Antelope
Blackbuck antelope
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae
Genera
Aepyceros Alcelaphus Antidorcas Antilope Cephalophus Connochaetes Damaliscus Gazella Hippotragus Kobus Madoqua Neotragus Oreotragus Oryx Ourebia Pantholops Procapra Sylvicapra Taurotragus Tragelaphus and others Look up antelope in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) An Impala (Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos high ceros horn + melas black pous foot) is a medium-sized African antelope, weighing about 50 kg. ... Binomial name Alcelaphus buselaphus Pallas, 1766 The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. ... Binomial name Antidorcas marsupialis (Zimmermann, 1780) The Springbok (Afrikaans: spring = jump; bok = antelope, deer, or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small brown and white antelope that stands about 75 cm high. ... Binomial name Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus, 1758) The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also called Indian Blackbuck antelope or Sasin, is a small antelope native to Northern India, Pakistan and Nepal. ... Genera Cephalophus Sylvicapra A duiker is any of about 19 small to medium-sized antelope species native to sub-Saharan Africa. ... Species Connochaetes taurinus Connochaetes gnou Reference: The Columbia Encyclopedia The wildebeest (from Dutch wild animal), also called gnu (pronounced or ), is a large hooved (ungulate) mammal of the genus Connochaetes, which includes two species, both native to Africa: the Black Wildebeest (), and the Blue & White-bearded Wildebeest or Blue Wildebeest... Species Damaliscus lunatus Damaliscus pygargus Damaliscus is a genus of antelope in the family Bovidae, subfamily Alcelaphinae. ... Species Several, see text A gazelle is an antelope of the genus Gazella. ... Species Hippotragus equinus Hippotragus niger Hippotragus is a genus of antelope. ... Genera Kobus Redunca Waterbucks and Reedbucks are found in the sub-family Reduncinae, which contains 8 species of antelope all of which dwell in marshes, floodplains or other well-watered areas. ... The dik-dik is a small antelope named for the sound it makes when alarmed that lives in the brush of southern and eastern Africa. ... Species Neotragus batesi Neotragus moschatus Neotragus pygmaeus Neotragus is a genus of antelope. ... Binomial name Oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmerman,, 1783) The Klipspringer (literally rock jumper in Afrikaans), Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small African antelope that lives from the Cape of Good Hope all the way up East Africa and into Ethiopia. ... Species Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835 Oryx dammah Cretzschmar, 1827 Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) Oryx leucoryx Pallas, 1766 An Oryx is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight almost upright or swept back horns. ... Binomial name Ourebia ourebia (Zimmermann, 1783) The oribi is an African antelope. ... ... Binomial name Sylvicapra grimmia (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common Duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, also known as the Gray or Bush Duiker, is a small antelope with small horns found in west, central, east, and southern Africa. ... Species Taurotragus oryx Taurotragus derbianus Taurotragus is a genus of antelopes, containing two species: the Common Eland, and the Giant Eland. ... Species T. spekeii T. angasii T. scriptus T. buxtoni T. imberbis T. strepsiceros T. eurycerus The genus Tragelaphus contains several species of bovine, all of which are reletivly antelope-like. ...

Antelope are herbivorous mammals of the family Bovidae, often noted for their horns. These animals are spread relatively evenly throughout the various subfamilies of the Bovidae and many are more closely related to cows or goats than to each other. There are many species of antelope, ranging in size from the tiny Royal Antelope to the elands. They typically have a light and elegant frame, slender, graceful limbs, small cloven hoofs, and a short tail. Antelope have powerful hindquarters and, when startled, they run with a peculiar bounding stride that makes them look as though they are bouncing over the terrain like giant rabbits. Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria Mammals (class Mammalia) are warm-blooded, vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of sweat glands, including those that produce milk, and by the presence of: hair, three middle ear bones used in hearing, and a neocortex... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... ... Binomial name Neotragus pygmaeus L., 1758 The Royal Antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is a very small West African antelope, only 25-30 cm tall, and the smallest of all antelopes. ... Species Taurotragus oryx Taurotragus derbianus Taurotragus is a genus of antelopes, containing two species: the Common Eland, and the Giant Eland. ...

