Examples of animals like gazelles inclide addax, African buffalo, Arabian oryx, black wildebeest, and blackbuck.
There are many animals in the world that have an resemblance to gazelles. For example, the Addax is a type of antelope that can be found in the Sahara desert. Like gazelles, they have long, slender legs and horns. Another animal that looks like a gazelle is the Springbok, a type of antelope that is native to Africa.
Springboks are also known for their long legs and slender build. Lastly, the Impala is another antelope that resembles a gazelle. Found in Africa, impalas also have long legs and horns. All of these animals share a similar appearance to gazelles, making them some of the most recognizable animals in the world.
In this article we will explore what makes these animals look so similar to gazelle and why they are often mistaken for them.
Examples of Animals Like Gazelles
1. Addax
| Scientific Name | Addax nasomaculatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Mauritania, Niger, and Chad |
The addax is a species of antelope that is native to the Sahara Desert in Africa. They are well adapted to their desert habitat and can go for long periods of time without water. Addax are also known as white oryx, and these animals can reach a length of up to six feet and a weight of over two hundred pounds.
2. African Buffalo
| Scientific Name | Syncerus caffer |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Acacia grasslands, miombo (Brachystegia) woodlands, coastal savannas, plains and semi-arid bushland |
The African Buffalo is one of the animals that are most often mistaken for a gazelle. This is because they share many similarities in their appearance. They both have horns, hooves, and similar coloring. The main difference between the two is that the African Buffalo is much larger than a gazelle.
3. Arabian Oryx
| Scientific Name | Oryx leucoryx |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Saudi Arabia |
The Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a white or pale gold antelope with long, dark, nearly straight horns. It is the only member of the genus Oryx. The Arabian oryx is native to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula in Oman, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia.
4. Black Wildebeest
| Scientific Name | Connochaetes gnou |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho |
The black wildebeest is a species of African antelope. The black wildebeest is not really black, but dark brown. Its scientific name is Connochaetes gnou. It is one of the two species of wildebeest. The other species is the blue wildebeest.
5. Blackbuck
| Scientific Name | Antilope cervicapra |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | India, Pakistan, and Nepal |
The next animal on our list is the blackbuck. Blackbucks are antelopes that are found in the southern parts of Asia. They have a similar build to gazelles and their coat is also black and white in coloration. Both male and female blackbucks have horns, but the horns of the male are much longer.
6. Blue Duiker
| Scientific Name | Philantomba monticola |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central, eastern, and southern Africa |
The blue duiker is a small antelope that is found in the forests of central and southern Africa. They are one of the smallest antelopes in the world, with a body length of only 50-60cm. Male blue duikers weigh between 9-13 kg, while females weigh 8-10 kg.
7. Blue Wildebeest
| Scientific Name | Connochaetes taurinus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the grassy plains and open woodlands of central, southern, and eastern Africa, particularly the Serengeti in Tanzania and Kenya |
The blue wildebeest is a large antelope found in Africa. It has a similar build to the gazelle and its coat is also blue-gray in color. The main difference between the two animals is that the blue wildebeest has horns that curve up and back, while the gazelle’s horns are straight.
8. Bongo
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus eurycerus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | in the lowland forests from Sierra Leone in West Africa, all through Central Africa and as far as southern Sudan in east Africa |
The bongo is a species of antelope that is found in the forests of central Africa. They are similar in appearance to gazelles, with their reddish-brown fur and white stripes running down their sides
Bongos are slightly larger than gazelles, with males reaching up to 1.8 meters in length and females up to 1.6 meters. They also have slightly longer horns, which can reach up to 60 centimeters in length.
9. Bontebok
| Scientific Name | Damaliscus pygargus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Bontebok National Park and a few reserves and private farms in the region |
The Bontebok is a species of antelope found in South Africa. They are brown with white markings on their face, belly and legs. Both sexes have horns which they use to defend themselves from predators. Bontebok are very similar in appearance to gazelles, however they are slightly larger and have a more robust build.
