Antelope

Antelopes are known for their grace. As a swift runner of savannah, they are the second fastest animal of the land. Their slim bodies, long necks and expressive eyes enhanced their nobility. These hoofed mammals look graceful when they run and play tactics. They are playful animals and are recognized as mammals or grazers.

Scientific Classification of Antelope

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Artiodactyla
Family	Bovidae
Genus	Antilocapra

Different Species of Antelope

The antelope comprises 91 species with 30 genres in different parts of the world. These species are classified into subfamilies and tribes.

Bovinae

Tragelaphini (spiral-horned)
Boselaphini (Nilgai and four-horned antelopes)

Cephalophini

This family contains duikers.

Antilopinae

Neotragini (dwarf antelopes)

Antilopini (gazelle, springbok and blackbuck)
Hoppotragini (horse antelopes)
Reduncini (waterbuck, kobs, lechwes, reedbucks)

Alcelaphini (topis, hartebeests, wildebeests)

Due to the complexity, some species are described as true antelopes, including:

True Antelopes	Description
Gazelle	These small antelopes are found in Africa, the Subcontinent and Central Asia.
Nanger	It is a subspecies of the genus Gazella.
Eudorcas	It comprises five subspecies of the Gazella genus.
Blackbuck	A medium-sized, Indian Antelope that proceeds from India to Nepal.

Physical Characteristics

Size and Weight: Their size and weight appearance vary between species. Their sizes are similar to goats and deer. Antelopes are 10 inches to 6 feet long. Their males and females comprise 34 to 65 kg of weight.

Speed: Antelopes are speedsters and can cover 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Body: Their bodies are beautiful and fragile. The Royal antelope is the smallest in the species, and the Giant antelope is the largest. They have slender bodies, long necks and thin legs through which they cover a distance.

Horns: Antelope horns vary between species. These are curved, spiral, straight and long. All male antelopes have horns, while ⅔ of females have horns rather than all. Some species of males have horns.

Eyes: Their eyes are wide and expressive set back to head. Their eyes are round at 360 degrees but have dichromatic vision.

Coat colouration: Antelopes have pure and flat skin. Stripes on the antelopes’ bodies beautify their coats or skin. Their skin ranges from brown to white, black, and tan.

Distribution and Habitat

Antelopes are distributed worldwide based on their species and exist in Africa, Asia and Russia. Almost 71 species of antelopes are confined to their territories in Africa. About 25 to 40 species that cover most of East Africa. Fourteen 14 species of antelope exist in Asia. They are also found in Russia and Central Asia.

These nice-looking creatures live in savannahs. They spend their time in open woodlands, deserts, forests, swamps, and bushes. The sitatunga is an amphibious mammal that prefers to live in swamps. They maintain their habitat well by living in these environments.

Diet and Digestion

Antelopes are herbivores. Vegetation is their staple food but different species also feed other kinds of food. They eat shrubs, grasses, bushes and small trees. But duiker species feed on insects, birds and small mammals by killing them. In contrast, Royal Antelope eat fungi and fruit, when they wander alone at night.

Their stomach consists of four compartments through which Antelopes digest food and plants quickly. They store food balls in their stomach, which helps them in the absorption of food. They select only those parts of plants that are easy to digest. They don’t face complexity in their digestion.

Behavioral adaptations

Social Bonding

Antelopes tend to live in groups or pairs. They live in a social group called “Herds”. More individuals in a large group can be divided into small groups. A group consists of 3 to 10 individuals. Small herds of forest species contain two to four females and one male.

When juveniles are 3 years old, they are exiled from the group. They make their separate group known as the bachelor group. A dominant male chooses his territory and joins the group of females. They work in cooperation, which reinforces their social bond.

Camouflage

Antelopes use camouflage which helps them from predators. Their coats can blend with woodand grass. Kudu have coloured coats that evolved in woodland, helping them to protect themselves from predators. Some species move in herds. They have stripes on their bodies, making it difficult for predators to catch prey.

Communication

Antelopes are ruminants that produce different sounds, including grunts, moos, bellows and bleats. They have a strong sense of hearing and smell. Impalas scent their glands on hooves used to mark their territory and as an attraction for breeding. Antelopes release their scent glands to identify individuals or to give signals to the herd.

How do they detect predators?

Antelopes are rich in senses. They have strong senses of hearing, vision and smell. They hear the rustling of grass when predators try to prey on them. Antelopes have a sense of smell through which they detect predators like hyenas, lions, leopards, civets and wild dogs. Their eyes are round at 360 degrees and detect the movement of predators.

Reproduction and Parenting

Antelopes are the hoofed grazers. Their reproduction varies between different Antelopes. Females are known as dams. Female antelope gain sexual maturity at 8 months, but males and females both mate when they are 2 years old. Their gestation period is about 9 months. Dominant females mate with males in their territories. They give birth to one or two offspring at a time. Their kids are known as Calves.

After birth, Dam hides their babies in a separate place to avoid them from predators, when they move for grazing. They feed on their mother’s milk to be strong. When calves become younger, their mothers take them to the bushes, where they enjoy and learn how to graze and feed.

