Red gazelle

"Red Gazelle" redirects here. For the F-Zero machine, see F-Zero Racers.

Red Gazelle
File:Eudorcas rufina.jpg
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Antilopinae
Genus:	Eudorcas
Species:	E. rufina
Binomial name
Eudorcas rufina Thomas, 1894
Synonyms
Gazella rufina

The red gazelle (Eudorcas rufina) was thought to be an extinct species of gazelle. It was formerly considered a member of the genus Gazella within the subgenus Eudorcas before Eudorcas was promoted to a full genus. It was thought to have lived in the better-watered mountain areas of North Africa rather than in deserts, because of the rich colouring on the coat.

There are no records of the red gazelle in the wild. It is known from three specimens purchased in markets in Algiers and Oran, northern Algeria, in the late 19th century. They are held in museums in Paris and London. Some authorities, such as Jonathan Kingdon, consider it a subspecies of the red-fronted gazelle (E. rufifrons or G. rufifrons). In 2008, K. de Smet reported one of the three specimens had proved on examination to be E. rufifrons, leading the IUCN Red List to revise its assessment of the species from Extinct to Data Deficient on the basis of doubts as to the validity of the taxon.

Physical Characteristics

The red gazelle, commonly confused for the Red-fronted Gazelle, is actually larger in size and has heavier hooves when compared to the Red-fronted Gazelle. The red gazelle gets its name from its distinct bright red-brown fur. It is characterized to have thin (2.5–4 cm wide) black stripes across its flanks, in between its rear and front legs. The top of the head, cheeks, and sides of the neck are a pale whitish color, while the undersides and rump are a plain white colour. The center of its face is bordered on both side by pale streaks running from the eyes to the snout. It also a rufous tail with a black tip.