Saudi Gazelle
Encyclopedia
The Saudi Gazelle, Gazella saudiya, is an extinct species
of gazelle
that was once found in the Arabian peninsula
. It is extinct due to hunting by humans of its native lands.. It was declared to be extinct in 2008, but it is likely to have disappeared before that.
The Saudi Gazelle once lived in gravel and sandy plains with acacia
s of the northern and Western Arabian peninsula
from Kuwait
to Yemen
, with most of the records coming from western Saudi Arabia
. It was found singly or in groups up to 20.
The Saudi Gazelle was formerly seen as a subspecies
of the Dorcas Gazelle
, which is why its decline and extinction received so little attention from conservationists. Recent genetic studies proved its position as a separate species. Apart from genetic differences, the Saudi gazelle also had shorter legs than the Dorcas Gazelle and was lighter in color.
The species was always rare and declining due to excessive hunting. The species has not been seen for a few decades, and was declared to be Extinct in the Wild
in 1980. Recent genetic analysis of all reported specimens of G. saudiya in captive collections has shown that these represent different species or hybrids. There are frequent surveys attempting to find pure Saudi gazelles in privately owned gazelles and in the wild, but there have been no evidence of surviving individuals. The Saudi Gazelle was officially declared Extinct by the IUCN in 2008.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of gazelle
Gazelle
A gazelle is any of many antelope species in the genus Gazella, or formerly considered to belong to it. Six species are included in two genera, Eudorcas and Nanger, which were formerly considered subgenera...
that was once found in the Arabian peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. It is extinct due to hunting by humans of its native lands.. It was declared to be extinct in 2008, but it is likely to have disappeared before that.
The Saudi Gazelle once lived in gravel and sandy plains with acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
s of the northern and Western Arabian peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
from Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
to Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, with most of the records coming from western Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. It was found singly or in groups up to 20.
The Saudi Gazelle was formerly seen as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Dorcas Gazelle
Dorcas Gazelle
The Dorcas Gazelle , also known as the Ariel Gazelle, is a small and common gazelle. The Dorcas Gazelle stands approximately 55-65 cm . Dorcas gazelle have a head and body length of 90-110 cm and a weight of 15-20 kg...
, which is why its decline and extinction received so little attention from conservationists. Recent genetic studies proved its position as a separate species. Apart from genetic differences, the Saudi gazelle also had shorter legs than the Dorcas Gazelle and was lighter in color.
The species was always rare and declining due to excessive hunting. The species has not been seen for a few decades, and was declared to be Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct in the Wild is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only known living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.-Examples:...
in 1980. Recent genetic analysis of all reported specimens of G. saudiya in captive collections has shown that these represent different species or hybrids. There are frequent surveys attempting to find pure Saudi gazelles in privately owned gazelles and in the wild, but there have been no evidence of surviving individuals. The Saudi Gazelle was officially declared Extinct by the IUCN in 2008.