Arabian Mountain Gazelle

Found on the gravel plains, the sand deserts and the mountains is the Arabian mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella cora ). Its natural range extended right across the northern Emirates, only avoiding the very soft sandy areas of the Liwa into which only the sand gazelle would venture. It has a delicate body, weighing only 10 to 14 kgs and can reach speeds of 65 kms per hour if it needs to escape danger. The mountain gazelle has a pure white belly with a dark to black stripe on its flanks that changes to dark beige or brown on the back, the neck and the head. The facial markings consist of various shades of brown with two white stripes extending from the eyes towards the nostrils. Females give birth to their single fawn during any month, but with natural peaks in spring and autumn. Most grazing activity takes place at dawn and dusk. They rest during the hottest hours of the day under any shelter available, which may be a cave for those that inhabit the mountains.

Usually moving in small groups of four to six animals, they are highly territorial, with the dominant male continuously marking its territory with a wax-like substance which it produces in glands below the eyes. The substance is deposited by rubbing its head against a bush, a branch or a stone. The group also maintains several places within its territory which they establish as "toilets". The animals usually only defecate and urinate at these sites. As with oryx and sand gazelle they do not need to drink water, but will readily do so if water is available.