Antilopinae

(vertebrate zoology) The antelopes, a subfamily of artiodactyl mammals in the family Bovidae.

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(Antilopinae)

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Suborder: Ruminantia

Family: Bovidae

Subfamily: Antilopinae

Thumbnail description
Small-to medium-sized, slender-limbed and thin-necked herbivores characterized by a back that is straight or slightly higher at the croup, a pair of horns always present in males and sometimes present in females, narrow crowns of the molars, a hairy muzzle, many skin glands throughout the body, a four-chambered stomach, and a similar body color in the two sexes

Size
Head and body length of 2.8–5.6 ft (85–170 cm), tail length of 2.4–13.8 in (6–35 cm), shoulder height of 1.8–2.8 ft (54–84 cm), horn length (when present) of 3–19 in (8–48 cm), and weight of 26–128 lb (12–58 kg)

Number of genera, species
7 genera; 20 species

Habitat
Woodlands, plains, steppes, deserts, and other similar areas

Conservation status
Critically Endangered: 2 species; Endangered: 3 species; Vulnerable: 6 species; Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent: 6 species; Lower Risk/Near Threatened: 3 species

Distribution
Africa and Asia

Evolution and systematics

Antilopinae evolved from its family Bovidae, which is recognized to have a geological range of early Miocene (24 million to 5 million years ago [mya]) to Recent in Europe and Africa, middle Miocene to Recent in Asia, and Pleistocene to Recent in North America. A rapid diversification of the family into genus and species occurred possibly due to the formation of savannah habitat in Africa. The Antilopinae lineage was present by about 16–17 mya based on molecular genetic evidence. They were forced from the northern parts of Europe and Asia in the Pleistocene (which started about 1.6 mya) to their present locations in Africa and Asia, but did not cross over to North America except for the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), which did not survive in North America.

Physical characteristics

Antilopinae are long-legged, slender, and graceful animals with fawn-colored to reddish brown upper parts and pale undersides. Stripes can often occur at various locations around the body. Their tail is short or medium in length. Pits are present in the forehead of the skull, with narrow crowns on the molar teeth. On the rather small face, they have glands below their rather large eyes, with other skin glands throughout the body and a narrow, hairy muzzle. The indented preorbital glands are well developed. All males and many females grow short-to medium-sized horns (they are shorter and thinner in females when present) that vary greatly in size and shape (often lyre-shaped, or like a "U," but sometimes spiral-shaped, or like a "S") but the basic structure is always one of being: compressed at the base; attached to the frontal bones of the skull; single bony protrusions without branches; covered in a sheath of keratin; never shed; and ringed for part or most of their length. They are very fast on their feet and some species have been clocked at maximum speeds of nearly 60 mph (100 kph). Two-toed lateral hooves are at the ends of their very slender legs. They all have a four-chambered stomach, which allows most of them to digest foods that are too low in nutrients for many other animals, notably grasses.

Distribution

Antilopinae range throughout Africa and across the Middle East and into Asia.

Habitat

Antilopinae live in a variety of habitats from open woodlands and grassy plains to short grass steppes and steppes with trees and dense bush to barren high-altitude steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts.

Behavior

Antilopinae are generally gregarious animals but normally keep a certain distance apart from each other, and under certain circumstances will seek temporary isolation. In most cases, they form groups ranging from two to hundreds (and sometimes even thousands) of individuals. The differences in herd size depend on the environment, population density, season, and species. Herds generally are open, where members come and go freely. Most herds are classified as all-female, all-male (sometimes all-bachelor), or mixed (female/male). Only adult males become territorial, but not all of the adult males become territorial: only those who are successful with the mating of females. They are not territorial throughout their lives, alternating between non-territorial and territorial periods. Owners of territories, in some species, exclude other males from their territories, or at least dominate them within the territorial boundaries. Such owners also mark their territories with secretions from the preorbital gland and with urine and feces. Females will periodically visit the males in their territories.

Feeding ecology and diet

Antilopinae are herbivorous, but a few will take a small amount of meat if it is available. Their diet consists of grasses, herbs, leaves, buds, and shoots. Water is acquired from moisture within and on their food, although most will drink when water is available.

Reproductive biology

Males and females are usually polygamous, and territorial males and females remain as separate and independent social units. When there are many neighboring territories, a male may guard an all-female herd while in his territory, but will change guardianship as different female herds enter and exit. Females normally give birth to one young at a time, but may give birth to more under ideal conditions. Births occur generally in tandem with the rainy season, when food is plentiful, and can occur throughout the year. Females isolate themselves from the herd before giving birth and remain solitary with her young immediately after the birth. Males have little or no parental activity toward the young.

Conservation status

According to the 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Procapra przewalskii and Saiga tatarica are Critically Endangered; Gazella cuvieri, Gazella dama, and Gazella leptoceros are Endangered; Antilope cervicapra, Ammodorcas clarkei, Gazella dorcas, Gazella rufifrons, Gazella soemmerringii, and Gazella spekei are Vulnerable; Gazella bennettii, Gazella gazella, Gazella granti, Gazella thomsonii, Litocranius walleri, and Antidorcas marsupialis are Lower Risk/Conservation Dependent; and Gazella subgutturosa, Procapra gutturosa, and Procapra picticaudata are Lower Risk/Near Threatened.

These animals are threatened by overhunting, as well as by habitat loss and degradation from human activities.

