The antelope resembles deer in Africa, parts of America, and Asia.
Several antelope species, including Royal antelopes, are the same height as rabbits.
Unlike deers that can renew their horns yearly, antelopes carry strong horns throughout their lifetime.
Antelopes are herbivores and members of the Bovidae family that aren’t categorized as cattle, sheep, or goats.
Below is everything you need to know about this agile mammal.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Artiodactyla
- Infraorder: Pecora
- Family: Bovidae
- Diet: Herbivore
- Weight: 1,100lbs – 2,000lbs (500kg – 900kg)
- Top Speed: 43mph (70km/h)
- Lifespan: 10 – 25 years
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Color: Red, Brown, and tan
- Skin Type: Fur
- Habitat: Forest and grasslands
- Main Prey: Seeds, grass, shoots
- Main predators: Cheetah, Lion, crocodile
- Scientific Name: Alcelaphinae
Description
Antelopes are deer-like herbivores that are enormously different in size, depending on their species. Their large ears, long legs, and slender neck give them a gallant appearance.
Antelopes have horns with a bone core covered in keratin (the same substance that makes our fingernails and hair). Unlike deers that shed their antlers annually, antelope horns are permanent.
Male antelopes always have their horns; however, the females don’t have horns in some species. Some species have their horns form in intricate spirals, others grow corrugated ridged, and some could grow into wide sweeping, sharp, pointy arcs. Their horns can grow as long as 1.5 m (5 ft).
Habitat
Antelopes are distributed in a variety of habitats. Naturally, mostly in Africa, antelopes can be found in grassland plains and Savannahs.
Some species live in woodlands or forests; others can survive in deserts, “hot” or “cold,” or rocky areas. At least two semi-aquatic antelope species are dwelling in wetlands or swamps.
Distribution
Antelopes can be found in parts of the Americas and Asia but dominate large parts of Africa.
Diet
Almost all species of antelope are herbivores and would only eat plant material. Nevertheless, some reports show that Duiker species have been seen eating birds. Insects and smaller mammals.
Domestication
There has been very little success in the farming of antelopes. Attempts to domesticate antelopes have been grossly unsuccessful. This is partly because they are challenging to tame and can easily escape by jumping over high fences.
Behavior
Both male and female antelope possess an active scent gland right in front of each eye, known as the pre-orbital gland.
They sometimes leave scents by rubbing their scent on stones, twigs, trees, and each other. There are also scent glands on their knees and between their hooves.
Some species of antelope display a spectacular behavior known as “pronking” or “stotting.”
When pronking, they spring very high into the air, stiffening their legs as they arch their backs while pointing their face toward the ground.
There are many theories as to why these hoppers behave this way. One is that antelopes inform their predators not to chase them because they are challenging to catch.
Reproduction
Antelopes reach sexual maturity at approximately six to seven months old, with males developing more slowly than females.
Depending on the species of antelopes, their gestation period usually lasts between four and nine months. Occasionally, females would give birth to twin calves but would generally give birth to a single calf.
In some species, mother antelopes would leave her herd to give birth in a well-protected place and occasionally return to nurse her baby; the new calf would then join the herd after about a week.
Size
The tallest antelope, the Eland, stands 130 to 180 cm (4 to 6 feet) at the shoulder and is in direct contrast to the smallest antelopes, known as the Royal antelope, which are about the same height as rabbits.
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