Antelope

Locomotion: These swift runners can also jump very well. In addition, they can bounce with all four legs held in a stiff position; this is called pronking. In this springing motion, all four feet leave the ground and land at the same time.

Horns: The antelope’s hollow horns vary from very short to very long. Some are straight and some are gently curved. Like all horns, they are not shed, but continue to grow throughout the antelope’s life. In many species of antelope the females also have horns, but they are smaller than the male’s horns.

Anatomy: There are many types of antelopes, differing in size, color, shape, etc. These graceful mammals range in size from the rabbit-sized royal antelope to the huge, ox-sized eland. Antelopes have large eyes and ears; they use their keen sense of sight, hearing and smell to detect predators (like hyenas and jackals).

Diet: Antelopes are herbivores (plant-eaters) and ruminants with a four-part stomach. They swallow food whole, not chewing it initially. Later, they regurgitate a cud (a mouthful of partly-digested food) and chew it thoroughly. They eat desert shrubs, acacias, young shoots, and grasses. Antelopes spend most of their time grazing on grass or browsing (eating leaves and twigs).

Classification: Class Mammalia, Order Artiodactyla, Family Bovidae (antelopes, bison, buffalo, cattle, goats, and sheep).

Male Deer, Female Deer and their baby deer

Deer

Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. They include for example Moose, Red Deer, Reindeer, Roe and Chital. Animals from related families within the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates) are often also considered to be deer – these include muntjac and water deer. Male (and a few female) deer of all species (except the Chinese Water deer who only have short tusks instead) grow and shed new antlers each year – in this they differ from permanently horned animals such as antelope – these are in the same order as deer and may bear a superficial resemblance. The musk deer of Asia and Water Chevrotain (or Mouse Deer) of tropical African and Asian forests are not usually regarded as true deer and form their own families.

I want you to see these two clips about deer. Enjoy!