
What is the largest gazelle?
The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is generally recognized as the largest living gazelle.
What is the smallest gazelle?
Speke’s gazelle (Gazella spekei) is commonly described as the smallest or among the smallest living gazelles, reaching only about two feet at the shoulder.
What is the fastest gazelle?
Thomson’s gazelle is one of the gazelles most famous for high-speed running and agile evasive turns. Exact “fastest” rankings should be treated cautiously because different species have not been tested under one standardized method.
Where do gazelles live?
Gazelles occur mainly in Africa and parts of Asia. Depending on the species, they may live in savannas, short-grass plains, rocky hills, dry scrub, semi-deserts, steppes and true desert environments.
Which gazelles are endangered?
Several species are threatened. In this list, the dama gazelle is Critically Endangered; the mountain, slender-horned and Speke’s gazelles are Endangered; and the Dorcas, Cuvier’s, Soemmerring’s and red-fronted gazelles are Vulnerable.
Scientific and Reference Sources
Mammal Diversity Database — Mountain Gazelle (Gazella gazella)
Mammal Diversity Database — Cuvier’s Gazelle (Gazella cuvieri)
Mammal Diversity Database — Thomson’s Gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
Mammal Diversity Database — Soemmerring’s Gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii)
Mammal Diversity Database — Slender-Horned Gazelle (Gazella leptoceros)
Mammal Diversity Database — Red-Fronted Gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons)
Mammal Diversity Database — Speke’s Gazelle (Gazella spekei)
Final Takeaway
Gazelles are much more diverse than the familiar image of one tan antelope running across an African plain. Dorcas and slender-horned gazelles survive in severe desert conditions, mountain and Cuvier’s gazelles use rougher hills, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles are icons of East African open country, and the tiny Speke’s gazelle has one of the group’s most unusual alarm adaptations.
Their conservation stories are just as different. Some remain relatively widespread, while the dama gazelle has been reduced to extremely small and fragmented wild populations. Understanding the species behind the common name “gazelle” makes those differences much easier to see.
