Dibatag

Ammodorcas clarkei

The Dibatag is sometimes called "Clarke's Gazelle," though that name is misleading as they are not true Gazelles at all. They actually belong to their own genus entirely.

You've probably never heard of this Antelope (I know I hadn't until researching this) because they hail from an unstable and arid part of the planet, and because there are no captive populations whatsoever. If you wished to seek them out you would have to travel to the dry grasslands of Somalia and Ethiopia where they tend to be solitary or live in very small groups-- their mating system is unknown.

Their name comes from the Somali for "erect tail," because they lift their relatively long (up to 1ft) black tails when fleeing danger. They also have white facial stripes and dark horns, giving them markings that are similar to a true Gazelles.

 The Dibatag is listed as Vulnerable because human settlement and conflict has reduced their population to only a few thousand living members. They are also hunted for their meat and hides.

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IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : Ethiopia, Somalia
Size : Body length up to 66in (1.7m)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Mammalia -- Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae -- Genus : Ammodorcas -- Species : A. clarkei

Image : Joseph Smit