10. Cape Bushbuck
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus sylvaticus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | from the Cape in South Africa to Angola and Zambia and up the eastern part of Africa to Ethiopia and Somalia |
The Cape bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) is a species of antelope found in southern Africa. It is one of the larger members of the family Bovidae, standing up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) at the shoulder and weighing up to 120 kg (260 lb). The males have spiral horns up to 50 cm (20 in) long, while the females have shorter, straight horns
11. Cape Grysbok
| Scientific Name | Raphicerus melanotis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | habituates the southern mountain valleys and scrub-covered flats of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces in South Africa |
The Cape Grysbok is a small antelope that is found in the southern regions of Africa. They are one of the many animals that have a strong resemblance to gazelles. Cape Grysbok are reddish brown in color and have white stripes running down their sides.
12. Common Duiker
| Scientific Name | Sylvicapra grimmia |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout Africa south of the Sahara, except in the rain forests of Central Africa |
The Common duiker is a small antelope that is found in woodlands throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
They get their name from the Dutch word ‘duiken’ which means to dive, as they are known to dive into the undergrowth when they are startled. Duikers are very similar in appearance to gazelles, with their slender build and long legs.
13. Common Eland
| Scientific Name | Taurotragus oryx |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southern Africa |
Like gazelles, they are a part of the family Bovidae which includes cows, buffalos, and antelopes. Elands are the second-largest member of this family after the African buffalo.
14. Gemsbok
| Scientific Name | Oryx gazella |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southern Africa |
The Gemsbok is a member of the antelope family and is found in southern Africa. They are easily recognizable by their long, straight horns and their striking black and white markings. Gemsboks can reach up to 1.8m in length and weigh up to 300kg.
15. Gerenuk
| Scientific Name | Litocranius walleri |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | East Africa |
The gerenuk is a species of antelope that is found in Africa and Asia. They are easily recognizable by their long necks and legs. Another distinguishing feature of the gerenuk is their uniquely shaped horns.
16. Giant Eland
| Scientific Name | Taurotragus derbianus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central and western Africa |
This massive antelope can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms and stand over two meters tall at the shoulder. Despite their size, they are very agile and can reach speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour.
17. Greater Kudu
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus strepsiceros |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | eastern Africa |
Greater kudus are a type of antelope that is native to Africa. They are similar in size to gazelles and can reach up to 6 feet in length. Greater kudus have long, spiral horns and their coat is a reddish-brown color with white stripes running down their sides.
18. Grey Rhebok
| Scientific Name | Pelea capreolus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Found in the Eastern and Western Cape, suitable areas westward of the Cape Peninsula, Mpumalanga and Northern Province |
The grey rhebok is a small antelope found in southern Africa. It has a reddish brown coat with white markings on the face and legs. Males have horns up to 30cm long, while females have no horns.
The grey rhebok is often mistaken for a gazelle because of its similar appearance.
19. Harnessed Bushbuck
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus scriptus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | wooded savannas, forest-savanna mosaics, rainforests, in montane forests and semi-arid zones |
The Harnessed Bushbuck is a type of antelope that is found in Africa. They have a reddish brown coat with white spots on their sides and back. Male bushbucks can grow up to four feet long and weigh up to two hundred pounds. Females are usually about half the size of the males.
20. Hartebeest
| Scientific Name | Alcelaphus buselaphus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sub-Saharan Africa |
The hartebeest is a herbivorous animal that can be found in Africa. It is closely related to the wildebeest and has a similar appearance with its long face and horns. However, the hartebeest is taller and has a more slender body than the wildebeest.
21. Impala
| Scientific Name | Aepyceros melampus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the savanna and light woodlands of eastern and southern Africa |
Impalas are a type of antelope that is found in Africa. They are very similar in appearance to gazelles and are often mistaken for them. Impalas have a reddish brown coat with white belly and black stripes on their legs.
