The smallest of all gazelles, a delicate, high-legged antelope that lives in the semi-arid grasslands and stony bush of the Horn of Africa, mainly in Somalia and nearby parts of Ethiopia. Their coat is a soft sandy-fawn on the upper body, sharply separated from the white underside by a darker side band, with a darker stripe along the flanks and a pale rump patch—classic gazelle color-blocking but in a compact package. The face is narrow and pointed, with a dark stripe running from the eyes to the muzzle and big, dark eyes that give them a rather refined, almost “deer-like” expression. Both sexes carry slender, ringed horns that sweep slightly backward; males’ horns are longer and thicker, while females have shorter, finer horns or sometimes none at all.

One of Speke’s gazelles’ most unusual features is its inflatable nose. Across the bridge of the nose are several folds of skin that form a small sac; when the gazelle is excited or alarmed, it can inflate this sac until it bulges like a half-tennis ball. When the air is forced back out, the nasal passages act as a resonant chamber, producing a loud, pistol-shot “sneeze” or honk. This sharp sound is used as an alarm call to warn other herd members and may also play a role in courtship displays—an impressive trick for such a small animal. Along with the nose sac, they have preorbital glands in front of the eyes that release scent when they’re very excited, adding a chemical “exclamation mark” to their visual and vocal signals.

As herbivores, they feed on hardy desert grasses, low herbs, and browse from shrubs, and can go long periods without free water by drawing moisture from plants. When threatened, they perform spectacular pronking—sudden bursts of running mixed with high, stiff-legged jumps and bouncing strides.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Ethiopia

2016

Possibly Extinct

Somalia

2016