Antelope: Wildlife Southern Africa
Antelope: Wildlife Southern Africa
Antelopes are part of the large group of horn carriers (bovidae). In contrast to the animals carrying antlers, they have their horns lifelong. In most of the species only the male has horns, in some they are common to both genders. Of the gracious impalas (top) alone, the most widely spread species, there are an estimated 100,000 individuals living in South Africa, mainly in the Kruger Park.
Different Species of Antelope:
Royal Antelope: species Neotragus pygmaeus, tiny antelope, family Bovidae order Artiodactyla, found alone or in pairs in dense West African Wood-11s. It is the smallest of antelopes and stands only 25 cm 10 inches high at the shoulder. It is reddish brown with white underparts; the male is distinguished by short, spike like horns. Despite its size, the royal antelope is reputedly able to jump about 2.8 m (9 feet) at a bound. A slightly larger relative, Bates’s pygmy antelope (Neotragus batesi) inhabits dense central African forests.
Sable Antelope: Hippotragus niger, handsome antelope, family Bovidae order Artiodactyla, that lives in herds in Wood-11s of southern Africa. Like the related roan antelope H.equinus, the sable antelope is a graceful animal with an erect mane, long ears, long hair on the throat, and long, parallel, sickle-shaped horns. It stands up to 137 centimetres (54 inches) at the shoulder. The male is shining black with a black and white face and white underparts; the female is similar, but reddish brown to black in colour.
Roan antelope: Hippotragus equinus, African antelope, family Bovidae order Artiodactyla, found in small groups on plains and scrublands. Related to the sable antelope Hippotragus niger and to the extinct blaauwbok, or bluebuck H. leucophoeus, the roan antelope is a large, graceful animal standing 130-150 cm at the shoulder.
Bovid: any hoofed mammal in the family Bovidae of the order Artiodactyla. The family includes the buffalo, and cattle, sheep, and goats. Bovids are cud-chewing, grazing, or browsing animals found most often in grasslands, scrublands, or deserts, though some species occupy habitats such
Hartebeest: genus Alcelaphus, either of two swift, slender antelopes, family Bovidae order Artiodactyla, found in herds on open plains and scrublands of sub-Saharan Africa. They often mingle with herds of zebras or of other antelope. Hartebeests stand about 1.2 m 4 feet at the shoulder.
