The use of the tail and rump patch in the dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas L.)

Abstract

The dorcas gazelle shows different visual patterns of rump patch in different animal activities. So, during the calmness situations or friendly social relationships, the individuals maintain the hanging tail position. When alert the tail is still hanging due to the fact that it is frightened. When exploring, tail mobility increases with the locomotive activity. In maximum stress situations, when taking flight, the tend tends to be upright. Moreover, there is a tendency, more distinct in the young than in the females, to raise the tail to a vertical position, when there is a marked upward body movement (stotting and galloping), and to hold it horizontal when this is not the case (strutting and trotting).