Species

There are about 90 species of antelope in about 30 genera, of which about 15 are endangered. These include:

blackbuck antelope have been imported into the United States, primarily for the purpose of "exotic game hunts", common in Texas. There are no true antelope native to the Americas. The Pronghorn "Antelope" of the Great Plains belongs to family Antilocapridae. The Mongolian Gazelle (Procapra gutturosa), sometimes classified as an antelope, can run with a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Suni are small antelope that live in south-eastern Africa. They stand 12–17 inches high at the shoulder. They are very similar to the dik-dik in size, shape, and color but have many smaller differences. Binomial name Addax nasomaculatus (Blainville, 1816) The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a critically endangered desert antelope that lives in several isolated regions in the Sahara. ... Binomial name Hippotragus leucophaeus Pallas, 1766 The bluebuck or blue antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus) is an extinct species of antelope, the first large African mammal to disappear in historic times, related to the roan antelope and sable antelope, but slightly smaller than both. ... Binomial name Tragelaphus eurycerus Ogilby, 1837 The Bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus is a large African forest antelope species. ... Binomial name Damaliscus pygargus Pallas, 1767 The Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus also the Blesbok) is an antelope found in South Africa and Lesotho. ... Binomial name Taurotragus oryx Pallas, 1766 The Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) is a savannah and plain antelope found in East and Southern Africa. ... The dik-dik is a small antelope named for the sound it makes when alarmed that lives in the brush of southern and eastern Africa. ... Genera Cephalophus Sylvicapra A duiker is any of about 19 small to medium-sized antelope species native to sub-Saharan Africa. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Binomial name Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878) The Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri) is an antelope-like animal, closely related to the gazelle, found in East Africa. ... Binomial name Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large African oryx antelope. ... Binomial name Alcelaphus buselaphus Pallas, 1766 The Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) is a grassland antelope found in West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. ... Binomial name Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) An impala (Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos high ceros horn + melas black pous foot) is a medium-sized African antelope. ... Binomial name Oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmerman, 1783) The Klipspringer (literally rock jumper in Afrikaans), Oreotragus oreotragus, also known colloquially as a mvundla (from Xhosa umvundla, meaning rabbit), is a small African antelope that lives from the Cape of Good Hope all the way up East Africa and into Ethiopia. ... Male Greater Kudu Female Greater Kudu The Kudu are two species of antelope: Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros Kudu: has a symbolic role in Hindu and Buddhist architecture. ... Binomial name Tragelaphus angasii Gray, 1849 Male nyala. ... Binomial name Ourebia ourebi Zimmermann, 1782 // Oribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Species Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835 Oryx dammah Cretzschmar, 1827 Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) Oryx leucoryx Pallas, 1766 An Oryx is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight almost upright or swept back horns. ... Binomial name (Forster, 1790) The Grey Rhebok or Grey Rhebuck (Pelea capreolus, locally known as the Vaal Rhebok or Vaalribbok) is a species of antelope endemic to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. ... Binomial name Hippotragus equinus Desmarest, 1804 The Roan Antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is a grassland antelope found in West, Central,East Africa and Southern Africa. ... Binomial name Neotragus pygmaeus L., 1758 The Royal Antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is a very small West African antelope, only 25-30 cm tall, and the smallest of all antelopes. ... Binomial name Hippotragus niger Harris, 1838 The Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger) is an antelope that inhabits wooded savannah in East Africa south of Kenya, and in Southern Africa. ... Binomial name (Zimmermann, 1780) Range map For other meanings of Springbok, see Springbok The Springbok (Afrikaans and Dutch: spring = jump; bok = antelope, deer, or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high. ... Suni (Scientific name: Neotragus moschatus) are the smallest antelopes in the world. ... Binomial name Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel, 1826) The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a medium-sized bovid which is about 1. ... Binomial name Damaliscus lunatus Burchell, 1823 Topi standing in Masai Mara The Topi, or Tsessebe, as it is called in Southern Africa, (Damaliscus lunatus also known as Tiang or Korrigum) is a savannah and floodplain antelope found in Sudan, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, and Southern Africa. ... Binomial name Kobus ellipsiprymnus (Ogilby, 1833) The Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is an antelope found in Western, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. ... Species Connochaetes gnou Connochaetes taurinus The wildebeest (plural, wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (pronounced or ), is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. ... For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Binomial name Antilocapra americana Ord, 1815 Subspecies The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae, and the fastest mammal in North America running at speeds of 58 mph (90 km/h). ... Binomial name Antilocapra americana Ord, 1815 The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae, and the fastest land animal in North America running at speeds up to 54 mph (90 km/h). ... Binomial name (Pallas, 1777) The Zeren or Mongolian gazelle Procapra gutturosa is a medium-sized antelope native to the steppe and semi-arid regions of Mongolia and adjacent areas of China and southern Siberia. ... Suni (Scientific name: Neotragus moschatus) are the smallest antelopes in the world. ... The dik-dik is a small antelope named for the sound it makes when alarmed that lives in the brush of southern and eastern Africa. ...

