Klipspringer

Klipspringer
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Genus:	Oreotragus A. Smith, 1834
Species:	O. oreotragus
Binomial name
Oreotragus oreotragus (Zimmerman, 1783)

The Klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus, is a small species of African antelope.

Name

The word klipspringer literally means "rock jumper" in Afrikaans/Dutch. The klipsringer is also known colloquially as a mvundla (from Xhosa "umvundla", meaning "rabbit").

Distribution and Habitat

The klipspringer lives from the Cape of Good Hope, where it is found in mountain fynbos, through the rest of Southern Africa, where it is found in rocky kopjes in woodland and savanna, all the way up East Africa and into the highly mountainous highlands of Ethiopia.

Description

A pair of Klipspringers

Reaching approximately 58 cm (22 inches) at the shoulder, klipspringers are relatively small animals compared to some of their larger antelope cousins. They stand on the tips of their hooves and can fit all four hooves on a piece of cliff the size of a Canadian dollar coin. Male klipspringers have horns that are usually about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) long. Female klipspringers in Eastern African populations also have horns.

With a thick and dense speckled "salt and pepper" patterned coat of an almost olive shade, klipspringers blend in well with the kopje (rock outcrops, pronounced "kah-pee") on which they can usually be found.

Predators

It is preyed upon by leopards, caracals and eagles.

Diet

Klipspringers are herbivores, eating plants that grow in mountainous habitats and rocky terrain. They never need to drink, since the succulents they subsist on provide them with enough water to survive.

Behaviour

Kilpspringers do not live in herds but rather in breeding pairs. Klipspringers mate for life and a mated pair will spend most of their lives in close proximity to one another. When one klipspringer is eating the other will assume lookout duty, helping to keep the pair aware of any predators.

The mating season for klipspringers is from September through January. The gestation period is about 214 days.

Klipspringer (male)

Female at San Diego Zoo, California, USA

References

• IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group (2008). Oreotragus oreotragus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 March 2009.
• Klipspringer at Animal Diversity Web
• Klipspringer at WildInfo

This article about an even-toed ungulate is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: IUCN Red List least concern species Dwarf antelopes Mammals of Africa Mammals of South Africa Mammals of Ethiopia Mammals of Namibia Mammals of Sudan Mammals of Angola Fauna of East Africa Mammals of Kenya Mammals of Tanzania Mammals of Zambia Even-toed ungulate stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат? Shire of Cardinia City of Melbourne Look at other dictionaries: klipspringer — [klip′spriŋ΄ər] n. pl. klipspringers or klipspringer [Afrik < Du klip, a rock, cliff + springer, springer] a small, agile mountain antelope (Oreotragus oreotragus) of S and E Africa …   English World dictionary Klipspringer — Klip spring er, n. [D., lit., cliff springer.] (Zo[ o]l.) A small, graceful South African antelope ({Nanotragus oreotragus}), which, like the chamois, springs from one crag to another with great agility; called also {kainsi}. [Written also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English klipspringer — /klip spring euhr/, n. a small, agile African antelope, Oreotragus oreotragus, of mountainous regions from the Cape of Good Hope to Ethiopia. [1775 85; < Afrik: lit., rock springer] * * * ▪ mammal       rock climbing antelope, resident in… …   Universalium klipspringer — /ˈklɪpsprɪŋə/ (say klipspringuh) noun (plural klipspringers, klipspringer) a small, active African antelope, Oreotragus oreotragus, of mountainous regions from the Cape of Good Hope to Ethiopia. {Afrikaans: literally, rock springer} …   klipspringer — antilopė šoklė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Oreotragus oreotragus angl. klipbok; klipspringer vok. Klippspringer; Springbock rus. антилопа прыгун; клиппшпрингер; прыгун; сасса pranc. oréotrague… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas klipspringer — noun A small antelope native to eastern and southern Africa having a dense, brown, speckled coat …   Wiktionary klipspringer — small African antelope Unusual Animals …   Phrontistery dictionary klipspringer — n. small and graceful antelope that lives in mountainous areas of Africa …   English contemporary dictionary klipspringer — [ klɪpˌsprɪŋə] noun a small rock dwelling antelope with a yellowish grey coat, native to southern Africa. [Oreotragus oreotragus.] Origin C18: from Afrik., from Du. klip rock + springer jumper …   English new terms dictionary klipspringer — klip·spring·er …   English syllables 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”