Is a pronghorn really an antelope?
01-06-2009, 09:12 PM
#3
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 105
RE: Is a pronghorn really an antelope?
According to the information below, I would have say a Pronghornis not an antelope. The antelope is part of the FamilyBovidae.The Pronghorn is part of thefamilyAntilocapridae.
Thepronghorn(Antilocapra americana), alsopronghorn antelopeorprong buck,[2]is a species ofungulatemammalnative to interior westernNorth America. It is the only surviving member of thefamilyAntilocapridae.[3]
Antilocapridaeis a family ofartiodactylsendemic toNorth America. Their closestextantrelatives are thegiraffids. Only one species, thepronghorn(Antilocapra americana), is living today; all other members of the family areextinct. The living pronghorn is a smallruminantmammal resembling an antelope. It bears small, forked horns.
In most respects, antilocaprids resemble other ruminants. They have a complex, four-chambered stomach for digesting tough plant matter, cloven hooves, and a similar body shape to antelopes. Their horns resemble those of thebovids, in that they have a true horny sheath, but, uniquely, they are shed outside the breeding season, and subsequently regrown. Their lateral toes are even further diminished than in bovids, with the digits themselves being entirely lost, and only thecannon bonesremaining. Antilocaprids have the samedental formulaas most other ruminants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronghorn(reference)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilocapridae(reference)
Thepronghorn(Antilocapra americana), alsopronghorn antelopeorprong buck,[2]is a species ofungulatemammalnative to interior westernNorth America. It is the only surviving member of thefamilyAntilocapridae.[3]
Antilocapridaeis a family ofartiodactylsendemic toNorth America. Their closestextantrelatives are thegiraffids. Only one species, thepronghorn(Antilocapra americana), is living today; all other members of the family areextinct. The living pronghorn is a smallruminantmammal resembling an antelope. It bears small, forked horns.
In most respects, antilocaprids resemble other ruminants. They have a complex, four-chambered stomach for digesting tough plant matter, cloven hooves, and a similar body shape to antelopes. Their horns resemble those of thebovids, in that they have a true horny sheath, but, uniquely, they are shed outside the breeding season, and subsequently regrown. Their lateral toes are even further diminished than in bovids, with the digits themselves being entirely lost, and only thecannon bonesremaining. Antilocaprids have the samedental formulaas most other ruminants:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pronghorn(reference)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilocapridae(reference)
01-07-2009, 07:47 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Garfield NJ USA
Posts: 3,067
RE: Is a pronghorn really an antelope?
It is my understanding that while they are "CALLED" Antelope primarily due to appearance, they are actually a species of their own. Native to the North American Plains states.
01-07-2009, 11:34 AM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
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