Antelope are not a cladistic group in and of themselves, but rather are a sort of miscellaneous group. The term is used loosely to describe all members of the family Bovidae which do not fall under the category of sheep, cattle, or goat. Native antelope can be found in Eurasia and Africa. Species See text. ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... This article is about the domestic species. ... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Classification

There are at least two classification systems at the subfamily level of the Bovidae. In the "lumped" system (of, e.g., Kingdon 1997), antelope occur in both subfamilies—the Bovinae (alongside the cattle) and the Antilopinae (alongside the sheep and goats). The alternative classification of 10 subfamilies is given under "Bovid" in this encyclopaedia—in this classification, antelope occur in 9 of the 10 subfamilies (one of which is the single-species subfamily of the Tibetan Antelope). ... Subfamilies Bovinae Cephalophinae Hippotraginae Antilopinae Caprinae A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. ... Binomial name Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel, 1826) The Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii) is a medium-sized bovid which is about 1. ...

Distribution

Antelopes occur naturally in Eurasia and Africa. Although there are native cattle, goats and sheep (and the non-bovid Pronghorn) in North America, antelopes themselves are absent from the Americas (although Blackbuck and Gemsbok have been introduced onto ranches in the USA). For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Binomial name Antilocapra americana Ord, 1815 Subspecies The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae, and the fastest mammal in North America running at speeds of 58 mph (90 km/h). ... For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large African oryx antelope. ...

Physical characteristics

The characteristics of bovids in general are: long legs; even number of hoofed toes (as per all even-toed ungulates); in most species the males are horned, and in some species the females are also; most have horizontally oriented pupils; they ruminate. Families Suidae Hippopotamidae Tayassuidae Camelidae Tragulidae Moschidae Cervidae Giraffidae Antilocapridae Bovidae The even-toed ungulates form the mammal order Artiodactyla. ... Highland cow, a very old long-horned breed from Scotland. ... The human eye The pupil is the central transparent area (showing as black). ... Ruminate: to digest food in two steps, first by eating the raw material and regurgitating a semi-digested form known as cud, then eating the cud. ...

These basic characteristics, however, mask huge differences in appearance between antelopes, cattle, goats and sheep, and among the antelopes themselves. For example, a male Common Eland can measure 178 cm at the shoulder and weigh almost 950 kg, whereas an adult Royal Antelope may stand only 24 cm at the shoulder and weigh a mere 1.5 kg. Binomial name Taurotragus oryx Pallas, 1766 The Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) is a savannah and plain antelope found in East and Southern Africa. ... Binomial name Neotragus pygmaeus L., 1758 The Royal Antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) is a very small West African antelope, only 25-30 cm tall, and the smallest of all antelopes. ...

Not surprisingly for animals with long slender yet powerful legs, antelopes have long strides and can run fast. They can jump well, but few (e.g. Klipspringer) are adapted to climbing. Both Dibatags and Gerenuks habitually stand on their two hind legs to reach acacia and other tree foliage. Binomial name Oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmerman, 1783) The Klipspringer (literally rock jumper in Afrikaans), Oreotragus oreotragus, also known colloquially as a mvundla (from Xhosa umvundla, meaning rabbit), is a small African antelope that lives from the Cape of Good Hope all the way up East Africa and into Ethiopia. ... The dibatag, or Clarks gazelle, Ammodorcas clarkei, is an antelope found in sandy grasslands of Ethiopia and Somalia. ... Binomial name Litocranius walleri (Brooke, 1878) The Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri) is an antelope-like animal, closely related to the gazelle, found in East Africa. ... For other uses, see Acacia (disambiguation). ...

