What Are Species Of Antelope?
Antelopes are a group of mammals that live in the vast plains of Africa. Each species of antelope varies in shape and size, but generally, all have a light figure with slender limbs, small cloven hooves, and a short tail.
The term Antelope is used to refer to a number of species of ruminant artiodactyls i.e., multiple-stomached, cud-chewing, even-toed hoofed mammals that are indigenous to most of Africa, India, the Middle East, Central Asia, and a small area of Eastern Europe.
They are often distinguished by their horns, which may be straight, curved, or twisted. In some species, only the male antelopes have horns.
Most antelope are social animals that live in groups called herds. The herds communicate with each other using a variety of sounds and scent signals. Sometimes, their scents can linger on for many days.
Antelope live in a wide range of habitats across Southern Africa including, open savanna, woodlands, marshes, and even deserts. Most antelope species are herbivores that graze on grass or munch on buds, bulbs, fruits, and leaves. They are intelligent animals that follow the rains to find fresh grass, as famously seen yearly during the Great Migration.
Antelopes must always be on constant alert for danger as they are a target for predators such as cheetahs, lions, leopards, and wild dogs. Their acute sense of hearing and sight, as well as their powerful horns, help to protect them in the face of predators.
How Many Species Of Antelope Are There In South Africa?
Wildebeest
Wildebeest are famous for making their annual migration across the African plains. Each year, thousands of wildebeest, and other antelope species, trek from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of fresh grazing grounds. This natural phenomenon is known as the Great Migration. During the Great Migration, many wildebeest will drown while crossing the Mara River or are killed by predators lurking nearby.
Eland
Elands are the largest species of antelope in the world. A full-grown adult eland can weigh up to 900kg, almost as much as the Cape Buffalo. There are two subspecies: the common eland, and the greater eland.
These cow-like animals are distinguished by their large shoulder hump and tightly spiraled horns. Although they are the largest and slowest of the antelope species, elands are fantastic jumpers, able to jump a 1.5-meter fence from a standstill.
Sable
Sable is another large species of antelope. Bearing a distinctive black body with white markings, and elongated horns, these striking creatures are a treat to see during a game drive. Sable antelopes live in mixed savanna woodlands, most visible in Pretoriuskop, Southern Kenya, and South Africa.
Waterbuck
Robust and well-built, the most distinctive feature of the waterbuck is the white ring around their backsides. Safari guides joke that it looks as if they’ve sat on a freshly painted toilet seat. These massive animals can weigh up to 250 kg and reach a shoulder height of around 120 to 136 cm. Only the males have horns, which curve upwards.
Springbok
Primarily found in South Africa, springbok are recognized by their striking body color and small frame. They have light brown upper coats, white underparts, and a dark brown stripe across their bodies.
Springboks are well-known for their leaping prowess. They can easily leap 4 meters into the air by bouncing with a rounded back and all four feet off the ground. The springbok is South Africa’s national animal as well as the symbol of our national rugby team.
Steenbok
One of the smaller antelope species in Southern Africa is the steenbok. These tiny mammals have a reddish-brown coat with white underparts and a y-shaped marking on their nose.
Common duiker
Duikers are slender animals with arched backs and glossy coats. They get their name from the Afrikaans word ‘duiker’ which means to dive.
Duikers are timid animals and have a habit of diving into bushes when they sense danger. These small antelopes are mostly active at night when they feed on grass, leaves, and fruit, but are also known to eat small insects and even nestling birds.
Reedbuck
The reedbuck is a small, slender, and shy antelope with a predominantly grey coat and a fluffy white tail. Reedbucks tend to rest in the grass beds during the day and graze during sunrise and sunset, or sometimes at night.
This species of antelope needs a sufficient supply of water to survive. They often occupy areas that are close to water sources. They usually live alone or in pairs, but can sometimes be seen in small herds of three to 10 animals. Reedbucks inhabit moist woodlands and tall grasslands with sufficient cover and water nearby.
Oryx
The oryx, also known as the gemsbok, is a large species of cow-like antelope with incredible endurance and strength. The oryx is at home in the vast shadeless desert or landscapes with near-desert conditions.
Oryx
The oryx, also known as the gemsbok, is a large species of cow-like antelope with incredible endurance and strength. The oryx is at home in the vast shadeless desert or landscapes with near-desert conditions.
Kudu
Kudus are large antelope that can stand at 1.5 meters at the shoulder and weigh over 200 kg. Despite their size, kudus are slender and built to jump over high obstacles. Kudus can be recognized quickly thanks to their unique horns that twist upwards.
Bushbuck
Bushbuck are medium-sized antelope with a feisty temper and unusual coat. They have a deep chestnut brown coat with a few white spots and a crest of white hair running along their backs. They are solitary browsers that can usually be spotted between dense bushes or thorn thickets.