368 Great and Small Game of Africa 



THE DIBATAG 



Genus Ammodorcas 



The antelope locally known as the dibatag, and by many sportsmen as 

 Clarke's gazelle (A. clarket), agrees with the true gazelles in general 

 characters, and especially in the face-markings, but differs markedly in the 

 form of the horns, which curve forwards, somewhat in the manner of those 

 of the common reedbuck, and have long, smooth points. The neck is 

 somewhat elongated, and the tail relatively long and thin. The females 

 are hornless. 



Dibatag or Clarke's Gazelle {Ammodorcas clarkei) 



Found in Somaliland, East Africa 



Native Name, Debotag, Dibatag, or Diptag 



The debotag is a very graceful antelope, with glossy coat of a purplish- 

 gray colour, making these animals rather hard to see, as it matches the 

 surrounding country. The head has gazelle-like markings, with white 

 round the eyes and a white line to the muzzle. The inner parts of the 

 ears, chin, belly, and rump are also white. 



Weight of adult males (less loss of blood), 65 to 70 lbs. ; females 

 (less loss of blood), 50 to 62 lbs. ; the latter large and fat. Height of 

 male at shoulder, 33 inches ; girth close to shoulder, 26-j inches ; girth 

 round belly, 30^ inches ; from nose to tip of tail, 5 feet 5 inches. 



Debotag have a very long thin tail, and when running throw it up 

 and forward. The neck is very long and arched backwards, so that the 

 head and tail nearly meet. 



Horns evenly curved upwards and forwards ; average length 10 inches. 



