Dorcas gazelle is an animal that can do without water all its life. Adaptability of dorcas gazelles to difficult desert conditions
To quote the great Ian Malcolm, it's worth noting that "life will always find a way." Nature is full of examples of evolution providing a survival mechanism for the flora and fauna that inhabit the Earth. Below are ten animals and plants that have evolved specific characteristics or abilities that allow them to survive or even thrive in their environment.
10. Gazelle Dorcas (Dorcas Gazelle)
Because it is endemic to the Middle East and North Africa, dorcas gazelles have had to develop a number of traits over the course of evolution that would allow them to survive in the almost complete absence of drinking water. First, they can go their whole lives without drinking water, surviving only on the liquid they get from eating plants. In addition, when liquid is nearly impossible to find, dorcas gazelles can conserve water by concentrating their uric acid, removing it from the body as granules rather than liquid. During such periods, they also significantly reduce the amount of liquid in their droppings.
9. Crossbills
Crossbills include a number of passerine species that have adapted to consuming the main product on their menu, pine cones, with great efficiency. Due to the fact that it is very difficult to reach the seeds inside the prickly cones with a normal beak, crossbills have developed a beak, the ends of which intersect, which allows them to quickly open the scales of pine cones and get to the seeds.
They also have very strong tongues that can reach between pine cone scales with their beak open and get seeds. They also feed on insects and fruit, but their beaks have specifically evolved to feed on pine cones, which are much more readily available.
8. Bamboo
This particular plant, like a small number of other plant species, has developed a specific schedule for planting its seeds. Bamboo does not bloom or produce seeds for many years, then a huge number of seeds are released and distributed at once. In mainland China, it is believed that bamboo blooms only once every 120 years, covering the ground with seeds like a blanket.
Scientists have put forward a number of theories as to why bamboo evolved this ability, and one of the most plausible hypotheses is that the plants do this so that the animals that feed on their seeds cannot eat all the seeds. The only drawback of such a system is that mature plants often die if a huge number of young shoots begin to grow around them.
7Panamanian Golden Frog
Driven almost to extinction due to habitat loss, the Panamanian golden frog lives exclusively in the rainforests of Panama, mostly near fast-flowing rivers and waterfalls. Because of the great noise in their natural habitat, they have developed an ability that is very rare in the animal kingdom: they use a semaphore.
A rudimentary form of sign language, which is the semaphore, is used by frogs to convey basic messages, such as a desire to mate or a warning of the approach of natural enemies. The males of these frogs also make whistling sounds, despite the fact that these sounds are practically useless due to the fact that this species of frog does not have eardrums.
6. Phallostethus Cuulong
Photo: L.X. Tran
Found as recently as 2009 to be precise, a fish species called Phallostethus cuulong is one of the very few fish species in which eggs are fertilized in the body of a female. In order to facilitate this process, males have developed a penis, which is located on their head. At its end is a saw-like hook that males attach to females during mating.
To keep up with males, females have developed their reproductive organs in their mouths, at the back of their throats. The hook used by males is very useful, as it greatly increases the chances of successful fertilization.
5. Bearded man (Lammergeier)
The name of this species is translated from German as "lamb hawk", which is quite appropriate, given the myths and legends about the ferocity with which they hunt small animals, and even children (although this is most likely fiction). One happy, or vice versa, unfortunate bird, depending on whether you like ancient Greek plays, contributed to the death of Aeschylus (Aeschylus). One of their main sources of nutrition is bone marrow, a food that is incredibly difficult to obtain.
In order to get precious food from the bones of corpses, bearded men throw bones from a height of approximately 80 meters, in the hope that they will hit stones and break.
4. Marcgravia Evenia
'Marcgravia evenia' is a flowering climbing plant that is mainly found in the Cuban rainforest and is pollinated mostly by bats. Due to the poor vision of bats over long distances, this plant has developed a specific trait that helps it stand out to its pollinators. The saucer-shaped leaves that grow above the flowering part of the plant serve as a sort of radar antenna reflector to echolocate the bats, allowing the bats to find them much faster.
