Afrikaans Name: Klipspringer
Oreotragus oreotragus

Statistics:

General: The name, taken from the Afrikaans language, means literally 'Rock Hopper'. They are squat, muscly, stocky little antelopes and fortunately quite common. Male has straight, black, spiky little horns, ringed around lower third.  Females tend to be slightly larger than males and are hornless, except in the extreme north-east of their range: in Ethiopia and adjacent high country the females also bear horns.


Left: Typical: far and high!



Right: A little closer, but not much. Three Klipspringer resting atop a granite boulder.



Colour olivy brown, almost tabby-coloured. The hairs are olive-brown, tipped golden yellow, creating the characteristic 'speckled' appearance. The belly is a creamy off-white. It has a shiny black nose, surrounded by a white muzzle, and there is a prominent black 'tear' mark in front of each eye. There is also a white throat patch. The 'bobbed', short stub of a tail bears only short hair, the same colour as the body hair.

This little antelope differs from all others by way of its hoof construction and by its peculiar hair. The hooves are cylindrical and form a straight extension of the lower leg bone, so that the animal appears to stand on tip-toe, like a ballerina. This arrangement affords it the tenacious 'grip' it requires, to jump and clamber about the rocks.

The hair is relatively thick and spiky, and is of a spongy, pithy construction internally, almost like a quill. It breaks off in tufts quite easily, and this, coupled with its spongy nature, helps to protect the animal's body from injury amongst the rocks, particulary if it should fall - something I have never seen! The spongy internal structure of the hair is also good insulation against heat or cold. The hair's springiness and its insulating properties made it desirable for saddle stuffing, and in the past the Klipspringer was much persecuted for this reason. So much so, that it became exterminated from many of its haunts. Fortunately, it has since recovered and has re-occupied much of its former range.

Food: Feeds much like a goat: leaves, small twigs, grass, green or dry, weeds and forbes, almost indifferent to the quality of its food. Practically independent of water. It will drink from rock pools in the rainy season, but will not leave its hill to find water elsewhere.

Sound: An amazing little blast, which sounds like a toy trumpet!

Habitat: Rocky koppies, the higher and steeper, the better.


Left: Klipspringer male in typical pose.



Right: Klipspringer female.




Habits: Usually found in pairs. If a third animal is present, it is most likely the latest offspring. Almost never leaves the rocky hill it lives on. Usually seen on top of the rocks, outlined against the sky, but will lie up in shade on the lower slopes during the heat of the day. Can climb almost perpendicular rock faces. The acrobatics this little antelope is capable of have to be seen to be believed. Will browse on bushes growing amongst the rocks, but takes grass and forbes also. Breeds throughout the year. One fawn is born after seven to seven-and-a-half months.

Range: Africa south of the Sahara, wherever there is suitable habitat.

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