Nanger dama inhabits the countries of the African Sahel and Sahara Desert. At one time, the range of this mammal extended as far as Morocco and Egypt. However, excessive hunting has reduced their range to only the area between Senegal (where it was re-introduced) and Sudan.

Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); ethiopian (Native )

Nanger dama has a body with lean legs and a long slender neck. Its glossy coat is characterized by patches of reddish-brown and white. Its face and undersides are always white, its neck is reddish-brown, and its throat always bares a white patch. However, color varies between sub-species. Nanger dama mohrr, the western sub-species, is almost completely red, excluding its undersides and posterior. It also boasts red cheek patches and black stripes which trace from its eyes to the corner of its mouth. The eastern sub-species, Nanger dama ruficollis is mostly white, with its reddish-brown color only showing on its neck and back.

These animals possess horns that are shaped like the letter S; they point back and curl upwards. The horns generally range from 25 to 35 cm in length, with males possessing slightly larger sets than females. They are also sexually dimorphic in size, with females usually weighing 35 to 40 kg, and males ranging anywhere from 40 to 75 kg in weight.

Their basal metabolic rate is relatively high given their body size, as is often the case for members of Artiodactyla.

Range mass: 35 to 75 kg.

Range length: 140 to 168 cm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; ornamentation

• Terrestrial

Generally, Nanger dama is found in arid areas with sparse vegetation. However, its habitat changes slightly throughout the year, as this animal migrates seasonally. Dama gazelles resides on the pastures and plateaus of the Sahara desert during the rainy season, and move to the open bushlands in the dry season. This species avoids the mountains and dunes of the region, instead opting for the flatter, stonier plains. Unfortunately, due to overgrazing by livestock, land development by humans, and long term climate change, the habitat of N. dama has become even drier and somewhat less suitable through the years.

Range elevation: 760 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland

Nanger dama is a grazer, feeding on shrubs, herbs, coarse desert grasses, and Acacia tree leaves. These gazelles often stand on their hind legs in a bipedal fashion in order to reach the higher leaves of these trees. Members of this species are able to get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.

Plant Foods: leaves

Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )

Nanger dama controls the spread of Acacia trees by grazing on their leaves. These gazelles are also a source of food for many of the carnivores that live and hunt on the plains.

Nanger dama has many predators, including jackals, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and lions. Fleeing is their main defense, and they are well adapted for running.

When a Dama gazelle spots a predator, it assumes an alert posture, and often stamps its feet, walks in circles, twitches its flank skin, and snorts in order to warn other members of the tribe.

Known Predators:

• golden jackals (Canis aureus)
• black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas)
• cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)
• spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta)
• African lions (Panthera leo)
• humans (Homo sapiens)

Most communication in this species is through body language. For example, erect posture in males demonstrates aggressiveness and high rank, and is also used in sexual displays. Males may also angle their heads or ram bushes so as to draw attention to their horns. Submission, on the other hand, is often represented by lowering of the head, or by jutting of the chin. Turning or moving away are also employed as ways to indicate submission. These animals utilize scent as well, as all members of a tribe urinate and defecate as a way of marking their territory against outsiders. Males have been known to snort or sputter during sexual displays.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks

Perception Channels: visual ; acoustic

In the wild, members of N. dama generally live up to 12 years. In captivity, they have been known to live into their late teens (18-19).

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: 19 (high) years.

Typical lifespan

Status: wild: 12 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 12 years.

The mating season can begin as early as August and end as late as October. During this time, males become territorial and engage in behaviors that indicate their aggressiveness and status. They usually urinate or defecate to mark their territory and horn the grass to advertise their strength and high status. Males also herd and chase to keep females in their vicinities and other rival males away.

The courtship behaviors of males usually include prancing, nose-lifting, upright posture, kicking of their forelegs, and touching, nibbling, or licking of the female with their muzzles. Some males may even resort to sputtering or snoring to get the attention of a mate.

A receptive female often walks in circles, makes sharp turns, and holds out her tail to indicate that she is ready to mate. The male mounts by standing behind her on his hind legs, with his forelegs curled in toward his own body. It is common for the female to continue moving during copulation.

Mating System: polygynous ; cooperative breeder

Mating generally occurs between the months of August and October, although it has been known to occur year-round in captivity. The estrous cycle of female N. dama usually lasts about 19 days, although it can be as short as 16 days or as long as 22 days.

Generally, this species gives birth to one offspring at a time, although in rare circumstances, twins are born.

Immediately after birth, mothers keep newborns sequestered from the rest of the herd. After a few days, however, the young are usually strong enough to follow their mothers around the grasslands and be seen by other members of the herd.

Breeding interval: Dama gazelles breed once a year.

Breeding season: In the wild, mating usually occurs between the months of August and October.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Range gestation period: 5.5 to 6 months.

Range weaning age: 3 to 4 months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1.5 to 2 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); fertilization ; viviparous

The mothers of this species invest lots of energy in protecting their young. It is quite common for two females to team up in defending their offspring, as pairs of females can often be observed chasing and attacking jackals that are hunting young gazelles.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female); post-independence association with parents

This species was declared vulnerable by the IUCN in 1986, and was later shifted to endangered status in 1990. The continuous decline of N. dama numbers has been attributed to hunting and habitat degradation caused by humans.

Currently, there are efforts in Senegal to increase the Dama gazelle population through semi-captive breedings programs.

US Federal List: endangered

CITES: appendix i

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: critically endangered

Grazing by N. dama can take food away from livestock, negatively impacting humans involved in the business of raising animals.

Humans hunt gazelles for their meat and horns.

Positive Impacts: food ; body parts are source of valuable material