Due to the rarity of this plant, as well as the fact that individual plants are scattered over a large area, any reduction in the time it takes bats to find a plant is very beneficial to it. Scientists used leaves from the vine of this plant to test bats and their ability to find hidden food, and found that the leaves reduced search time by 50 percent. In comparison, a regular sheet reduced this time by only 6 percent.
3 Spotted Salamander
A relatively widespread and unassuming animal, the spotted salamander has one of the most unique characteristics in the animal kingdom: it is the first vertebrate known to science that can use photosynthesis. For many years, scientists believed that algae, which have a symbiotic relationship with spotted salamander embryos, were responsible for the chlorophyll that was found in the bodies of the lizards.
However, Canadian researchers recently discovered that the pigments needed for photosynthesis were actually inside the cells of the spotted salamander. What's more, they found that the embryos that interacted with the algae were much more likely to survive and grew much faster.
2 Cassowary Plum
Endemic to New Guinea and the Australian tropics of North Queensland, the cassowary plum is a small tree that grows a highly toxic fruit that is dangerous to almost all animals, including humans. There is only one creature that can eat cassowary plums, and you probably already guessed from the name of the plant that this creature is the cassowary, a large flightless bird. As with most fruits, the seeds of the fruit are encased in a fleshy pulp and they pass through the digestive system of cassowaries without problems due to the fact that the digestive system of these birds is very short and quickly digests food.
In addition, the enzymes contained in the intestines of this bird neutralize the toxicity of the seeds. There is another small rodent that can eat cassowary plum fruit, but it also eats the seeds, which does not help the plant spread. Unfortunately, at the moment, the cassowary itself and the cassowary plum are on the verge of extinction. They may soon disappear if appropriate measures are not taken to protect their habitat.
1London Underground Mosquito
The London Underground system is a breeding ground for an entirely new type of mosquito that branched off from its land-based relatives in a process that took only a hundred years (much less than the thousands of years that evolution normally takes). During the construction of the subway, mosquitoes now known as "Culex Pipiens molestus" entered the tunnels and began to gradually become a separate species.
First, the original version of this mosquito fed exclusively on the blood of birds, but this new species also feeds on rodents and humans. In addition, they have changed their breeding process to better adapt to their new habitat. Normal mosquitoes need to feed on blood first to lay their eggs, but London Underground mosquitoes lay eggs first, as food is hard to come by. Finally, and worst of all for humans, they are active all year round, unlike most mosquito species that hibernate during the winter. Luckily, they cannot interbreed with their surface ancestors, so they mostly stay in the subway system.
Dorcas gazelle is a frisky and hardy animal that can reach speeds of almost 100 kilometers per hour. These gazelles live in deserts from Africa to China.
Appearance of gazelle-dorcas
Dorcas gazelle is slender and small in size. The color of the back of the gazelle is fawn, and the lower part of the body is lighter. There is a pattern of light and dark stripes on the head, one longitudinal strip runs along the sides, and the tip of the tail is black.
The body length of the Dorcas gazelle ranges from 90-110 centimeters, and the weight reaches 15-20 kilograms.
In males, skin folds may form on the bridge of the nose with age. Lyre-shaped horns are usually present in both sexes. Their surface is with transverse annular ledges. In length, the horns of males reach 25-38 centimeters, while in females they are thinner, straighter, their surface is not so ribbed, and they do not exceed 15-25 centimeters in length.
Continuation of the genus of gazelles-dorcas
Pregnancy in female gazelle-dorcas lasts 6 months. More often 1 baby is born, but sometimes there can be twins. After 2-3 months, the cubs stop eating milk. In females, puberty occurs at 9 months, males mature later - at 18 months. Dorcas gazelles live up to 12.5 years.
Adaptability of dorcas gazelles to difficult desert conditions
These gazelles are one of the most adapted to life in the harsh conditions of the desert: they can not drink water at all, but get moisture from plant foods. They eat various herbs, flowers, leaves and shoots.
They are able to survive at very high temperatures. On too hot days, they are active in the morning or during the night.
In search of food, dorcas gazelles have to travel long distances, they gather in those places where a large amount of rainfall has contributed to the growth of greenery.
Dorcas gazelles lifestyle
Males mark their territory with dung heaps, leaving them around the perimeter and wetting them with urine.