Antelopes have a dense coat of short fur. In most species, the coat (pelage) is some variation of a brown colour (or several shades of brown); often with white or pale under-bodies. Exceptions include the zebra-marked Zebra Duiker, the grey, black and white Jentink's Duiker and the Black Lechwe. Most of the "spiral-horned" antelopes have pale vertical stripes on their backs. Many desert and sub-desert species are particularly pale, some almost silvery or whitish (e.g. Arabian Oryx); the Beisa and Southern Oryxes have gray and black pelage with vivid black-and-white faces. Common features of various gazelles are a white rump, which flashes a warning to others when they run from danger, and a dark stripe mid-body (the latter feature is also shared by the Springbok and Beira). The Springbok also has a pouch of white brushlike hairs running along its back, which opens up when the animal senses danger, causing the dorsal hairs to stand on end. Binomial name Cephalophus zebra Gray, 1838 The Zebra Duiker (Cephalophus zebra), is a small antelope found in Ivory Coast, and Liberia. ... Binomial name Cephalophus jentinki Thomas, 1892 Jentinks Duiker (Cephalophus jentinki also known as Gidi-Gidi in Krio, and Kaikulowulei in Mende) is a forest dwelling Duiker found in the southern parts of Liberia, south-western Côte dIvoire, and scattered enclaves in Sierra Leone. ... Binomial name Kobus leche Gray, 1850 A female Lechwe flying over a patch of clear water early in the morning in Okavango Delta The Lechwe, or Southern Lechwe, (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in Okavango Delta of Botswana, the Kafue Flats and Bengwelu Swamps of Zambia, and the very... Binomial name Pallas, 1766 The Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a bovid and the smallest member of Oryx genus, native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian peninsula. ... Binomial name Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835 The East African Oryx (Oryx beisa, also known as the Beisa Oryx) occurs in two subspecies, Beisa Oryx Oryx beisa beisa found in steppe and semi-desert throughout the Horn of Africa and north of the Tana River, and Fringe-eared Oryx Oryx... Binomial name Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) The gemsbok or gemsbuck (Oryx gazella) is a large African antelope, of the Oryx genus. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Binomial name Dorcatragus megalotis Menges, 1894 The Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis) is a small antelope that inhabits arid regions of Somalia, Djibouti and eastern Ethiopia. ... Binomial name (Zimmermann, 1780) Range map For other meanings of Springbok, see Springbok The Springbok (Afrikaans and Dutch: spring = jump; bok = antelope, deer, or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high. ...

Antelopes are ruminants, and thus have well-developed molar teeth, which grind cud (food balls stored in the stomach) into a pulp for further digestion. They have no upper incisors, but rather a hard upper gum pad, against which their lower incisors bite to tear grass stems and leaves. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ruminantia. ... Molar 47 (left), molar 46 and premolar 45(right) Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. ... Cud is a portion of food that returns from a ruminants stomach in the mouth to be chewed for the second time. ...

Like many other herbivores, antelopes rely on keen senses to avoid predators. Their eyes are placed on the sides of their heads, giving them a broad radius of vision with minimal binocular vision. The fact that most species have their pupils elongated horizontally also helps in this respect. Acute senses of smell and hearing, give antelope the ability to perceive danger at night out in the open (when predators are often on the prowl). These same senses play an important role in contact between individuals of the same species: markings on head, ears, legs and rumps are used in such communication—many species "flash" such markings, as well as their tails; vocal communications include loud barks, whistles, "moos" and trumpeting; many species also use scent marking to define their territories or simply to maintain contact with their relatives and neighbours. A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ...

