Saudi-Gazelle

The Saudi gazelle ( Gazella saudiya ) is an extinct gazelle of the Arabian Peninsula. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Dorcas gazelle, but is now usually treated as a separate species.

System

A long time it was assumed that the Saudi gazelle was merely a subspecies of the Dorcas gazelle, but studies of mitochondrial DNA from museum specimens suggest that it represents a distinct species.

Original distribution and extinction

The Saudi gazelle ( Gazella saudiya ) was once widespread in large parts of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and southern Iraq. The last wild population of the Saudi gazelle disappeared in the 1980s. Some captive groups, such as Qatar, Bahrain and the Al Ain Zoo were considered to be the last surviving Saudi gazelles. However, genetic analyzes came to the conclusion that it is in any of the populations studied are real Saudi gazelles. The animals go in the maternal genetic material back to Benettgazellen, Dorkasgazellen and Persian gazelle, it is possibly possible that bucks the Saudi Gazelle were involved in the construction of the lines. Thus, the species is considered extinct. However, it is possible that some animals could have survived in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula or in captivity.