🦌16 Awesome Facts about Antelope

Graceful and elegant, antelope are some of the most curious critters you’ll come across. But how much do you really know about these mammals? Here are some fun facts about antelopes that might just help clue you in.

There are over 90 species of antelope, spread across the globe including those in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Antelope are usually sociable and live grouping together in herds. They are known to roam together, but harmony can be disrupted during the mating season when males compete to mate with females.

Antelope can live side by side with some other species. For example, they are often seen grazing with zebras, who do not threaten them. 25 to 40 species of antelope cohabit in Africa, for example.

Antelope are well equipped to foresee trouble from predators. Most have extremely good eyesight and exceptional hearing! If they detect the approach of a potential predator, they are likely to run away rather than fight.

The biggest antelope is the Eland, which can weigh up to 1,450 pounds and reach a height of 6.5 feet tall – roughly up to the same size as a cow. Trotting steadily, it can jump up to five feet in the air! By comparison, the Royal antelope is tiny, with a height of between only 10 to 12 inches!

Antelopes are herbivores. They dine on what they forage from savannas, forests, woodland, mountains or even deserts! Their diet consists of grass, herbs and shrubs.

Antelope are closely related to bovines. They are from the same family as goats and sheep.

Antelope are not native to Australia or South America.

Antelope are known to make several types of noise. These include a type of bark and something similar to the ‘moo’ sound of a cow.

Antelope have two toes on each foot.

The antlers of Antelope continue to grow throughout their lives. Not all animals with antlers keep the same set for life – for example, deer shed their antlers annually.

Some antelope antlers are straight, and others are curved or develop into a spiral. The Impala, for example, has spiraling antlers.

Antelope are adept long-distance runners! They are also equipped to leap up to 33 feet in distance to outrun predators. They can also jump up to ten feet high to escape from attackers.

An antelope pregnancy lasts an average of seven months following which usually a single baby is born. Nursing mothers often group together with their infants.

Female Antelopes are called ‘ewes’, and males are known as ‘rams’. Much like sheep in that sense!

Cheetahs are the fastest-known animals in the world. However, antelopes are the second fastest, pushing them fairly close!

No - the antelope is bovine and has more in common with the average cow than a deer! They are often confused with deer, moose and elks. Those are cervids, and one of their main features is that they shed their antlers annually or over a longer period.

Antelope species are threatened by humans for meat and sport, and are also preyed on by cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles, lions, leopards and pythons. If they can catch them, of course! Only the cheetah in this list can naturally outpace an antelope.

Yes, with the Sitatunga antelope being a particularly adept swimmer! You’ll normally find it in African marshlands.

EXTERNAL SOURCES

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/antelope https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/topic/subjects/animals/mammals/antelopes

Do you know any fun facts about antelope? Share them in the comments below!

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This page was last modified on December 14, 2022. Suggest an edit

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