In most species, both sexes have horns—but those of males tend to be larger. Size and shape of horns varies immensely. Those of the duikers and dwarf antelopes tend to be simple "spikes", but differ in the angle to the head from backward curved and backward pointing (e.g. Yellow-backed Duiker) to straight and upright (e.g. Steenbok). Other groups have twisted (e.g. Common Eland), spiral (e.g. Greater Kudu), "recurved" (e.g. the reedbucks), lyrate (e.g. Impala), or long, curved (e.g. the oryxes) horns. Horns are efficient weapons and tend to be better developed in those species where males genuinely fight over females—horns are clashed in combat. Genera Cephalophus Sylvicapra A duiker is any of about 19 small to medium-sized antelope species native to sub-Saharan Africa. ... The Tribe Neotragini comprises the dwarf antelopes of Africa: Dorcatragus Beira Dorcatragus megalotis Madoqua Günthers Dik-dik Modoqua guntheri Kirks Dik-dik Madoqua kirkii Silver Dik-dik Madoqua piacentinii Salts Dik-dik Madoqua saltiana Neotragus Batess Pygmy Antelope Neotragus batesi Suni Neotragus moschatus Royal Antelope... Binomial name Cephalophus silvicultor (Afzelius, 1815) The Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor), is a antelope found in central and western Africa. ... Binomial name Raphicerus campestris Thunberg, 1811 The Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. ... Binomial name Taurotragus oryx Pallas, 1766 The Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) is a savannah and plain antelope found in East and Southern Africa. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Species Redunca arundinum Redunca fulvorufula Redunca redunca Reedbuck is a common name for African antelopes from the genus Reducna. ... Binomial name Aepyceros melampus (Lichtenstein, 1812) An impala (Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos high ceros horn + melas black pous foot) is a medium-sized African antelope. ... Species Oryx beisa Rüppell, 1835 Oryx dammah Cretzschmar, 1827 Oryx gazella (Linnaeus, 1758) Oryx leucoryx Pallas, 1766 An Oryx is one of three or four large antelope species of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight almost upright or swept back horns. ...

There is a tendency for males to be larger than the females; however, exceptions in which the females tend to be heavier than the males include the Bush Duiker, Dwarf Antelope, Cape Grysbok and Oribi, all rather small species. A number of species have hornless females (e.g. Sitatunga, Red Lechwe and Suni). In some species, the males and females have different coloured pelage (e.g. Blackbuck and Nyala). Binomial name Sylvicapra grimmia (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common Duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, also known as the Gray or Bush Duiker, is a small antelope with small horns found in west, central, east, and southern Africa. ... Binomial name Neotragus batesi de Winton, 1903 The Batess Pygmy Antelope (Neotragus batesi)—also known as the Dwarf Antelope or Bates Dwarf Antelope—is a very small antelope live in the moist forest and brush of Central and West Africa. ... Binomial name Raphicerus melanotis Thunberg, 1811 Southern or Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis) is a small antelope that inhabits the Western Cape region of South Africa between Albany and the Cedarberg Mountains. ... Binomial name Ourebia ourebi Zimmermann, 1782 // Oribi are graceful slender-legged, long-necked small antelope found in grassland almost throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Binomial name Tragelaphus spekeii Sclater, 1863 The sitatunga or marshbuck (Tragelaphus spekeii) is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout Central Africa centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Botswana and in Zambia. ... Binomial name Kobus leche Gray, 1850 A female Lechwe flying over a patch of clear water early in the morning in Okavango Delta The Lechwe, or Southern Lechwe, (Kobus leche) is an antelope found in Okavango Delta of Botswana, the Kafue Flats and Bengwelu Swamps of Zambia, and the very... Suni (Scientific name: Neotragus moschatus) are the smallest antelopes in the world. ... For other uses, see Blackbuck (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Tragelaphus angasii Gray, 1849 Male nyala. ...

It is difficult to determine how long antelope live in the wild. In captivity, wildebeest have lived beyond 20 years old, and Impalas have reached their late teens. In the wild, few individuals of prey species live to old age, as the old and weak fall easier prey to their predators; antelopes are no exception to this rule. Species Connochaetes gnou Connochaetes taurinus The wildebeest (plural, wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (pronounced or ), is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. ...

Behaviour

With food that does not move, antelopes (like other herbivors) do not need any great intelligence. However, they do need to be able to react quickly in the presence of a predator—thus, they tend to be fast runners. They are agile (able to execute fast turns on the run) and have good endurance (ability to keep running for some time)—these are advantages when pursued by sprint-dependent predators like cheetah, which are the fastest of land animals, but tire quickly. This article is about the animal. ...

Different species differ in their behaviour in the presence of predators, and these differences are often associated with habitat. For example, the Steenbok of open woodland will lie low until the last minute and then bound away. Plains-living species, such as gazelles, do not have this choice and must flee at speed when a predator approaches. Reaction distances vary with predator species and predator behaviour. For example, gazelles may not flee from a lion until it is closer than 200 m (650 ft)—lions hunt as a pride or by surprise, usually by stalking, one that can be seen clearly is unlikely to attack. However, sprint-dependent cheetahs will cause gazelles to flee at a range of over 800 m (0.5 mile). Binomial name Raphicerus campestris Thunberg, 1811 The Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Lion (disambiguation). ...

