ANIMAL:Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus
Type of Animal:
Antelope
Habitat:
Mountainous areas, kopjes, coastal ranges, river gorges, outcrops, riverbeds, rocky hills, rocky gorges, rocky lowland areas, foothills, rocky areas near rivers in deserts, cliff faces, found from sea level to 15,000 ft.
Location(s):
E & southern Africa w/ disjunct populations in NC Nigeria, Nigeria-Cameroon border, & parts of Central African Republic.
Appearance:
Yellowish gray to reddish brown coat w/ white underbelly, males have short spiky horns, many females hornless, brown forehead, short ears marked w/ black, white lips/chin, prominent preorbital glands near eyes
Food/Diet:
Grasses, leaves, fruit, herbs, twigs, bark, lichens, flowers, succulent plants, tender green shoots, blossoms, grains, vegetables, small forbs
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks
Lifestyle:
Small herds of a male w/ 1-2 females plus any offspring. Females stay w/ natal herd longer than males, sometimes up to 2 years. Solitary animals (especially males) also occur.
Additional Info:Called:
Male: Buck/Ram
Female: Doe/Ewe
Young: Fawn/Calf
Group: Herd
Weight:
Male: 19.84-26.46 lbs
Female: 24.25-35.3 lbs
Young: 6 lbs
Gestation:
6 months
Life Span:
12-15 years
Height:
Male: 1.6-1.7 ft
Female: 1.64-1.77 ft
Body Length:
2.69 ft, same for both sexes
Tail Length:
2.5-4.5 in, same for both sexes
Main predators are leopards, lions, wild dogs, caracals, pythons, crocodiles, servals, hyenas, jackals, wildcats, wolves, baboons, eagles, & foxes.
Sexually mature at 6 months old.
While one browses, opposite sex partner (s) watches out for predators/invaders, often on higher points in territory.
Males fight by using horns, females by biting.
Moms keep young hidden behind rocks & in rocky crevices for 2.5-3 months.
To reach taller foliage, they stand upon hind legs.
Get most of their water from plants they eat.
Alarm call sounds like whistle mixed w/ trumpet.
Territories range from 5-121 acres in size.
Pairs/herds scent-mark territory w/ pre-orbital glands & w/ dung piles.
Make roaring sound if scared/distressed.
Males make soft humming sound during breeding season.
Sometimes hunted for meat, leather, hair, & because they compete w/ goats.
Very shy in wild.
Fun Fact(s):
Often walk on tip-toes.
Oreotragus means “mountain he-goat.”
Cylindrical, downward-pointing, rubbery hooves well adapted for climbing/jumping. In fact, klipspringer means “rock jumper” in Afrikaans.
Can jump 10-12 ft straight up into air.
