The African antelope belongs to a large group of animals. It has species that differ significantly in size. For example, the dik-dik antelope is the size of a hare. There are also species that reach the growth of a bull - this is a species of eland. These animals live in different climatic conditions.
As you know, antelopes have many common external features with ordinary bulls. For example, they have similar hooves. In addition, the African antelope is a ruminant. When eating plants, she does not swallow them, but during rest she chews food again. This feeding technique allows livestock to make the most of all the nutrients in food.
The hallmark of all these animals is their horns. They are strong bony rods that develop on outgrowths from their frontal bones. These rods are dressed in special horn cases. Horny covers grow throughout the life of the antelope along with the rods. The antlers are not shed every year, like those of roe deer and deer. Horns can be very different. Some have themlook like little spikes. The antelope, whose species are called oryx and kudu, has long horns. Wu kudu not only have significant
length, but also a very interesting spiral shape. The African eland bears horns facing each other. As for the impala, the animals of this species are characterized by beautiful lyre-shaped horns. They are used, as a rule, for fights with dangerous opponents. The gazelles subfamily comprises sixteen species of antelopes that live in various parts of Africa and Asia.
The beautiful African wildebeest lives exclusively in Africa. When there is enough water and food for her, the animal can stay in one place for quite a long period. In times of drought, famine and thirst, the wildebeest always gather in herds and set off on a long journey. Throughout the year, African antelopes can follow the rains, because in those places where it passes, low, but nutritious grass grows quickly.
Cute sitatunga lives almost throughout Africa in forest swamps. It is considered a large, predominantly nocturnal, semi-aquatic animal. It grazes, as a rule, in reeds and sedge thickets. It prefers to dine on the leaves of low-growing trees and shrubs. This beautiful antelope is an excellent swimmer, escaping from pursuers. She is good at diving. Sitatunga gets along well in almost any swamp. It has very wide and long hooves, which provides it with support on the muddy soft ground.
The bushbuck isrepresentative of medium-sized antelopes. It occurs most often in South-West Africa, not far from dense thickets of shrubs. There the animal takes refuge when it senses danger. Males are usually much larger than females. Their height reaches approximately one meter at the withers, and their weight is up to eighty kilograms. The horns are ribbed and spiral, up to sixty centimeters long. As a rule, the color varies from yellowish-brown to black.