Species of forest, woodland or bush tend to be sedentary, but many of the plains species undertake huge migrations. These migrations enable grass-eating species to follow the rains and therefore their food supply. The gnus and gazelles of East Africa perform some of the most impressive mass migratory circuits of all mammals. Species Connochaetes gnou Connochaetes taurinus The wildebeest (plural, wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (pronounced or ), is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ...

Hybrid Antelope

A wide variety of antelope hybrids have been recorded in zoos. This is due to either a lack of more appropriate mates in enclosures shared with other species or a misidentification of species. The ease of hybridization shows how closely related some antelope species are. It is probable that some so-called species are actually variant populations of the same species and are prevented from hybridization in the wild by behavioural or geographical differences.

• A mating between a male Eland and a female Kudu produced a sterile male hybrid that resembled the Eland.
• Blue Wildebeest produce fertile hybrids with the smaller Black Wildebeest. This led to an entire herd of 180 "genetically contaminated" Black Wildebeest being destroyed in a wildlife conservation park (species purity is a human concept, nature is far more flexible).
• In the early 1900s the London Zoological Society hybridized several antelope species including: the water-bucks Kobus ellipsiprymnus and Kobus unctuosus, and the Selouss antelope Limnotragus seloussi with Limnotragus gratus.

Listed antelope hybrids include:

• Bongo/Sitatunga
• Lesser Kudu/Sitatunga
• Eland/Greater Kudu
• Blue Duiker/Maxwell's Duiker
• Bay Duiker/Red-flanked Duiker
• Bay Duiker/ Zebra Duiker
• Black Duiker/Kaffir Duiker
• Cape Hartebeest/Blesbok
• Bontebok/Blesbok
• Black Wildebeest/Blue Wildebeest
• Common Waterbuck/Defassa Waterbuck
• Defassa Waterbuck/Nile Lechwe
• Defassa Waterbuck/Kob
• Nile Lechwe/Kob
• Kafue Lechwe/Ellipsen Waterbuck
• Red-fronted Gazelle/Thomson's Gazelle
• Beisa Oryx/Fringe-eared Oryx
• Grant's Gazelle/Thomson's Gazelle
• Beisa Oryx/Gemsbok
• Arabian Oryx/Scimitar-horned Oryx
• Thomson's Gazelle/Roosevelt's Gazelle
• Slender-horned Gazelle/Persian Goitered Gazelle
• Persian Gazelle/Blackbuck
• Cuvier's Gazelle/Slender-horned Gazelle

Cultural aspects

The antelope's horn is prized for medicinal and magical powers in many places. The horn of the male saiga in Eastern practice is ground as an aphrodisiac, for which it has been hunted nearly to extinction. In the Congo, it is thought to confine spirits. Christian iconography sometimes uses the antelope's two horns as a symbol of the two spiritual weapons that Christians possess: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Their ability to run swiftly has also led to their association with the wind, such as in the Rig Veda, as the steeds of the Maruts and the wind god Vaya. Binomial name Saiga tatarica (Linnaeus, 1766) The saiga, or Saiga tatarica, is a kind of gazelle that lives in central Asia. ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh to refer to its canon, which corresponds to the Protestant Old Testament. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... For other uses, see Wind (disambiguation). ... The Rig Veda ऋग्वेद (Sanskrit ṛc praise + veda knowledge) is the earliest of the four Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas. ... In Hinduism the Maruts, also known as the Marutgana and the Rudras, are storm deities and sons of Rudra and Diti and attendants of Indra. ... Most experimental release by At The Drive-In, released 1999. ...

References

Kingdon, Jonathan. 1997. The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press, San Diego & London. Pp. 346–446. (ISBN 0-12-408355-2)

External links

• San Diego Zoo. Includes pictures.
• Eland. Includes pictures.
• Arizona Antelope Arizona Game and Fish Department
• African Wildlife Foundation's Hartebeest page. Include a dropdown menu of other antelope pages.

ardfygiipoiuytre[poiuytre The Arizona Game and Fish Department is tasked with conserving, enhancing, and restoring Arizonas diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs. ...