If the gazelles are in danger, they make sounds reminiscent of the quacking of ducks. They make such sounds with their noses, Speke's gazelles use similar signaling methods, but they are less successful.
Dorcas gazelles live in families. In mixed herds, up to 100 heads can graze, and in same-sex herds, up to 40 individuals.
Dorcas gazelle
The graceful dorcas gazelle is most common in northern Africa and the Middle East. These graceful and shy animals amaze with their elegance and soft, deep look. Together with other gazelles, the dorcas gazelle brings life to the monotonous desert landscape. Unfortunately, these days, the gazelle dorcas is becoming less and less common. If hunting is not controlled, the species may be in danger of extinction. With a body length of one meter and a height of up to 60 cm, this animal weighs about 15-20 kg.
Location
Dorcas gazelle inhabits open spaces. Most of all, semi-deserts, deserts and steppes suit her. The southern border of the dorcas range reaches the Sahel zone, the northern border reaches the Mediterranean coast. In the Middle East, the distribution area of the species borders on the mountain belt. In Israel, dorcas gazelles live in the territories of closed military complexes. They prefer sandy areas with scattered trees that cast shade. Animals are found in rocky deserts and hot salt marshes. Dorcas often live in herds of more than 40 individuals.
Lifestyle
Each male occupies a separate area where mating takes place. During the mating season male gazelle dorcas pay great attention to the protection of individual territories. They devote most of the day to going around their possessions, leaving marks on the borders, the function of which is performed by excrement (urine and feces). In order to mark the site, the male Dorcas gazelle first digs a hole with his front hooves, then takes a few steps forward, and puts his hind limbs and belly on the ground. The hind limbs also move forward, the male passes urine and leaves a pile of feces. A similar ritual is also observed in other gazelles, but among dorcas it is most expressive. Females stay in herds during the breeding season. Some of them at this time still live with cubs that were born in the previous season. At other times of the year, dorcas gazelles live in mixed herds, sometimes consisting of individuals of different ages. Most ungulates that live in deserts and semi-deserts have a highly developed herd instinct, and individuals of the same species, with the exception of adult males, stay in groups. This way of life avoids many dangers for their lives..jpg"> 
Dorcas gazelle is a typical herbivore. She goes out for feeding in the morning and in the evening, when the air becomes cooler. Dorcas gazelle feeds on grass, leaves and young shoots of trees and shrubs. When choosing food, animals are primarily guided by the following principle: they eat the greenest and most common plants in the area. Therefore, in spring, gazelles graze in the meadows, feeding on grass, and at other times of the year they feed on leaves. Dorcas gazelles roam constantly and without haste in search of food. In the endless desert, gazelles travel in small groups. Where there are no plants at all, gazelles maintain vitality by feeding on invertebrates such as locusts. These unpretentious animals survive even in very harsh conditions, which not every animal can withstand. Dorcas gazelles drink little and can go without water sources for a long time, being content with the moisture contained in green fodder.
Interesting facts from the life of animals
When dorcas gazelles were hunted with hounds and birds of prey: the birds grabbed them by the horns, attacking from the air, and the dogs from below. The horns of the gazelle dorcas were considered a valuable trophy. The word "dorcas" comes from the ancient Greek language. At first, the capricorn was called so, and only at a later time they began to designate one of the types of gazelles - the gazelle-dorcas. Like other small antelopes, the dorcas gazelle is capable of jumping up on all four legs at once. In grassy areas, this signal warns other animals of danger. In the paintings of ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 2000 BC, images of the gazelle-dorcas, which the Egyptians bred as a pet, were found.
The number of African dorcas gazelles is low; only a few herds of this species live in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. In the Central Asian part, the range of dorcas coincides with the range of the common gazelle.
(Linnaeus, 1758)
An excerpt characterizing Gazelle Dorcas
“Have you really been expelled from there too, Isidora?” Caraffa laughed in surprise.“No, Holiness, I was invited to stay. I left on my own...
- It can not be! There is no such person who would not want to stay there, Isidora!
- Well, why not? And my father, Holiness?
I don't believe he was allowed to. I think he should have left. It's just that his time is probably over. Or the Gift wasn't strong enough.
