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Antelopes - Advanced
Antelopes - Advanced
Nature
	Skill Level 123
Approval authority General Conference	Year of Introduction 2001

Revision as of 15:04, 21 January 2021

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AY Honors/Antelopes - Advanced/Overview

The most challenging requirement of this honor is probably this:

7. Describe the horns, in both sexes of each species, of 15 different antelopes. What is the structure of these horns? Are there any deer in South Africa? What is the structure of their horns?

1. Have the Antelopes honor.

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

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

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

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

6. Which species could you expect to find in:

a. Bush, or reed beds, near water?

b. Arid regions?

c. Open plains?

d. Scrub and forest areas?

e. The vicinity of rocky kopjes, or on hillsides?

7. Describe the horns, in both sexes of each species, of 15 different antelopes. What is the structure of these horns? Are there any deer in South Africa? What is the structure of their horns?

8. 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.

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

10. Name some diseases associated with wild bovies. How are they transmitted? Of what economic importance are they to man?

11. Know the game laws of your province.

Edit Answer Key

1

Have the Antelopes honor.

For tips and instruction see Antelopes.

2

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.

3

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

Bovinae

Bovinae (cattle and spiral-horned antelopes)
9 genera 24 species Characteristics: General characteristics include a cloven hoof and usually at least one of the sexes of a species having a true horn.

Cephalophinae

Cephalophinae (Duiker)

2 genera
19 species

Characteristics: With a slightly arched body and the front legs a little shorter than the hind legs, they are well-shaped to penetrate thickets. They are primarily browsers rather than grazers, eating leaves, shoots, seeds, fruit, buds and bark, and often follow flocks of birds or troops of monkeys to take advantage of the fruit they drop. They supplement their diet with meat: duikers take insects and carrion from time to time, and even stalk and capture rodents or small birds.

Hippotraginae

Hippotraginae (grazing antelopes)
5 genera 6 species Characteristics: These grass-eaters form small groups of both males and females.

Antilopinae

Antilopinae (Gazelles, dwarf antelopes and the saiga)
14 genera 38 species Characteristics: See requirement 8 for distinguishing characteristics.

Caprinae

Caprinae (Sheep and goats)

12 genera
26 species

Characteristics: In lifestyle, the caprids fall into two broad classes, resource-defenders which are territorial and defend a small, food-rich area against other members of the same species, and grazers, which gather together into herds and roam freely over a larger, usually relatively infertile area. The resource-defenders are the more primitive group: they tend to be smaller in size, dark in color, males and females fairly alike, have long, tassellated ears, a long mane, and dagger-shaped horns. The grazers tend to be larger, highly social, and rather than mark territory with scent glands, they have exhibit dominance behaviors. There is no sharp dividing line between the groups, but a continuum between the serows at one end of the spectrum and sheep, true goats, and musk oxen at the other.

Reduncinae

Reduncinae (Reedbucks, lechwe)
2 genera 8 species Characteristics: The reduncinae dwell in marshes, floodplains or other well-watered areas.

Aepycerotinae

Aepycerotinae (Impala)

1 genera
1 species

Characteristics: They are reddish-brown in color with lighter flanks, have white underbellies and a characteristic "M" marking on its rear. They can adapt to different environment by being grazers in some areas and browsers in others. They graze when the grass is green and growing and browse at other times. They will browse on formcsgaybs, shoots, seedpods and foliage.

Peleinae

Peleinae (Grey Rhebok)
1 genera 1 species Characteristics: They prefer grassy, montane habitat, and carry a woolly grey coat to insulate them from the cold of their habitat. Only the males carry the straight horns. Males become extremely aggressive during the breeding season.

Panthalopinae

Panthalopinae (Tibetan antelope)
1 genera 1 species Characteristics: Tibetan antelope are gregarious, sometimes congregating in herds hundreds strong. The females migrate up to 300 km yearly to calving grounds in the summer where they usually give birth to a single calf, and rejoin the males at the wintering grounds in late autumn

Alcelaphinae

Alcelaphinae (Wildbeest, Hartebeest, Bonteboks)
4 genera 7 species Characteristics: These diurnal antelopes inhabit the plains and open woodlands of Africa, especially the Serengeti. The seasonal nature of the African grasslands forces wildebeest to make annual migrations. The main migration is in May, when around 1.5 million animals move from the plains to the woods; they return in November as summer rains water the plains.

4

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. 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.

5

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).

6

Which species could you expect to find in:

6a

Bush, or reed beds, near water?

