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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
roan
antelope |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Artiodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Bovidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Hippotragus
(goat-like horse) equinus (a horse) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
One
of the largest African antelopes, the roan antelope
has a gray coat with black and white facial markings,
very long, pointed ears that are tufted at tip,
and long horns that are strongly curved backwards. |
| FEMALE |
The
female is similar to the male, but with smaller,
less heavily ridged horns. |
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| SIZE: |
|
| MALE |
Shoulder
height to about 1.4 m (4.62 ft.) |
| FEMALE |
Shoulder
height to about 1.3 m (4.29 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
270 kg (594 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Grazers
- includes desert succulents, grasses, herbs, and
leaves of small bushes |
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| GESTATION: |
Gestation
lasts approximately 9 months |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2.5-3
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Up
to 18 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
lightly wooded savanna and tall grass |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Lower
Risk/Conservation Dependent |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Roans congregate in herds of up to 20 individuals
with a very characteristic social structure. Within
the group, the more dominant female is the leader.
There is only one adult male (called a bull) in
each herd. The juvenile males are exiled from the
herd at about 3 years old. |
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| 2. |
All the female calves remain. When the herd gets
too large, it divides into smaller groups of cows
and their young. These groups will form new herds,
once again with only one adult bull. |
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| 3. |
The young males, which have been separated from
the herd, associate in "bachelor groups"
of up to 12 individuals. Among the bachelors, the
most dominant will be the first individual to join
a new group of females when the position is open.
Very seldom, during their fights for supremacy,
they are able to inflict bodily harm to the contender. |
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| 4. |
Roan
antelope are brave animals. If threatened by a predator,
including lions, they will confront it, using their
scimitar-shaped horns. Many of these big cats have
died during such fights. |
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| 5. |
Roan
vocalization is an unusual whistle. Three basic
sounds having been recorded: a high-pitched squeal
signifying anger, an equine snort for alarm, and
a low hissing sound when wounded. |
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Related to the Blaaubok, an extinct southern African
antelope, the future looks good for the roan, despite
declining numbers.
These antelope have been hunted for their meat and
skin. Despite their effectiveness, the roan's horns
have contributed to the sharp decline of the animal,
being a highly prized hunting trophy. In addition
to heavy hunting, numbers have been reduced severely
as part of regional Tse-tse fly control programs.
Their
grassland habitat is being reduced due to habitat
destruction for agricultural development. Antelope
are important to their habitats as grazers and
browsers. They are also important as prey for
carnivores.
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|
| Nowak,
R. M. Walker's Mammals of the World, Fifth Ed.
Vol. II, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991. |
|
|
Parker, S. P. Grzimek's Encyclopedia: Mammals.
Vol. 5, New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company,
1990.
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| Spinage,
C.A. The Natural History of Antelope. New
York: Facts on File Publications, 1986. |
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| Marwell
Zoological Park. http://www.marwell.org.uk/anim-27.htm |
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