- Diet: Gazelles are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of grasses, leaves, and shoots. They are selective feeders and prefer young, nutritious plants. They rely on their eyesight to locate food and can move quickly to reach their preferred food source.
- Habitat: Gazelles inhabit various types of habitats, including savannas, grasslands, deserts, and semi-deserts. They prefer open areas with short vegetation, which allows them to spot predators from a distance.
- Social Behavior: Gazelles live in social groups consisting of females and their young, called fawns. The males generally form separate groups or stay solitary, except during mating season. Gazelles communicate through vocalizations, body language, and scent marking to establish their territory and maintain group cohesion.
- Reproduction: Gazelles are polygamous, and the dominant males mate with multiple females. The females give birth to a single fawn after a gestation period of around 5-6 months. The fawns are born precocial, meaning they are able to walk and follow their mother shortly after birth.
- Predators and Defense Mechanisms: Gazelles are vulnerable to predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. They rely on their speed and agility to outrun their predators. Gazelles can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) and perform rapid zigzag movements to evade capture. They also have excellent eyesight and hearing, which helps them detect potential threats early.
- Seasonal Migration: Some gazelle species undertake seasonal migrations in response to changes in food availability and water resources. During the dry season, they move to areas with more vegetation and water, and then return to their original habitats during the rainy season.
These are some general characteristics of gazelles' habits, but there can be variation among different species and subspecies.