Similarities and differences between animals of the same species: wildebeest, chamois, blackbuck

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

There are many varieties of antelope. They differ in size, habitat and appearance. Another feature of this artiodactyl mammal is hollow horns that do not have processes.

The wildebeest is an animal of South Africa. Having a large size, it resembles a horse with a bull's head. On closer examination, one might think that her appearance is assembled from small things and details taken from various animals.

The wildebeest has a mane and tail like a horse, on the inside of the neck there is a hair suspension resembling mountain goats, and the voice is somewhat similar to the lowing of a cow. The animal grows very large, weighing up to 250 kg, reaching 1.5 m in height and 2.8 m in length. It also has large wide horns that bend forward and then to the sides.

The wildebeest has thin, slender legs that allow it to reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. Depending on the subspecies, the color can be from gray-brown to dark ash. The animal is a herbivore, so it is highly dependent on the rainy season.

Antelopes have to migrate twice a year in search of food. Numerous herds into which they stray can harm the environment while running, trampling for many kilometers.plains.

The mating season starts in mid-April and lasts three to four weeks. The female bears cubs for 8.5 months. Wildebeest is a very caring and attentive mother.

There is usually one (very rarely two) calves in a litter. Just one hour after birth, he can walk and run. After 7-10 days, the little wildebeest already tastes the grass, but refuses mother's milk only after 7 months.

You cannot tame these animals, but they are always hunted because their meat is very tasty.

During a sudden attack of predators wildebeest scatter in different directions. They are included in the diet of crocodiles, lions, cheetahs, hyenas and leopards. In rare cases, a wildebeest can fend off an attack with hooves and horns.

The mountain antelope, the chamois, is significantly different from the inhabitants of the plains. Thanks to the special structure of the hooves, it moves perfectly on the rocks. The animal is small, growing up to only one meter in length, and weighs no more than 50 kg. The horns are slightly curved back and reach 25-30 cm.

Cerna can be found in the mountains of Europe. They usually live in packs of 15-25 individuals, consisting only of young and females. Males live alone, and appear in the herd only during the mating season.

Usually, at the beginning of summer, 1-3 cubs are born at the mountain antelope, which will feed only on mother's milk for three months. The life expectancy of chamois is up to 20 years. They are preyed upon by such predators as bear, lynx and wolves.

Asian alsothere are several varieties of other antelopes. One of them is the garna.

This Asian antelope has its own peculiarity: female and male, unlike many other representatives of mammals of this species, have different body colors. The former are much lighter than their relatives of the opposite sex.

Gharna is a medium-sized antelope 75-80 cm tall and weighing 30-40 kg. Spiral horns, growing up to 75 cm, have only males. She lives for about 12 years.

These animals live in numerous herds only on the plains. Garns never enter the forests. They adapt very quickly to any adverse conditions.

During the mating period, fierce fights can be observed between males of the Asian antelope. The gestation period of the female is 5-6 months. After the birth of the cubs, the female hides them for several weeks in tall grass.

The main predators that hunt the blackbuck are wolves. Due to their caution and ability to develop high speed, these antelopes rarely become victims of other large animals.