Scott Hanko
Grants Gazelle
Nanger granti granti
The Grant's Gazelle (Nanger granti) is a species of gazelle. Its populations are distributed from northern Tanzania to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and from the Kenyan coast to Lake Victoria. Its Swahili name is Swala Granti
The Grant's Gazelle stands 76–91 cm (30–36 inches) up to the shoulder and weighs 45–65 kg (100–145 lbs). Its coat is a beige orange on the back with a white belly. The Grant's Gazelle looks similar to a Thomson's Gazelle except it has lyre-shaped horns which are stout at the base, clearly ringed and measuring 45–81 cm (18–32 in) long. The subspecies are segregated by different morphological characters such as; horn shape and slight differences in coat colour. These differences are not indicative of ecological separation as with some species. They can reach running speeds of up to 76 to 90 km/h (47–56 mph).
Grant's Gazelle is found in East Africa and lives in open grass plains and frequently found in shrublands; it avoids areas that have high grass where the visibility of predators is compromised. They also occur in semi-arid areas as well, and is relatively arid-adapted. They are migratory animals but travel in the opposite direction of most of the other ungulates like Thompson's gazelles, zebras and wildebeests which are more water dependant. They can subsist on vegetation in waterless, semiarid areas. Here they face little competition.
Grant’s gazelles are generally mixed feeders that both browse and graze. Their average diet consists of 65.8% browse and 34.3% graze. Rainfall in their habitats seem to be the determinant of their diets. The Grant's Gazelle's diet may also be responsible for the slow growth rates in the browsed plots. They get most of their moisture from the plants they eat so they don’t have to drink water often. Thus they can stay on the plains long after the rains end. From July to September, gazelles move deep into dense brush and wait for the next rains.[6] They will eat red oats and small crunchy plants, which are avoided by the other ungulates. This allows the gazelles to survive in the brush during the dry season. Grant’s gazelles eat mainly dicotyledons during the dry season and grass in the wet season.
The most common predators of the Grant's Gazelle are Cheetahs and African Wild Dog. Humans also tend to hunt gazelles. In the Serengeti, Grant's Gazelle is a prey item but Thomson's gazelle is preferred by Cheetahs. However, in Nairobi National Park Grant's Gazelle is preferred over Thomson's Gazelle making it an important resource to the Cheetah. Jackals are major predators of fawns.
The Grant's Gazelle is a gregarious, territorial, and migratory species. The home ranges of does overlap with that of the bucks. Only male gazelles are territorial. Male gazelles will herd all females that cross their territories. When the females are in estrous, they are strongly guarded by the dominant male who prevents other males from mating with them. Any doe that tries to leave is aggressively herded back. Most of the time, the buck’s simple stance in relation to her is enough to keep the female from leaving.
Bachelor groups are made up of adolescent and non-territory holding bucks. Any new members must perform intimidation displays to enter the group. However bachelor groups tend to be very loose and members can leave whenever they want. The larger, older males with thick horns have the best chance of establishing a territory. Conflicts between adult males are usually solved with intimidation displays. The bucks circle each other and swing their necks from side to side, displaying their neck power. Neck strength is important in an actual fight and the male that can’t keep up yields. Gazelles of nearly equal neck strength are more likely to engage in actual combat. Fighting occurs in young bucks more often than older ones. Dominant bucks can simply run off subordinates rather than having to display to them.
Wild Animal Park Escondido Ca.
Grants Gazelle
Nanger granti granti
The Grant's Gazelle (Nanger granti) is a species of gazelle. Its populations are distributed from northern Tanzania to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and from the Kenyan coast to Lake Victoria. Its Swahili name is Swala Granti
The Grant's Gazelle stands 76–91 cm (30–36 inches) up to the shoulder and weighs 45–65 kg (100–145 lbs). Its coat is a beige orange on the back with a white belly. The Grant's Gazelle looks similar to a Thomson's Gazelle except it has lyre-shaped horns which are stout at the base, clearly ringed and measuring 45–81 cm (18–32 in) long. The subspecies are segregated by different morphological characters such as; horn shape and slight differences in coat colour. These differences are not indicative of ecological separation as with some species. They can reach running speeds of up to 76 to 90 km/h (47–56 mph).
Grant's Gazelle is found in East Africa and lives in open grass plains and frequently found in shrublands; it avoids areas that have high grass where the visibility of predators is compromised. They also occur in semi-arid areas as well, and is relatively arid-adapted. They are migratory animals but travel in the opposite direction of most of the other ungulates like Thompson's gazelles, zebras and wildebeests which are more water dependant. They can subsist on vegetation in waterless, semiarid areas. Here they face little competition.
Grant’s gazelles are generally mixed feeders that both browse and graze. Their average diet consists of 65.8% browse and 34.3% graze. Rainfall in their habitats seem to be the determinant of their diets. The Grant's Gazelle's diet may also be responsible for the slow growth rates in the browsed plots. They get most of their moisture from the plants they eat so they don’t have to drink water often. Thus they can stay on the plains long after the rains end. From July to September, gazelles move deep into dense brush and wait for the next rains.[6] They will eat red oats and small crunchy plants, which are avoided by the other ungulates. This allows the gazelles to survive in the brush during the dry season. Grant’s gazelles eat mainly dicotyledons during the dry season and grass in the wet season.
The most common predators of the Grant's Gazelle are Cheetahs and African Wild Dog. Humans also tend to hunt gazelles. In the Serengeti, Grant's Gazelle is a prey item but Thomson's gazelle is preferred by Cheetahs. However, in Nairobi National Park Grant's Gazelle is preferred over Thomson's Gazelle making it an important resource to the Cheetah. Jackals are major predators of fawns.
The Grant's Gazelle is a gregarious, territorial, and migratory species. The home ranges of does overlap with that of the bucks. Only male gazelles are territorial. Male gazelles will herd all females that cross their territories. When the females are in estrous, they are strongly guarded by the dominant male who prevents other males from mating with them. Any doe that tries to leave is aggressively herded back. Most of the time, the buck’s simple stance in relation to her is enough to keep the female from leaving.
Bachelor groups are made up of adolescent and non-territory holding bucks. Any new members must perform intimidation displays to enter the group. However bachelor groups tend to be very loose and members can leave whenever they want. The larger, older males with thick horns have the best chance of establishing a territory. Conflicts between adult males are usually solved with intimidation displays. The bucks circle each other and swing their necks from side to side, displaying their neck power. Neck strength is important in an actual fight and the male that can’t keep up yields. Gazelles of nearly equal neck strength are more likely to engage in actual combat. Fighting occurs in young bucks more often than older ones. Dominant bucks can simply run off subordinates rather than having to display to them.
Wild Animal Park Escondido Ca.