22. Jentink’s Duiker
| Scientific Name | Cephalophus jentinki |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the southern parts of Liberia, southwestern Côte d’Ivoire, and scattered enclaves in Sierra Leone |
This small antelope is found in the forests of Central and West Africa. They get their name from their striking resemblance to gazelles, with their slender build and long legs. Duikers are browsers, meaning they feed on leaves, fruit, and other vegetation.
23. Klipspringer
| Scientific Name | Oreotragus oreotragus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | mountain ranges of eastern Africa from the Red Sea Hills to the Cape and north to Angola along coastal ranges and river gorges |
The klipspringer is a small antelope that is found in Africa. They are about the same size as a gazelle and have a similar build. They also have large hooves that help them to climb trees and rocky terrain.
24. Lechwe
| Scientific Name | Kobus leche |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Okavango swamps in Botswana and the Linyanti swamps of the Caprivi Strip, Namibia |
The lechwe is an antelope that is found in southern Africa. It is a member of the reduncinae family which includes other animals such as kob, puku and waterbuck. Lechwe are the largest member of this family and can reach lengths of 1.8m and weigh up to 250kg. They have distinctive, long and curved horns which are used for fighting and display purposes.
Lechwe are often confused with gazelles as they share many similarities in their appearance. They are both slender animals with long necks and legs. They also both have horns and a similar colouration.
25. Lesser Kudu
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus imberbis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the arid and semi-arid areas of northeastern Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania |
The Lesser Kudu is a species of antelope that can be found in woodlands and bushlands across Eastern Africa.They are similar in appearance to gazelles, with their long necks and slender bodies.One of the main differences between the two animals is that Lesser Kudus have spiral horns, whereas gazelles have straight horns.
26. Mountain Nyala
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus buxtoni |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | high altitude woodland in a small part of central Ethiopia |
The mountain nyala is a large mammal that is found in the mountains of Ethiopia. They are very similar in appearance to gazelles, and have even been known to be mistaken for them. Mountain nyala are slightly larger than gazelles, and have longer horns.
27. Nyala
| Scientific Name | Tragelaphus angasii |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southern Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and eastern South Africa |
The Nyala is an antelope found in southern Africa. It is a medium sized antelope with both sexes reaching about 90-100 cm at the shoulder and weighing around 150-250 kg. Males are larger than females and sport longer, thicker horns. The coat of the Nyala is reddish brown in colour with white stripes running along its flanks.
28. Okapi
| Scientific Name | Okapia johnstoni |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the Democratic Republic of Congo |
The okapi is a mammal that is native to the Ituri Rainforest in Central Africa. They have a reddish-brown coat with white stripes and spots, which helps them camouflage in their forest habitat. Okapis are often mistaken for gazelles because of their long necks and legs.
29. Oribi
| Scientific Name | Ourebia ourebi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | eastern, southern and western Africa |
The oribi is a small antelope that is found in Africa. They are very similar in appearance to gazelles and are often mistaken for them. Oribis have a reddish brown coat with white markings on their face, legs and belly. They also have long, slender horns that curve backwards.
30. Pronghorn
| Scientific Name | Antilocapra americana |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | mainly found in the United States in the Great Plains, Wyoming, Montana, northeast California, southeast Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico |
The pronghorn is a North American mammal which looks very similar to the gazelle. It has a long neck, slender legs and a small head. Its coat is yellowish-brown in color with white underparts. Males have horns which they use to butt heads during mating season.
More Animals Like Gazelles
- Roan Antelope
- Royal Antelop
- Sable Antelope
- Saiga
- Scimitar Oryx
- Sitatunga
- Springbok
- Steenbok
- Suni
- Tsessebe
- Waterbuck
- Yellow-Backed Duiker
- Zebra Duiker
Conclusion
There are many animals that resemble gazelles in appearance, due to their long slender legs and horns. However, there are also many differences between these animals. Gazelles are found in Africa, while other similar animals can be found all over the world. Each species has adapted to their own unique environment and has different behaviors and physical characteristics.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.