Grysbok
Mountain Reedbuck
Topi
Waterbuck

Grysbok: The Cape Grysbok's native habitat is the "Fynbos biome" (Cape Floristic Region), and it inhabits thick shrubland. It can sometimes be found browsing orchards and vineyards. It may also be found in reed beds and along the riverbed of the southern Karoo.
Reedbuck: Three species of Reedbuck are native to central Africa, mostly living in grassland areas near water.
Topi: The Topi is a savannah and floodplain antelope.
Waterbuck: Waterbuck are found in scrub and savanna areas near water where they eat grass. Despite its name, the waterbuck does not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators.

6b

Arid regions?

Oryx
Addax
Springbok

Oryx: All oryx species prefer near-desert conditions and can survive without water for long periods.
Addax: The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a critically endangered desert antelope that lives in several isolated regions in the Sahara desert.
Springbok: In South Africa springbok inhabit the vast grasslands of the Freestate and the open shrublands of the greater and smaller Karoo. In Namibia they live in the grasslands of the south, the kalahari desert to the east and the dry riverbeds of the northern bushveld of the Windhoek region. In Botswana they mostly live in the Kalahari Desert in the southwestern and central parts of the country.

6c

Open plains?

Blackbuck
Springbok
Thompson's Gazelle
Dik-dik

Blackbuck: On the open plain, the Blackbuck is one of the fastest animals and can outrun most predators over long distances.
Springbok: Springbok live in many habitats.
Gazelles: Gazelles are mostly found in the grasslands and savannas of Africa
Dik-dik: Dik-diks live in open plains amongst other grass-eaters such as giraffes, zebras, and other antelopes. Dik-diks may live in places as varied as dense forest or open plain, but they must have good cover and not too much tall grass or plants.

6d

Scrub and forest areas?

Common Duiker
Sable Antelope
Dik-dik

Duikers: Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear into thickets.
Sable Antelope: Sable Antelope live in wooded savannah where they eat mid-length grass and leaves.
Dik-dik: See above under "open plains".

6e

The vicinity of rocky kopjes, or on hillsides?

Chiru (Tibetan Antelope)
Klipspringer

Chiru: Chirus live on the high mountain steppes and semi-desert areas of the Tibetan plateau such as Kekexili.
Klipspringer: With a thick and dense speckled "salt and pepper" patterned coat of an almost olive shade, Klipspringers blend in well with the koppies (rock outcrops, pronounced "copies") on which they can usually be found.

7

Describe the horns, in both sexes of each species, of 15 different antelopes. What is the structure of these horns? Are there any deer in South Africa? What is the structure of their horns?

Antelope Horns
Oryx: Narrow, and straight except in the scimitar oryx, where they curve backwards like a scimitar. Similar in males and in females.
Impala: Males have lyre-shaped horns which can reach up to 90 centimeters in length.
Waterbuck: The long spiral structured horns, found only in males, sweep back and up.
Sable Antelope: Have ringed horns which arch backward, in females these can reach a meter, but in males they can reach over one and a half meters.
Thompsons Gazelle: Long and pointed with slight curvature.
Tsessebe: The horns are lyre-shaped and are conspicuously ringed and can reach 70 centimetres in both sexes.
Roan antelope:ringed and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch backwards slightly.
Addax: Found on both males and females, the horns have two twists and can reach 80 centimeters in females and 120 centimeters in males.
Common duiker: The male bears horns which can grow to 4.25 inches (11 cm) long.
Dik-dik: The males have horns, which are small (about 3 in or 7.5 cm), slanted backwards. The females do not have horns.
Klipspringer: Only the males have horns that are usually about 20-25cm (4-6 inches) long.
Kob: The short ringed horns, found only in males, are around 50 centimetres in length and arch out slightly so that they are somewhat 'S' shaped in profile.
Blackbuck: The horns of the Blackbuck are ringed with 3 to 4 turns and can be as long as 28 inches. The female is usually hornless.
Wildebeest: Shaped like parentheses, extending outward to the side and then curving up and inward. In the male the horns can attain a total span of almost 90 centimeters, while the female's horn width is about half the size of the male. These cow-like horns of both sexes are somewhat broad at the base and are without ridges. The male horns have a boss-like structure joining the two horns.
Springbok: Rams have thick horns, the ewes tend to have more frail horns. Average horn length for both genders is 35 cm.

Male fallow deer with antlers

Though there are no native deer in South Africa, the Europeans imported the fallow deer during colonial times. Deer have antlers rather than horns. While an antler is growing it is covered with highly vascular skin called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone; once the antler has achieved its proper size, the velvet is lost and the antler's bone dies. This dead bone structure is the mature antler. Antlers shed after each mating season. Horns are not shed, but are permanent fixtures on the animal's head. Rather than a velvet covering, horns are covered with keratin (the same thing fingernails are made of).

8

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 was specific to the East-Africa Division when first introduced.

No antelope species is native to Australasia or Antarctica, nor do any extant species occur in the Americas.