It seemed to me that he was trying, by all means, to convince himself of what he really wanted to believe.
- Not all people love only themselves, you know ... - I said sadly. “There is something more important than power or strength. There is still love in the world...
Caraffa brushed me off like an annoying fly, as if I had just uttered some complete nonsense ...
- Love does not control the world, Isidora, well, but I want to control it!
– A person can do everything... until he starts trying, Your Holiness – I “bite” without restraining myself.
And remembering something that she definitely wanted to know, she asked:
– Tell me, Your Holiness, do you know the truth about Jesus and Magdalene?
– Do you mean that they lived in Meteora? I nodded. - Surely! That was the first thing I asked them about!
– How is this possible?!.. – I asked dumbfounded. – Did you also know that they were not Jews? Caraffa nodded again. – But you don’t talk about it anywhere, do you? Nobody knows about it! And what about the TRUTH, Your Holiness?! ..
- Do not make me laugh, Isidora! .. - Caraffa laughed sincerely. You are a real child! Who needs your "truth"? .. The crowd that never looked for it?! .. No, my dear, Truth is needed only by a handful of thinking people, and the crowd should just "believe", well, what - it no longer has much values. The main thing is that people obey. And what is presented to them at the same time is already secondary. The TRUTH is dangerous, Isidora. Where the Truth is revealed, doubts appear, well, where doubts arise, a war begins... I am waging MY war, Isidora, and so far it gives me real pleasure! The world has always been based on a lie, you see... The main thing is that this lie should be interesting enough to be able to lead "narrow-minded" minds... And believe me, Isidora, if at the same time you start proving to the crowd the real Truth that refutes them “faith” is unknown in what, and you will be torn to pieces, this same crowd ...
- Class: Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758 = Mammals
- Infraclass: Eutheria, Placentalia Gill, 1872 = Placental, higher animals
- Superorder: Ungulata = Ungulates
- Order: Artiodactyla Owen, 1848= Artiodactyls, artiodactyls
- Suborder: Ruminantia Scopoli, 1777 = Ruminants
- Family: Bovidae (Cavicornia) Gray, 1821 = Bovids
Species: Gazella dorcas Linnaeus = Gazelle-dorcas
Gazelle dorcas (Photo by F.Charmoy)
Gazelle Dorcas is a small slender animal with a fawn back and a lighter underside, with the so-called. a facial pattern of dark and light stripes on the head, a dark longitudinal stripe on the sides and a black end of the tail. In older males, skin folds may appear on the bridge of the nose.
Lyre-shaped horns, usually present in both sexes, are covered with annular transverse projections, especially pronounced at the base. In males, they curve back at an acute angle and curve slightly upward at the ends, reaching 25-38 cm in length. In females, the horns are much thinner and more straight, with less ribbed lengths up to 15-25 cm.
Body length: 90-110 cm, withers height: 55-65cm, tail length: 15-20 cm, weight: 15-20 kg. Pregnancy period: About 6 months. In litter 1, rarely 2 cubs, which after 2-3 months stop feeding on milk. Puberty in the female occurs at 9 months, in the male at 18 months.
Life span: up to 12.5 years. One of the most adapted gazelles to life in the desert, Dorcas gazelles can live their whole lives without drinking water, getting all the moisture they need from the plant foods they eat. They can withstand very high temperatures, although during the hot season they are active at dawn, dusk, and all night. Herds of gazelles travel long distances in search of food and congregate in areas where the amount of rainfall has stimulated vegetation growth.
Adult males mark the territory with dung heaps along the perimeter, on which he also urinates. The alarm call of Dorcas gazelles, similar to the quacking of a duck, is made by the animal's nose, which inflates during the process. Speke's gazelles use a similar method, although not so successfully. Dorcas gazelles live in family groups. Same-sex animals graze in herds of up to 40 animals, mixed herds of up to 100.
These are very frisky antelopes, reaching speeds of almost 100 km / h. They live in deserts and semi-deserts from North Africa to China. Food for gazals is grasses, leaves, flowers, fleshy shoots.
Main enemies: cheetah, lion, leopard, hyena, python.
Based on materials from the site http://www.ultimateungulate.com/gazelledorc.html