Springbok

Description:

The Afrikaans-Dutch name means jumping antelope. This medium-sized brown and white gazelle stands about 70-90 cm (28-35 in) high. They can reach running speeds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph), can leap 3.50 m and long jump up to 15 m. Springbok often go into bouts of repeated high leaps of up to 4 m (13 ft) into the air in a practice known as "pronking" (Afrikaans and Dutch: showing off). While pronking, the Springbok repeatedly leaps into the air in a particular stiff legged posture, with its back bowed and the white fan lifted. While the exact cause of this behavior is unknown, they exhibit this activity when they are nervous or otherwise excited. Rams are slightly larger than ewes and have thick horns, the ewes tend to have skinnier legs and longer, more frail horns. Average horn length for both genders is 35 cm (14 in).

Habitat:

Springbok inhabit the dry inland areas of south and southwestern Africa. Their range extends from the northwestern part of South Africa through the Kalahari desert into Namibia and Botswana.