Ecological Importance

As hoofed grazers, they had a significant impact on the environment. All antelope species graze daily, which helps them in the maintenance of an ecosystem. Antelopes shape our plants by eating extra leaves, fruits and grass. When they defecate, their feces are helpful in planting.

Antelopes eat small mammals and insects, which can harm the ecosystem. Sometimes, they fall prey to lions and hyenas, which is benefits the earth. They are good indicators of maintaining habitat and the ecosystem by browsing.

Mortality Rate and Life Span

Mortality Rate among antelopes is high. In Kazakhstan, 2 Lacs antelopes died in 3 weeks. Roan and sable antelope mortality rates are 57% and 44%, respectively. Death chances of their offspring can lead to 80% and 62%. During defending their herds they can lead to injuries.

The life span of antelopes is 10 to 15 years. Elands can live up to 20 years. Many species live up to 25 years in the wild, while their life span is 10 years in the captivity. The Asian antelope spends 10 years in the wild and 21 years in captivity.

Conservation Status and Efforts

It is reported in the Red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), some antelope species are endangered, and some are least concerned. Their population has been reduced due to wildlife conflict between humans and antelopes.

Species	Conservation Status
Vulnerable	10 species 9 subspecies
Endangered	9 species 5 subspecies
Critically Endangered	5 species 5 subspecies

These hoofed mammals need conservation efforts. People hunt them for meat and coat purposes. In winter, Tibetan people use their coats to make shawls. In Asia and Africa, their horns are used as a hunting trophy. We can save antelope species by protecting their habitats. Wildlife conservation teams can tackle issues of extinction by banning their hunting.

Antelope Fun Facts

Impala, an antelope, is known as the second fastest animal on the land.

Antelopes are hollow-horned mammals, but people mistakenly consider them deer.
They are intelligent in how to escape from predators.
Gorongosa Antelopes are the most beautiful of all species. They have potent bodies and curved horns.

The Hirola is the rarest species among antelopes, which is sandy brown.

Cultural Value

In African cultures, antelopes have been considered a symbol of spirituality and freedom. African artists paint antelopes in motion. Their paintings depict antelopes as a messenger of the spirit world.
In Aitareya Brahmana, an ancient Hindu text, Blackbuck Antelope is considered a sacred animal. They are abundant in Nepal and India. The villagers love them because they symbolize fertility, abundance and a connection to Earth.

In Nomadic culture, antelopes are considered a symbol of health and wealth.
In Asia and Africa, antelope horns are used in medicines to protect people from harmful diseases.
In 1998, Salman Khan was imprisoned for five years in a case of poaching 2 Blackbucks.

FAQs- Frequently Asked Questions

What is the second fastest land animal?

The antelope is the second fastest land animal, capable of speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

What are the main habitats of antelopes?

Antelopes primarily inhabit savannahs, open woodlands, deserts, forests, swamps, and bushes.

How many species of antelopes exist?

There are 91 species of antelopes, classified into various subfamilies and tribes.

What do antelopes eat?

Antelopes are herbivores that feed on grasses, shrubs, bushes, and small trees, but some species also eat insects and small animals.

How do antelopes communicate?

Antelopes communicate through sounds like grunts and bleats, scent marking, and body language.

What is the lifespan of an antelope?

The lifespan of antelopes ranges from 10 to 15 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in captivity.

Why are some antelope species endangered?

Some antelope species are endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and human-wildlife conflicts.

How do antelopes protect themselves from predators?

Antelopes use their keen senses, camouflage, and fast running speeds to evade predators.

Are antelopes important to the ecosystem?

Yes, antelopes play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems by grazing, which helps manage plant growth.

What cultural significance do antelopes have?

In various cultures, antelopes symbolize spirituality, freedom, fertility, and health, and are featured in art and traditional medicine.

What is called antelope?

An antelope is a hoofed mammal known for its speed, agility, and graceful appearance, found primarily in Africa and Asia.

Is an antelope a goat?

No, antelopes are not goats; they are a different group of mammals within the family Bovidae.

What do antelopes eat?

Antelopes are herbivores that mainly eat grasses, shrubs, bushes, and small trees.

What are the special features of antelopes?

Antelopes are known for their slender bodies, long legs, expressive eyes, and, in many species, distinctive horns.

What are 5 interesting facts about antelope?

Antelopes are swift runners, have various horn shapes, possess 360-degree vision, live in diverse habitats, and have complex social structures.

Where do antelopes live?

Antelopes live in savannahs, woodlands, deserts, forests, swamps, and bushes across Africa, Asia, and parts of Russia.

Are antelopes intelligent?

Yes, antelopes are intelligent animals, especially in evading predators and communicating within their herds.

Do antelopes have 4 stomachs?

Yes, antelopes have a four-chambered stomach that aids in digesting plant material efficiently.

Where do antelopes sleep?

Antelopes sleep in the open, often in grassy or bushy areas where they can stay alert to predators.

Bohor Reedbuck(Redunca redunca)

Introduction to Bohor Reedbuck The Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca redunca) is a fascinating species of antelope that roams the floodplains and grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa. These medium-sized antelopes play a crucial role in their ecosystems, contributing