More species of antelope are native to Africa than to any other continent, but some occur in Asia. The Arabian Peninsula is home to the Arabian oryx and Dorcas gazelle. India is home to the nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, Tibetan antelope, and four-horned antelope, while Russia and Central Asia have the Tibetan antelope, and saiga antelope.

Many species of antelopes have been imported to other parts of the world, especially the United States, for exotic game hunting. With some species possessing spectacular leaping and evasive skills, individuals may escape. Texas in particular has many game ranches, as well as habitats and climates, that are very hospitable to African and Asian plains antelope species. Accordingly, wild populations of blackbuck antelope, gemsbok, and nilgai may be found in Texas.

Bovids are most plentiful in Africa, but there are at least five wild species in North America:

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

The pronghorn antelope found in North America (Antilocapra americana) is not a member of the bovid family!

Of course, domestic bovids are plentiful in North America, as they include goats, sheep, and cattle. Though none of the animals we have listed in this requirement so far are antelopes, keep in mind that there is no scientific distinction between antelopes and other bovids. Basically, if a bovid is not an ox, goat, or sheep, then it is considered an antelope.

For those outside Africa trying to earn this honor, it might be appropriate to ignore this distinction (it is, after all, quite arbitrary and unscientific). Even with the expanded definition, those living in the NAD are still left with a major problem - the wild North American bovids are relatively rare, and pretty much limited to the West. Some of them are quite elusive. Spotting all of them in the wild would be quite a feat indeed. Spotting 20 antelopes in captivity can be easily accomplished by visiting a large zoo (or by visiting multiple, smaller zoos).

A possible alternative for those living outside Africa is to study the antelopes prior to a zoo visit. Then keep track of how many antelopes you can correctly identify by observing the animal (rather than the placard outside its enclosure). As the instructor of this honor, if you cannot find a way to meet this requirement, you should substitute something else that would require an equivalent effort if you lived in Africa. Please do not just waive the requirement.

If you are planning to visit a zoo or aquarium, be aware that there are various honors that have requirements which can be met by visiting a zoo or aquarium. Individuals can work on multiple honors in one visit, or parts of your group may work on different honors during the same visit.

Here is a list of honors which have requirements that can be met by visiting a zoo or aquarium:

9

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 56 km/hour) 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

Name some diseases associated with wild bovies. How are they transmitted? Of what economic importance are they to man?

Foot-and-mouth disease: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD, Latin binomial Aphtae epizooticae), sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease, is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease of cattle and pigs. It can also infect deer, goats, sheep, and other bovids with cloven hooves, as well as elephants, rats, and hedgehogs. Humans are very rarely affected.

Outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have resulted in the slaughter of millions of domestic animals, despite this being a frequently non-fatal disease for adult animals (2-5% mortality), though young animals can have a high mortality. The destruction of animals is primarily to halt further spread, as growth and milk production may be permanently affected, even in animals that have recovered.

Sleeping Sickness: Sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease in people and animals, caused by protozoa of genus Trypanosoma and transmitted by the tsetse fly. Bovids are susceptible to the disease, and serve as a reservoir for the parasite. Even when the disease is eliminated from the human population, humans can be reinfected when the tsetse fly transfers the parasite from the bovids to people.

Bovine malignant catarrhal fever: Bovine malignant catarrhal fever (BMCF) is a disease caused by alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) of the family Herpesviridae. The disease is fatal in cattle and other ruminants such as deer, antelope, and buffalo. In Africa, wildebeests carry AlHV-1 but are not affected by the disease. It is passed from mother to offspring and shed in the nasal secretions of wildebeest calves. Cattle are infected by contact with the secretions, but do not spread the disease to other cattle. Hartebeests and topi also may carry the disease.

11

Know the game laws of your province.

Remember that this honor is specific to the East Africa Division, so when this requirement asks you for the game laws of your province, it assumes an African province. If you do not live in Africa, it should suffice to know the game laws of any African province where antelopes are common.

In South Africa foreigners are not allowed to hunt except when they have hired a licensed professional hunter as a guide. The client and the guide must enter into a written contract prior to the commencement of the hunt, and the professional hunter must be licensed in every territory where the hunt takes place.

Hunting in South Africa is allowed year-round, but mostly it is done from June until August. Foreigners may use a rifle provided by the guide, or they may bring their own. If they opt to bring their own, they must declare it to customs when entering the country, and they must take it with them again when they leave. The gun must be marked with a serial number, and the hunter must be able to prove that he owns the rifle.

For more information, see http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/south-africa-hunting.html

References

Wikipedia articles:

Content on this wiki is generated by people like you, and no one has created a lesson plan for this honor yet. You could do that and make the world a better place.

See AY Honors/Model Lesson Plan if you need ideas for creating one.

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Antelopes - Advanced
Nature

Skill Level 123
Approval authority General Conference	Year of Introduction 2001