The Comparative Behavior of Grant's and Thomson's Gazelles

Estes, Richard

doi:10.2307/1378022

Cited by 114 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Agonistic behaviour Males threaten with the horns but do not have a highly ritualised display comparable with that of Grant's gazelle (Estes 1967). Fighting follows the pattern described by Walther ( 1968), with horns interlocked and hard wrestling from side to side.…”

Section: Bigalke: Springbok Behaviour 34smentioning

confidence: 70%

“…One herd of 54 was seen at Etosha in which two males both herded; although they sometimes showed aggression toward one another, both remained in the group. In this sometimes rather languid approach to the presence of rivals, springbok males appear to resemble those of Grant's gazelle (Estes 1967).…”

Section: Mating Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The le~ are then brought forward and the animal squats deeply, anus near the ground, to 338 ZOOLOGICA AFRICANA VOL 7 defecate on the same spot. This linked urination-defecation ritual, which Estes (1967) and Walther consider to be a display of territorial behaviour, is typical of adult males, not of immatures. David (1970) has already drawn attention to its existence in the springbok and his observation that pawing precedes the sequence is borne out by my study.…”

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confidence: 84%

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Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Bigalke

1972

Zoologica Africana

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The stance and attitudes of the springbok are found to be similar to those of other gazelles. Gaits used are a rack-like walk (passgang), a trot and a gallop; display trot, the stott and the pronk are considered to be ritualised gaits of increa~ing intensity. Urination and defecation and comfort behaviour are described. Social behaviour is discussed and mixed herds, bachelor herds and solitary territorial males are shown to occur. Territorial marking is performed by taking up conspicuous positions, horn sweeping and ritualised defecation-urination. Mating behaviour resembles that of other gazelles and harem herds are common although some copulation was seen in larger groups. Agonistic behaviour involves little ritual display. Females and young form temporary herds; the young lie out and thereafter associate in "kindergarten" group!>. Communication is by various calls and by visual signals of which the erection of the dorsal fan is the most striking. Morning and evening peaks of activity occur.Previous studies of food eaten are reviewed and the results of rumen sample analysis presented. Karroid shrubs and the leaves of several bushes and trees were found to be the dominant food in June and July. Springbok drink but can survive in waterless areas. Open or semi-open habitats are preferred and the factors influencing the preference are discussed.In a previous publication (Bigalke 1970), some results of a general study of the springbok, Antidorcas marsupia/is, were presented. The account dealt with body weight, reproduction, herd composition and the structure of several populations. The purpose of this paper is to describe various aspects of springbok behaviour observed in the course of the same study. Particular attention is given to the composition of the diet, as deduced from analysing rumen samples collected during the winter months.Since the field work was terminated in 1964, a general account of the behaviour of the gazelles, among which the springbok is included, has appeared (Walther 1968). The springbok was not studied in detail and observations were confined to captive animals. Despite these limitations, there is close agreement between the behaviour patterns described for the gazelles in general, and for the springbok in particular, and my own findings.Walther uses the term 'gazelle' for the six genera Anti/ope, Antidorcas, Procapra, Gazella, Ammodorcas, and Litocranius. He regards them as members of the bovid subfamily Gazellinae, sensu Haltenorth (I 963), except that this author separates Ammodorcas from the other fivewhich Walther considers a mistake. Walther equates his Gazellinae with the traditional subfamily Antilopinae.In the most recent taxonomic account of the African Bovidae, Ansell (I 968) rejects Halternorth's terminology and reverts partly to Simpson's ( 1945) classification, using subfamily Antilopinae with the tribes Antilopini and Neotragini. However, Ansell excludes Ammodorcas and Aepyceros, both of which were included in Antilopinae, Antilopini by Simpson.Zoologica Africana 7 (1...

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Section: Bigalke: Springbok Behaviour 34smentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Mating Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 84%

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Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Bigalke

1972

Zoologica Africana

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“…Springbok males are rather active in defence of their land and though they may sometimes allow bachelors on to their territory they will not allow them to court females. In this respect they resemble Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii), which is apparently more actively territorial than Grant's gazelle (G. granti) (Estes 1967). As already mentioned, it is not unusual to see springbok males fighting in defence of territory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Observations on Territorial Behaviour of Springbok, Antidorcas Marsupialis, in the Bontebok National Park, Swellendam

David

1978

Zoologica Africana

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Some adult males defended territories of up to 40 ha in size all year round. Most males were seen both alone and with females on their territories. Males did not have permanent harems, since groups of females were fluid in composition and highly mobile. Groups of females moved into and out of male territories at will, despite attempts by the male to prevent them leaving.For ten marked males the minimum period spent on a territory ranged from 6,5 to 26 months. These males appeared to cover a wide age-range from young adult to old. Results of a quantitative study of daily activity of selected territorial males are presented. Males were observed for 12 consecutive daylight hours for a total of 13 days. The most important activity on a year-round basis was grazing. Courtship and defence of territory were second in importance.Aspects of territorial behaviour, such as courtship displays, defence of territory (by chasing out trespassing males), and advertising of territory by means of linked urination-defaecation displays on discrete dung-sites, are described.

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“…Of the nearly dozens of gazelle species found in Africa, only few are well studied: Thomson's and Grant's gazelles are the most studied from East Africa (Estes, 1967;Walther, 1977), while the dorcas ( Gazella dorcas) and dama ( Gazella dama) (Grettenberg, 1986;Salah, 1987;Yom-tov, 1987) gazelles from North Africa and the Middle East have been studied to some extent. Excessive hunting, excessive grazing by livestock, agricultura l expansion, and other habitat modifications are identified as major factors adversely affecting most population of gazelles (Salah, 1987;Hillman, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A study on abundance, group size and composition of Soemmering's Gazelle (<i>Gazella soemmerringii</i>) in Awash National Park and Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, Ethiopia

Gebremedhin

Yirga

2006

SEJS

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Population status, group composition and social organization of the Soemmerring's gazelle ( Gazella soemmeringii) were studied at Awash National Park ( ANP) and Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve (AWR) in 2000. Total count method was used to assess the population size of the gazelle. Thirteen routes, each route being two kilometres away from the other, were designated at AWR for the vehicle survey. Similarly, 10 routes, each being one kilometre away from the other, were designated at ANP. The results revealed a mean population of 457.8 individuals in the selected study site in Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, and 41.45 in Ilala Sala. Grouping pattern showed that cohesion was stronger. The large females group containing juveniles and of adult males were the two main social units. Mean group size in ANP was 4.4 whereas that of AWR was 16.8 individuals (p>0.001). A paired-sample t-test comparison of the total frequency of categories of the group sizes for the two areas showed a significant difference (p=0.026). Local variation in group size did exist in AWR (p=0.021). But this variable showed no significant difference (p= 0.414) in ANP. Herds of 6-10 were most common at Ilala Sala and 20-50 at AWR. However, herd size ranges from 3-250 individuals at AWR. Comparing seasonal variations in group sizes showed no significant difference. It is presumed that alteration of the original habitats might have an effect on the group pattern and social organization of study population as observed from one of the study site.

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The Comparative Behavior of Grant's and Thomson's Gazelles

Cited by 114 publications

References 9 publications

Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Observations on the Behaviour and Feeding Habits of the Springbok,Antidorcas Marsupialis

Observations on Territorial Behaviour of Springbok, Antidorcas Marsupialis, in the Bontebok National Park, Swellendam

A study on abundance, group size and composition of Soemmering's Gazelle (<i>Gazella soemmerringii</i>) in Awash National Park and Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve, Ethiopia

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