Wildlife
Pronghorns are North American mammals similar in appearance and behaviour to Africa's antelopes. Pronghorns are built for speed and endurance and are the fastest known land mammal in America. With a sprinting speed of up to 100kmph and an ability to cruise for several kilometres at around 65kmph, they are not easy to catch. The young can run faster than a human two days after birth. An impressive population of 35 million once roamed the grasslands and deserts of America before European colonisation, when the population crashed to under 20,000. The hook and prong of the horn are unique to this species - hence the common name.
Scientific name: Antilocapra americana
Rank: Species
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Pronghorns under pressure
Industrial development undermines winter grazing grounds.
Industrial development undermines winter grazing grounds.
The Pronghorn antelope can be found in a number of locations including: North America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Pronghorn antelope distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to convergent evolution. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae. During the Pleistocene period, 12 antilocaprid species existed in North America. About five existed when humans entered North America[citation needed] and all but A. americana are now extinct.
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Shedding body parts
Predation defence
Dung eater
Acoustic communication
Herbivorous
Maternal care
Polygynous
Active at birth
Social
Cold tolerant
Adapted to running
Chemical communication
Sexual dimorphism
Territorial
Viviparous