Special Sub-Topic: Ain't That an Antelope Click Here To Play: Ain't That an Antelope

Antelopes are members of the Bovidae family, and are related to cows, sheep and goats.

t. Antelope is used to group most of the Bovidae members which do not fall under the category of sheep, cattle or goat. Exceptions include buffalo and bison. Often, various members of the antelope species will resemble cattle, sheep or goats more than another species of antelope.

Which is the largest antelope species?

Eland. Male eland typically grow to 700 kg in weight, but have been known to reach over 900 kg. The Cape or African buffalo is generally considered a separate species to antelope, but is still smaller than the eland, only topping the scales at about 800 kg. Kudu and sable, although considered large species, only weigh in at about 250 kg.

How would the dietary habits of antelope with vertical stripes, such as the kudu and nyala, best be described?

Predominantly browsers, but will graze. Browsers are animals that eat leaves from trees. In antelope species, most browsers will graze if needed, and grazers will browse if needed. The vertical stripes on the browsers provide camouflage for them, while standing in groves of trees.

Which two species are generally not kept on the same game farms, as they will interbreed?

Blesbok and bontebok. Blesbok and bontebok are very similar in appearance. Both have a white facial blaze. On hot days they face into the sun, to help themselves cool down. The two species occur naturally in different parts of southern Africa. If they are both kept in the same game reserve, the numbers and range must be carefully managed to stop interbreeding. Black and blue wildebeest will also interbreed.

Only some species of antelope have horns on both the male and female. Which set shown below, has horns on both sexes?

Eland, roan, hartebeest, bontebok. Generally the larger species have horns on both sexes, but there are exceptions. Those species with horns on both sexes are the eland, roan, sable, gemsbok, wildebeest, hartebeest, bontebok, blesbok, tsessebe, springbok and two of the duiker species.

This member of the oryx species is the only one found in southern Africa. It has long straight rapier-like horns. What is its common name?

Gemsbok. The gemsbok is a large antelope, found naturally in the arid western parts of southern Africa. Both sexes have horns, the females' horns being longer and thinner.

This antelope species delights children, and is generally the first species they can identify. This is because it has a white "ring around the bum", making it look as though it has just risen from a freshly painted toilet seat. Which species is it?

Waterbuck. Waterbuck are large grey-brown antelope, with a distinctive white ring around the rump. Only the bull has horns. As the name suggests, they are associated with water, and prefer areas with reed beds.

What are the three species of duiker found in southern Africa?

Red, blue and common. Duiker are small antelope. The blue duiker is the smallest antelope species in southern Africa, weighing in at an average of 4 kg. Its coat varies from slate-grey to dark brown with a blue sheen. The red duiker has a rich, reddish-brown colour and the common duiker has a grey-brown colour. All have distinctive facial glands.

Which is the least common antelope in the southern African region, occurring only on the Pookoo flats and vicinity on the Chobe river in Botswana?

Puku. Although the puku is only found in one isolated part of southern Africa, it is widely scattered throughout central and east Africa. The lechwe and sitatunga are also found in small pockets along the Chobe river, but are also found in the Okavango Delta. The Damara dik-dik are found along riverine woodland in the Namib Desert.

This antelope is common in the north-eastern parts of the southern African region. It has two distinct curved black lines on its rump, and a black line down the middle of the tail. It is a medium size antelope, and the males have long lyrate horns.

Impala. The impala is often brought onto game farms as feeding stock for predators. The curved black lines on the rump, together with the tail stripe, make a large M, similar in shape to the McDonald's famous M. Fast food for lions.