AY Honors/Antelopes - Advanced/Answer Key

1. Give the order, and the scientific name of the family, to which the antelope belong.

Order	Artiodactyla
Family	Bovidae

The artiodactyla are the even-toed ungulates (that is, animals with hooves and an even number of toes).

A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed mammals belonging to the family Bovidae. The family is widespread, being native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and diverse: members include buffalo, bison, antelopes, gazelles, and both wild and domesticated cattle, sheep, goats, and water buffalo.

2. Give the distinguishing characteristics of the different sub-families, with examples of each.

Here is the subfamily, need further research for 'distinguishing characteristics'.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovid

• Family Bovidae
  • Subfamily Bovinae: cattle and spiral-horned antelopes, 24 species in 9 genera
  • Subfamily Cephalophinae: duikers, 19 species in 2 genera
  • Subfamily Hippotraginae: grazing antelopes, 6 species in 5 genera
  • Subfamily Antilopinae: gazelles, dwarf antelopes and the saiga, 38 species in 14 genera
  • Subfamily Caprinae: sheep, goats, 26 species in 12 genera
  • Subfamily Reduncinae: reedbucks, lechwe, 8 species in 2 genera
  • Subfamily Aepycerotinae: impala, 1 species in 1 genus
  • Subfamily Peleinae: rhebok, 1 species in 1 genus
  • Subfamily Alcelaphinae: wildebeest, topi/tsessebe, 7 species in 4 genera
  • Subfamily Panthalopinae: Chiru

3. Which large antelope differs from most of the others in appearance? What are some of its peculiar habits?

The wildebeest, also known as the gnu.

The wildebeest is the most unique looking antelope. It has a beefy muscular front-heavy appearance with a distinctive robust muzzle, it strides with relatively slender legs and moves gracefully and quietly most of the time, belying the reputation for stampeding in herds; however the stampeding characteristic may sometimes be observed. Probably the most conspicuous feature of the Blue Wildebeest are the large horns shaped like parentheses, extending outward to the side and then curving up and inward. The manes appear long, stiff, thick and jet black, a color assumed by the tail and face as well.

Blue Wildebeests can tolerate arid regions, as long as a potable water supply is available. Since all Wildebeests require a long drink every day or two, they must have water within about 15 or 25 kilometers distance. Their blunt muzzles are best equipped for biting short green grasses, since a wide incisor row prevents more selective feeding. Short grasses of these type are usually only found on alkaline or volcanic soils.

The Serengeti herds are purely migratory and abandon the usual plains after the rainy season has ended, in order to seek higher grasses in wetter areas. Grasslands bordering alkaline lakes or pans are particularly choice dry season (winter) habitats[4]. Herds may be mixed gender with a dominant male, female only or bachelor only. Blue Wildebeest often graze together with other species such as Plains zebras for purposes of mutual protection. Zebras in particular are beneficial to co-exist with since they mow down highly vegetated areas leaving the wildebeests to eat the newly exposed and more nutritional short grasses, which is what they prefer. A Blue Wildebeest can attain a speed of up to 65 kilometers per hour.

4. What is the function of musk glands in the antelopes? Where are these glands situated on the gregarious types? On the solitary types?

Musk glands secrete a substance with a penetrating odor called (what else?) musk. The purpose of musk is to attract a mate. On the gregarious types of anteloope, the musk glands are located on the face beneath the eyes. On the solitary types, it is within a sac located between the genitals and the umbilicus (belly button).

7. Name at least 20 species of antelope that you have observed and can identify out-of-doors, not more than 5 of which are in captivity.

Now you know why this honor is specific to the Euro-Africa Division. Antelope are most plentiful in Africa, but there are at least five species of antelope in North America too:

1. Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
2. Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
3. Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli) including the two sub-species
   1. Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli dalli)
   2. Stone's Sheep (Ovis dalli stonei)
4. Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)
5. American Bison (Bison bison)

The major problem here is that these animals are relatively rare, and spotting all of them in the wild would be quite a feat indeed. Spotting 20 can be easily accomplished by visiting a large zoo (or by visiting multiple, smaller zoos).

8. What is a gazelle? Where would you find this animal?

A gazelle is an antelope of the 'genus Gazella', but there are also three members of the 'genus Procapra' that are also referred to as gazelles. Gazelles are known as swift animals; they are able to reach high speeds (about 35 MPH) for long periods (15 minutes) of time. Gazelles are mostly found in the grasslands and savannas of Africa, but they are also found in southwest Asia. They tend to live in herds and will eat less coarse, easily digestible plants and leaves.

10. Know the game laws of your province.

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Canada Hunting & Fishing

• Wyoming Game & Fish
• Texas Fishing & Hunting
• Maryland Hunting & Trapping
• Florida
• State of Maine

References

Wikipedia articles:

• Antelopes
• Even-toed ungulate
• Bovid