Significance to humans

Antilopinae are hunted for their meat, skin, and sport.

Species accounts

Resources

Burnie, David, and Don E. Wilson, eds. Animal. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 2001.

Feldhamer, George A., Lee C. Drickamer, Stephen H. Vessey, and Joseph F. Merritt, eds. Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, and Ecology. Boston: WCB McGraw-Hill, 1999.

Gould, Dr. Edwin, and Dr. George McKay, eds. Encyclopedia of Mammals. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.

Grzimek, Bernard. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1972.

Honacki, James H., Kenneth E. Kinman, and James W. Koeppl, eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 2nd ed. Lawrence, KS: Allen Press and the Association of Systematics Collections, 1982.

Macdonald, David., ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 1984.

Martin, Robert Eugene. A Manual of Mammalogy: With Keys to Families of the World. 3rd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

Nowak, Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 2, 6th ed. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Parker, Sybil P., ed. Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, 1990.

Special Publications Division. (prepared by) National Geographic Book of Mammals. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 1981.

Walther, Fritz R., Elizabeth Cary Mungall, and Gerald A. Grau. Gazelles and Their Relatives: A Study in Territorial Behavior. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications, 1983.

Walker, Ernest P, et al. Mammals of the World. 2nd ed. (revision by John L. Paradiso). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1968.

Whitfield, Dr. Philip. Macmillan Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1984.

Wilson, Don E., and DeeAnn M. Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993.

Vaughan, Terry A., James M. Ryan, Nicholas J. Czaplewski Mammalogy. 4th ed. Fort Worth, TX: Saunders, 2000.

Animal Diversity Web. The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. [June 20, 2003].

Mammal Species of the World (MSW). Division of Mammals, Department of Systematic Biology (Vertebrate Zoology), Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. [ June 20, 2003].

The IUCN Species Survival Commission: 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Species Survival Commission. [June 20, 2003].

[Article by: William Arthur Atkins]

Antilopinae
Antilope cervicapra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae Subfamily: Antilopinae Gray, 1821
Genera
See text.

Antilopinae is a subfamily of Bovidae. The gazelles, blackbucks, springboks, gerenuks, dibatags and Central Asian gazelles are often referred to as "True Antelopes" and are usually the sole representitives of the Antilopinae. "True Antelopes" occur in much of Africa and Asia with the highest concentration of species occurring in East Africa in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. The saigas and tibetan antelopes are related to "True Antelopes" (Antilopinae) and goats (Caprinae), but often placed in their own subfamily, Saiginae. These animals inhabit much of Central and Western Asia. The dwarf antelopes are sometimes placed in a separate subfamily, Neotraginae, and live entirely in Sub-Saharan Africa.

List of genera

Antilopini tribe

• Ammodorcas
  • Dibatag Ammodorcas clarkei
• Antidorcas
  • Antidorcas recki †
  • Antidorcas bondi †
  • Antidorcas australis †
  • Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis
• Antilope
  • Antilope subtorta †
  • Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra
• Antilospira †
  • Antilospira zdanskyi †
  • Antilospira licenti †
  • Antilospira gracilis †
  • Antilospira robusta †
• Dorcadoryx †
  • Dorcadoryx orientalis
  • Dorcadoryx triquetricornis
• Gazella (True Gazelles, see Gazelle)
• Gazellospira †
  • Gazellospira gromovae
  • Gazellospira torticornis
• Hispanodorcas †
  • Hispanodorcas orientalis
  • Hispanodorcas torrubiae
• Litocranius
  • Gerenuk Litocranius walleri
• Nisidorcas †
  • Nisidorcas planicornis †
• Ouzocerus †
  • Ouzocerus gracilis †
  • Ouzocerus pentalophosi †
• Parastrepsiceros †
  • Parastrepsiceros koufosi †
• Procapra (Central Asian Gazelles)
  • Zeren Procapra gutturosa
  • Goa Procapra picticaudata
  • Przewalski's Gazelle Procapra przewalskii
• Prostrepsiceros †
  • Prostrepsiceros rotundicornis †
• Protragelaphus †
  • Protragelaphus skouzesi †
  • Protragelaphus theodori †
• Qurliqnoria †
• Sinapocerus †
• Sinoreas †
• Spirocerus †
  • Spirocerus kiakhtensis †
• Tragospira †

Saigini tribe

• Pantholops
  • Tibetan Antelope Pantholops hodgsonii
• Saiga
  • Saiga Saiga tatarica

Neotragini tribe

• Dorcatragus
  • Beira Dorcatragus megalotis
• Homoiodorcas †
  • Homoiodorcas tugenium
• Madoqua
  • Günther's Dik-dik Madoqua guntheri
  • Kirk's Dik-dik Madoqua kirkii
  • Silver Dik-dik Madoqua piacentinii
  • Salt's Dik-dik Madoqua saltiana
• Neotragus
  • Bates's Pygmy Antelope Neotragus batesi
  • Suni Neotragus moschatus
  • Royal Antelope Neotragus pygmaeus
• Oreotragus
  • Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus
• Ourebia
  • Oribi Ourebia ourebi
• Palaeotragiscus †
• Raphicerus
  • Steenbok Raphicerus campestris
  • Cape Grysbok Raphicerus melanotis
  • Sharpe's Grysbok Raphicerus sharpei
• Tyrrhenotragus †
  • Tyrrhenotragus gracillimus

See also

• Antelope

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