Thomson’s gazelle
One of the best-known gazelles. Named after the Scottish explorer, Joseph Thomson. Sometimes referred to as a “tommie”.

Thomson’s gazelles are endemic to Eastern Africa. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is the most populous area of Thomson’s gazelle.

Nevertheless, they are among the most common gazelles of the region, commonly found on acacia savannas and short grasslands, most often living in almost entirely grazed, trampled or burnt grasslands.

Although small in structure, they can reach an impressive speed of 70 kilometers per hour, with some sources suggesting a faster 90 kilometers per hour. This allows the Thomson’s to escape predators.

When the Thomson’s gazelle kicks into survival mode, they can accelerate from 0 to 90 kilometers an hour in 18 seconds.

This astounding pace, which is half that of a cheetah’s peak pace, makes the Thomson’s gazelle one of fastest land animals in the world. Unlike the cheetah, the gazelle can hold its speed for a lot longer.

They can survive periods of harsh drought, living on dry pastures, while most animals of the area disperse to find more suitable habitats.

However, during the dry season, Thomson’s gazelles do not migrate as far north as other ungulate species of their range. Additionally, during the wet season, they remain within their range longer, as compared to other ungulates.

Grant’s gazelles are sometimes confused with Thomson’s. However, Thomson’s is distinguished from Grant’s by its smaller size and the white patch on its rump. On Grant’s gazelles, the patch always extends above the tail.

Thomson, have light-brown coats with dark stripes running down their sides, a white patch on their rumps extending underneath the tail, and ridged horns that curve backward. Females may have shorter, smoother, and slimmer horns than males or none at all.