|
COMMON NAME |
 Pronghorn
or pronghorn antelope
|
|
SCIENTIFIC NAME: |
|
Antelocapra
americana |
|
CLASSIFICATION: |
|
big game |
|
SIZE: |
| An
average adult males weighs about 125 pounds and females
typically weigh about 95 pounds. Males stand 31-40 inches tall
at the shoulders and females stand 28-36 inches. The overall
length, including body and head ranges from 40-60 inches.
|
|
DESCRIPTION: |
| The body
is distinctly marked with white on the underside and rump. When
alarmed, the guard hairs on the white rump patch are extended
vertically, making the white rump patch visible for great
distances. The back is brown with shades of cinnamon and the
males have a black cheek patch, muzzle and forehead. This dark
mask is much less pronounced in females.
The horns are
made up of a bony inner core and an outer sheath, which is shed
annually. Both sexes have horns but the female horns are rarely
longer than two inches if present at all. The average male horns
are approximately 12 inches in length and have a prominent prong
on one of the two branches. |
|
LIFE SPAN : |
| Five to
ten years |
|
HABITAT: |
| Pronghorn
prefer gentle rolling to flat, wide-open topography. Low
sagebrush and northern desert shrubs are the preferred
vegetation types. Areas such as these with low understory allow
antelope to see great distances and permit the animals to move
quickly to avoid predators. |
|
RANGE: |
| Pronghorn
antelope are found primarily in the valleys between mountain
ranges in northern and central Nevada. Wildlife managers have
helped antelope extend their range in Nevada through numerous
transplants and water developments. |
|
NATURAL HISTORY: |
| Pronghorn
antelope were probably first observed in North America by
European explorers in Mexico in the mid-16th century. Lewis and
Clark collected the first specimen for science in 1804 and Peter
Skeen Ogden reported the first antelope in Nevada in 1829. In
the mid 1800’s pronghorn antelope were probably more abundant
than today but decreased in number during the height of
livestock and mining development and settlement. In the early to
mid 20th century, conservation efforts including the
establishment of the Charles Sheldon Antelope Refuge, helped
increase antelope numbers in the state. |
|
FOOD HABITS: |
| Over 150
different species of grasses, forbs and browse plants are eaten
by antelope, which allows them to occupy a variety of habitat
types. Succulent plants and sprouts are preferred. Some of the
main components of pronghorn diet in many locations include
sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, saltbrush, rabbitbrush,
cheatgrass, indian rice grass, crested wheat grass, lambsquarter
and shadscale. |
|
BREEDING: |
| During a
two to four week mating period in early fall, bucks fight for
harems of up to 15 does. After a gestation period of about 250
days, does give birth, in solitude to one fawn at the first
birth and twins thereafter. Fawns weigh five to seven pounds at
birth, but grow quickly on the extremely rich doe’s milk. At
five days the fawns can outrun a man, and at three weeks begin
nibbling vegetation. Although fawns occasionally breed, most
antelope mate for the first time at 15-16 months old and breed
annually thereafter. |
|
STATUS: |
| Drought
and climatic conditions affect populations in the short term,
but generally, the statewide population of pronghorn is
increasing. |
|
REASON FOR STATUS: |
|
Conservation efforts in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s in addition to
the antelope’s ability to adapt to changing environmental
conditions have contributed to a healthy population throughout
Nevada. |
|
MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION: |
| The
Nevada Department of Wildlife maintains and continually updates
a species management plan for pronghorn antelope. Wildlife
managers actively manage antelope by surveying antelope herds
and then adjusting seasons and bag limits accordingly. Several
transplant projects have successfully reintroduced them to
former ranges throughout the state. Maintaining good habitat
conditions is the key to ensuring healthy antelope populations
across the state. |
|
FUN FACTS: |
| Pronghorn
are the fastest running hoofed animal in North America. Adults
have been clocked at 55 miles per hour and may reach 60 miles
per hour for short spurts. Pronghorn have a disproportionately
large heart and lungs, with very efficient circulatory and
respiratory systems. Their eyes are located far back on the
sides of their head to allow a field of view of nearly 360
degrees. These adaptations allow them to detect approaching
predators and escape by running at high speed for extended
periods of time.
The genus
name, Antelocapra comes from a cross between an antelope and a
goat. The pronghorn is the only species in the genus and is not
a true antelope. It is not closely related to the antelope of
Africa or the goats of the Western Hemisphere. This unique
animal has been roaming the plains of North America for
thousands of years. |
