Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. A springbok is a type of antelope, a four-legged animal. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. They have a dark brown patch along their side, a white face, and a dark stripe from their eye to their mouth. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thats a very useful animal defense mechanism. Impalas are African antelope that can jump 33 feet forward and up to 10 feet high.2021-12-02. How do antelopes protect themselves from predators? They have a dark brown patch along their side, a white face, and a dark stripe from their eye to their mouth. Humans are one of the predators who hunt down ostriches. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Do African Animals Get Drunk From Marula Fruit? Antelopes have extremely developed senses which help them detect predators while they still have time to escape. Both male and females have horns, but the females horns are much shorter. They are also called a harem when one or more males live with a large number of females (1:3 ratio). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Also, the South African springbok skull head is commonly found as taxidermy in houses. The behavior of these friendly herds changes during mating season. You can see them at the Cape of Good Hope, close to Table Mountain, or anywhere along the N7 connecting South Africa with Namibia. Repetitive pronking will open out their skin pouch and secret scent, yet it seems that occasional pronking is just something the springbok do because it feels good. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. How does a springbok protect itself? They also have a white rump flap and reddish-brown stripes that run along their flank on either side. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Importantly, springbok are faster than all their predators, except for cheetahs, the fastest animal of all. Strict regulations protect these antelope, and keeping them as a pet is illegal in most places. What are the two applications of bifilar suspension? Some of the ways humans predate hedgehogs is by: Harvesting them for traditional medicines. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. But when you watch them pronking across the grasslands, its an experience you wont forget! Killing, collecting, and using hedgehogs as decorations. The historic range of springbok stretched across the dry grasslands, bushlands, and shrublands of southwestern and southern Africa; springbok migrated sporadically in southern parts of the range. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? may engage in bouts of repeated high leaps, up to 13 feet high, in Nor do they alert the rest of the herd to something on the savannah. A springbok can live in grasslands and in the desert. Fleas can jump 220 times their own body length and 150 times their own body height! Finally, males may get together to form a bachelor herd to actively seek out females. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. (2020, March 10). Female springboks have thinner horns than their male counterparts. Black stripe runs along the lateral side of the body. It prefers areas of short grasses and avoids tall grass, woodland and other areas where vegetation restricts movement and visibility (3). They are slender and agile antelopes with very long necks. To put their evolution into perspective, most vegetables we eat consist of over 80% water. Stotting also warns other gazelles that a predator is close, so the predator loses its chance of a surprise attack. itself. :). Length. If you were thinking about adding one to your farm, remember that a six-foot leap in the air is childs play to a Springbok. It is capable of maintaining a speed of nearly 35 miles per hour over several miles and is even faster over shorter distances. study new things. The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis ) is a medium-sized antelope found mainly in southern and southwestern Africa. These pronkers live in herds that change with the seasons. It involves an odd looking jump into the air, with the back bowed, tail clamped down, neck bowed and legs extremely straight. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Like most deer and antelope subspecies, a springbok is a super-fast animal. This was called a "trek" or "trekbokking". By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Springboks are commonly considered as game rather than as a pet. They kick forward because that's the direction in which their legs bend, according to the American Ostrich Association. If possible, they will avoid trees and bushes, although this is unavoidable when the temperature rises during the middle of summer. As the dry season arrives, they begin eating flowers and leaves, which have higher water content. Springbok has pocket-like, flap of skin on the rump which conceals white crest. In fact, this physical feature distinguishes the springbok from true gazelles. It involves an odd looking jump into the air, with . This species is known for two striking dark brown stripes that run symmetrically on their face. If they succeed, they eat it; else, they get killed by the ostrich itself if the bird fails to outrun its predators. They are mostly found in game reserves and on farms in treeless savanna near the edges of dried-up lake beds. These massive treks are called trekbokken and you can still witness them in Namibia and Botswana, although not on the same scale as 500 years ago. Enormous protruding ears help give springbok an exceptional sense of hearing. The springbok reaches 71 to 86cm (28 to 34in) at the shoulder and weighs between 27 and 42kg (60 and 93lb). Its like them saying hey, Ive got the best grass, so come have babies with me. Finally, springboks managed in a domestic habitat can be fed a wholesome diet of grass, hay, vegetables, and some fruit. Some gazelles compete for females by engaging in courtship displays with their horns. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers today are increasing. Both species of gazelle are tawny in color with brown and white markings and both have permanent horns. Springboks reveal this white hair when they start pronking. However, they acknowledge that this is probably an underestimate and that the population could be above 2 million. Pronking can be used both as a mating ritual and to protect themselves from predators. Camouflage is also a great defense. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. They are famous for the stiff-legged springbok pronk where they leap high into the air in repeated loops. Top 10 largest eagles in the world: biggest eagle wingspan & more, 21 fun facts about giraffes Interesting & funny things to know, African vultures Discover all 11 vulture species in Africa, 11 facts about the klipspringer Africas dancing antelope, 16 incredible facts about nyala, the legendary African antelope, 8 unique species of spiral-horned antelope endemic to Africa. Springboks are herbivorous animals and not dangerous to humans. Why were Mexican workers able to find jobs in the Southwest? Most horns measure between 12- and 18-inches long, though females have slightly thinner and smaller horns. This substance smells a little like honey and attracts females. How do you think a predator would respond to this defense mechanism? During the mating period, males establish territories, marking them by urinating and creating large piles of dung. Springbok (antidorcas marsupialis) are antelope members of the gazelle tribe. Pronking is also often used by adult springbok as a form of self-defence to make themselves appear larger when under threat. Your privacy is important to us. Springbok will turn their pouch inside out to release a special scent from their inner glandular skin. The grasses have less water in them, but are more plentiful. Height. At Kidadl, you can explore several other types of deer subspecies, including the antelope and the Saiga antelope. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What does a springbok look like? Your email address will not be published. You are planning an exercise that will include the m16 and m203. 120-150 cm. Previously, when hunting without a license for springbok was legal, the meat of springboks provided an abundant supply of protein to a growing population in southern Africa. 2017-02-15 19:27:42. They could be excited, agitated, exercising, spreading their individual scents, or showing off their fitness . If youre wondering whats the difference between male and female springboks, the easiest way to distinguish the sexes is to look at the horns. They live in groups as there is safety in numbers. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. They weigh almost 300 to 500 kgs which makes them heavier than ostriches and makes it easy for them to kill an ostrich if they are not killed by the ostrichs leg first. Springboks live in large groups of antelopes called a herd. Here are three interesting springbok gazelle facts about how they protect themselves. Males are reproductively mature at the age of 2. 72-75 cm. It can jump more than 10 feet (3 meters) straight up. Both sexes have horns, which are slightly curved and . Springbok are also extremely fast, and can reach speeds of over 85km/h to escape predators such as wild dog, lions, cheetah or jackals. Top 10 biggest animals in the world Largest creatures on Earth. https://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/springbok_facts/1831/, https://animals.mom.com/springbok-eat-10977.html, https://www.getaway.co.za/wildlife/animal-stories/springboks-pronking-joy/, https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/springbok/609509, https://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Artiodactyla/Bovidae/Antidorcas/Antidorcas-marsupialis.html, https://eleducation.org/resources/springbok, https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-10-highest-jumping-animals-in-the-world/, https://blog.nwf.org/2011/03/the-amazing-lives-of-leaping-wildlife/, https://curriculum.eleducation.org/sites/default/files/curriculum/lessons/841//g4m2u2l7modulelessons-supportingmaterials083117.doc, https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/springboks-pronking, https://www.britannica.com/list/the-fastest-animals-on-earth, https://www.travelbutlers.com/safari/wildlife-guide/springbok.asp, https://a-z-animals.com/animals/springbok/, https://onekindplanet.org/top-10/top-10-worlds-highest-jumping-animals/. It has white hair covering its entire body. They have their speed, which, as mentioned above, can outrun most of their predators. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Now that you know where to find springboks lets look at some quirky behaviors you might encounter. Hardened skin in only one place . They are famous for the stiff-legged springbok pronk, where they leap high into the air in repeated loops. Eat consist of over 80 % water over shorter distances the foot of each newsletter than All their,..., collecting, and keeping them as a form of self-defence to make themselves appear larger when under threat keeping! Behavior of these friendly herds changes during mating season striking dark brown patch along their side, white! The grasslands, its an experience you wont forget across the grasslands, its an experience you wont!! Of antelope, a white rump flap and reddish-brown stripes that run along their flank on either side,... 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