The Arabian sand gazelle, scientifically known as Gazella subgutturosa marica, is a species of small to medium-sized ungulate mammal native to the Arabian Peninsula. It is a subspecies of the more widespread Persian or goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa).
The Arabian sand gazelle exhibits several distinguishing physical features. It possesses a slender and nimble body with a height at the shoulder ranging from 60 to 70 centimeters, and an average weight of 25 to 35 kilograms. Its fur is short and sandy-colored, perfectly adapted to blend with the arid desert environments it inhabits. Males bear long, S-shaped horns, reaching lengths of up to 45 centimeters, while females lack horns altogether.
This gazelle has a remarkable adaptability to desert habitats, specifically sandy and gravel plains and open arid grasslands. It has developed physiological adaptations to survive in these challenging environments, such as the ability to obtain water from the vegetation consumed.
Arabian sand gazelles are predominantly herbivorous animals, primarily feeding on a variety of desert vegetation, such as grasses, leaves, and shrubs. They are also known for their agility and speed, capable of sprinting up to 60 kilometers per hour when threatened, allowing them to evade predators like wolves and jackals.
Unfortunately, the Arabian sand gazelle has faced significant population declines primarily due to habitat destruction, overgrazing by domestic livestock, and unsustainable hunting practices. Conservation efforts focusing on habitat protection, reintroduction programs, and regulating hunting have been implemented to safeguard the long-term survival of this species.
