Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is the fourth fastest land animal in the world, reaching 80-90 km/h, beaten only by the cheetah, the pronghorn and the springbok.

Weight

15 kg – 35 kg

Size

55 cm – 82 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

SavannaHerbivore Diurnal In herds Near Threatened Savanna Mammal

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Fun facts

It uses a distinctive zigzag escape run to shake off a pursuer.
It feeds on nutritious short grasses, shoots and leaves.
It lives in the short dry grassland and shrub savanna of Kenya and Tanzania, including the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Short dry grassland and shrub savanna of Kenya and Tanzania, including the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara
Birth weight: 2.6 kg at birth
Size at birth: 2.6 kg at birth
Sexual maturity: ~1 year
Gestation / incubation: ~180 days (5-6 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 fawn per birth, with up to 2 births a year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 20 years

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; World Species; Impala Animal Facts (A-Z Animals comparative); Wikipedia (Thomson's gazelle); IFAW; Kidadl; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animalia.bio; Africa Freak; World Life Expectancy