Two Klipspringer running over a rock, Cedarberg Nature Reserve, South Africa.
Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) Shoulder height about 60cm; mean mass: males , females The klipspringer is restricted by its habitat requirements and its distribution is scattered and discontinuous, in rocky areas. Unique among African antelopes in having a coat of spiny bristles that are hollow, flattened and springy in texture, acting as an insulator to extremes of heat and cold and as a means of conserving body moisture. Only the males have spike-like horns, which rise parallel to each other with a slight forward curve towards the tip. Klipspringers commonly occur in pairs, or pairs and a juvenile, which sometimes join others to form temporary groups of up to about six, usually on feeding grounds. They are adept at moving in their rocky habitat, their peglike hooves have resilient centres and hard rims to provide grip in leaping from rock to rock. The pairs are territorial and their territories are marked by glandular secretions from the preorbital gland, into whichthey will manoeuvre a twig to cover it with a black tarry substance, and by the creation of scattered latrines. They defend their territories mainly by displaying themselves, often standing on a pinnacle of rock with their four feet together, but they will also attack trespassers, combatants often being severely wounded. Klipspringer have a loud, high-pitched alarm call and pairs often call in a duet when predators are in the vicinity. They are predominantly browsers and will often stand on their hind legs to reach fruits or other food. They will drink when water is available, but are generally independent of it, getting the moisture they require from their food. They breed throughout the year. A single young is born in rocky shelter and remains there until it is able to move with its mother. The gestation period is about six months.
Size: 5200px × 3467px
Photo credit: © Emile Wessels / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: africa, antelope, area, browser, cape, cedar, cedarberg, fleet, footed, game, grip, horns, klipspringer, nature, oreotragus, reserve, rock, rocky, rugged, south, western, wilderness
