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Gazelle

Professional Pronker: Characterized by their long slender legs, gazelles are medium-sized antelope. They are swift runners and jumpers, and when nervous or excited, will exhibit a behavior called pronking, a method of locomotion where the animal jumps vertically into the air with an arched back and lands on all four rigidly straight legs. Why gazelles do this is not clear. Some theories suggest that by making themselves more noticeable, they are signaling to predators that they are aware of the danger, or they may be showing off their fitness and strength to intimidate animals on the prowl for a meal.

From Africa to Asia: There are 14 species of gazelle across North Africa and Southwest Asia, including Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle and Dorcas gazelle. These animals spend most of their day grazing on shrubs and grasses

Looking Good: Long, ringed horns sit on top of the heads of both sexes in many species, but female horns tend to be shorter. Fur color is usually countershaded, meaning the top part of the body is light brown and the belly is white.

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MORE GAZELLE

SPECIES: Thomson's Gazelle

DID YOU KNOW?

Beep Beep!: Speke's gazelles have three to five folds of skin around their nose. It can be inflated to create a warning sound resembling a honking noise.

Swift on Their Feet: Gazelles are among the fastest animals on the planet, able to run at speeds of 50 mph for long periods of time.

How Stuff Works

How Do Gazelles Use Body Language?
Gazelles can communicate volumes through the flick of an ear or the swish of a tail. Find out more at HowStuffWorks.com.